This year, trick-or-treating might not be on your teen’s radar anymore (I feel you—my 15-year-old officially retired her candy bag), but don’t worry, Halloween can still be full of spooky fun! Whether they’re into creepy thrills or just looking for a good laugh with friends, these fun activities will keep teens hyped for the holiday. Let’s dive into 16 fun ways for teens to celebrate Halloween!
A Quick Spooky History
Halloween started as a Celtic festival to ward off ghosts—bonfires, costumes, the works. Now? It’s all about thrills, chills, and candy. But for teens who are too old for trick-or-treating, there are plenty of other spooky ways to get in the spirit!
Top 3 Picks for Halloween Activities for Teens
🎤 Spooky Karaoke: Sing your favorite eerie tunes like Thriller and Ghostbusters. Dress up in full costume and challenge your friends to the creepiest performance!
👻Ghost in the Graveyard: Nightmare Edition: Take the classic game to the next level with creepy sound effects, strobe lights, and dark hiding spots. Who will be the last one standing in the flickering light?
👗 Costume Contest Runway: Dress to Impress Edition: Inspired by the popular Roblox game, teens can showcase their best DIY costumes on the runway, competing in categories like “Most Creative” or “Scariest” for a fun fashion challenge!
16 Fun Halloween Activities for Teens
1. Ouija Board & Tarot Reading Night
Turn up the spooky vibes with a Ouija Board & Tarot Reading Night! Set the mood with candles, incense, and eerie music as teens gather around the Ouija board, eager to see if they can communicate with the other side. It’s a classic Halloween activity that adds mystery and fun. Want to take it up a notch? Throw in tarot card readings for everyone. Each teen can get a mystical glimpse into their future—spooky style! It’s the perfect supernatural activity for Halloween night.
2. Gothic Picnic
Why not embrace the eerie atmosphere of Halloween with a Gothic Picnic? Pick a moody location like a local park or, if your town allows it, a spooky cemetery for that perfectly gothic vibe. Bring candles, lace tablecloths, and snack on Halloween-themed treats like black cupcakes, blood-red punch, and finger sandwiches (maybe shaped like actual fingers!). Encourage teens to wear dark, goth-inspired attire for the full experience, and add soft spooky music for that extra mysterious touch.
3. Spooky Karaoke
Turn a regular karaoke night into a Scary Karaoke session! Pick only spooky songs like Thriller or Somebody’s Watching Me, and add challenges like singing in a monster voice or as a vampire! To up the stakes, offer a prize for the best creepy performance. Teens can perform in costume to make the night even more fun and Instagram-worthy. Bonus points if you use a fog machine or dim lighting to set the stage!
4. Halloween Movie Marathon
Who can resist a night of binge-watching the best spooky movies for teens? Set up a cozy viewing area with blankets, pillows, and Halloween-themed snacks like candy corn popcorn. Let the teens choose between classics like Hocus Pocus and Beetlejuice, or opt for more intense thrillers like Pearl and Smile. For extra fun, challenge them to see who can survive back-to-back spooky films without getting too scared!
5. DIY Haunted House
Forget visiting a haunted house this year—let your teens create their own! They can transform the garage, basement, or even a backyard into a chilling DIY Haunted House. With fake spider webs, creepy lighting, and eerie sound effects, they can design different spooky rooms—like a haunted graveyard, a creepy doll room, or a mad scientist’s lab. Get creative with props and have friends walkthrough for their very own scare fest!
6. Ghost in the Graveyard: nightmare Edition
Get ready for a heart-pounding twist on the classic Ghost in the Graveyard! Play in the dark with eerie sound effects, strobe lights, and freaky lighting to add a spine-chilling atmosphere. The ghost hunts for the hidden players as strobe lights flash, creating a disorienting effect while creepy sounds like distant whispers, chains rattling, or haunting laughter add to the suspense. This version of the game will have everyone on edge, trying to avoid being caught in the flickering light and spooky sounds.
7. Glow-in-the-Dark Dance Party
Turn down the lights and get the glow sticks ready for a Glow-in-the-Dark Dance Party! Set the scene with blacklights, glowing face paint, and neon decorations. Teens can show off their best moves as they dance to their favorite spooky tracks while glowing under the lights. Hand out glow-in-the-dark accessories like bracelets, necklaces, and glasses to make the dance floor pop with color. The vibrant, fun atmosphere makes this the perfect way to celebrate Halloween with energy and style!
8. Pumpkin Carving Contest
No Halloween is complete without a Pumpkin Carving Contest! Teens can carve classic spooky faces, hilarious characters, or intricate designs. Make it more fun by having different categories like “Scariest Pumpkin,” “Funniest Pumpkin,” or “Most Creative Pumpkin.” Once the pumpkins are carved, light them up with candles or glow sticks and display them for everyone to admire. Add a competitive edge by voting for the best pumpkin and awarding small prizes!
9. Murder Mystery Party
Teens love a good mystery, especially when they get to play detective! Host a Murder Mystery Party where each teen plays a different character—whether it’s the mysterious fortune teller, the sneaky butler, or the brave detective. Throughout the night, they’ll work together to solve the crime while also trying to figure out who among them is the murderer. You can find murder mystery kits online or make up your own for even more fun.
10. Spooky Campfire Stories & S’mores
Nothing beats a classic Spooky Campfire Stories & S’mores night. Set up a fire pit, grab some marshmallows and graham crackers, and let the teens take turns telling their spookiest ghost stories. The flickering flames and night sky create the perfect eerie atmosphere. You could even make it a competition—who can tell the scariest story? And of course, the gooey s’mores are a delicious bonus. It’s a relaxed yet spooky way to spend Halloween night outdoors.
11. Escape Room at Home
Can’t make it to a real escape room? Bring the thrill of an Escape Room to your home! Set up a series of puzzles, locks, and hidden clues that teens have to solve within a certain time limit to “escape” the room. Use dim lighting and spooky music to create a haunted atmosphere. You can even theme the escape room around a Halloween story, like escaping from a haunted mansion or solving a mystery in a creepy graveyard. Teens will love the challenge and teamwork needed to solve the puzzles.
12. Halloween Bake-Off
Let your teens get creative in the kitchen with a Halloween Bake-Off! They can whip up spooky treats like ghost-shaped cookies, cupcakes with “eyeballs,” or cakes topped with gummy worms. Set up a judging panel to score them on both taste and presentation. The winner gets Halloween bragging rights! Make sure to have plenty of Halloween-themed decorations, like black icing, orange sprinkles, and candy eyeballs.
13. Costume Contest Runway: Dress to Impress Edition
Get ready for a fashion show with a twist inspired by Roblox’s Dress to Impress! Let teens channel their inner designers as they show off their best DIY costumes, strutting down the runway to spooky tunes. You can create categories like “Most Creative,” “Scariest,” or “Best Group Costume,” and let the teens compete just like in the popular game. Set up a runway with string lights, and have someone act as the host to announce each contestant. It’s the perfect way for teens to express their creativity and celebrate Halloween—both online and off!
14. Mystery Dinner Party
Combine a spooky dinner with a mystery to solve! Each teen comes dressed as a famous horror or mystery character for a Mystery Dinner Party. Throughout the meal, they’ll follow clues and work together to figure out who the “ghost” among them is. The haunting atmosphere, flickering candles, and spooky setting make this a fun, immersive Halloween activity. It’s a mix of great food and detective work that teens will love!
15. Halloween Photo Scavenger Hunt
Add some creativity to Halloween night with a Halloween Photo Scavenger Hunt! Create a list of spooky or fun photo challenges for teens to complete, like “take a picture with the spookiest house on the block,” “snap a selfie with a black cat,” or “pose like a zombie in a graveyard.” You can play individually or in teams, with each group trying to complete as many photo challenges as possible in a set amount of time. To make things even more fun, have a prize ready for the most creative or daring photo! It’s a great way to explore the neighborhood, have some laughs, and capture Halloween memories.
16. Volunteer at a Local Halloween Event
For teens who want to give back during the spooky season, Volunteering at a Local Halloween Event is a meaningful way to celebrate. Whether it’s helping out at a community haunted house, handing out candy at a trunk-or-treat event, or assisting with a Halloween charity fundraiser, there are plenty of opportunities to lend a hand. Whether they’re scaring guests at a haunted house or organizing games for younger kids at a Halloween event, it’s a rewarding way to celebrate the spooky season while giving back.
Wrap Up: 16 Fun and Spooky Halloween Activities for Teens
Halloween without trick-or-treating doesn’t have to be scary—well, maybe it does, but in the fun way! From spooky Ouija board sessions to creating your own haunted house, there are so many fun and creative Halloween activities for teens. Which activity will your teen try this Halloween?
