Free things to do for halloween near me

The spooky season is upon us—time to fill your weekends with family-friendly Halloween activities for the best October yet! From local pumpkin patches and corn mazes to haunted houses, you can find scores of things to do near you leading up to the big night, but there’s also plenty of fun to be had at home for adults and kids of all ages.

Of course, there are the beloved traditions like carving an epic pumpkin, vying for the neighborhood's best Halloween decorations award, swapping ghost stories, and trick-or-treating, but that's only the beginning. Scare up some delicious Halloween treats (and savories!) in the kitchen, and create Halloween crafts galore (you'll find ideas on this list for toddlers, preschoolers, and up). One of our favorites? A homemade batch of fluffy purple witch slime, which doubles as a hands-on science lesson and an excellent sensory activity for young ones.

If you have a gathering planned, you'll want to check out these Halloween party games too. And after all this—not to mention DIY’ing costumes with the kids—you're sure to be in the Halloween spirit but also pretty well tuckered out. We suggest gathering the whole family on the couch with mini cauldrons of monster popcorn and chilling out with the best kids Halloween movies on Netflix.

2

Create a Halloween Occasions Bin™

This fun idea is the brainchild of lifestyle blogger and mom Shakira Patterson who found that she often forgot to use the cute seasonal tabletop and kitchen items she had purchased. The solution? Stash them in an open bin on the counter. If you’d like to show off your creation, Patterson encourages you to tag her on social and use the hashtag #occasionsbin, where you can find thousands of bin ideas shared by her community.

Get the tutorial at Occasions by Shakira and see more at @occasions.byshakira.

3

Scope Out the Best Decorations Around Town

Weeks before the big night, the yard decorating begins. Plan an evening car ride for an October date before the 31st to scout out the most spooktacular displays in your city or town. Take a family vote to name the best.

Related: The Best Small Towns to Visit for Halloween

On a rainy Saturday afternoon this October, put up a tape web across a doorway and let the kids decorate away!

See more at Chasing 40 Toes and @chasing40toes. (Need another reason to love this blog? It raises awareness for a good cause, the Kids in Need Foundation.)

7

Make a Pumpkin Fairy House

8

Deck Out Your Ride for a Trunk-or-Treat

Across the country, trunk-or-treating has become a Halloween tradition, and the creative trunk-or-treat decorating ideas folks dream up never cease to amaze us. Check local calendars for one at a school or church parking lot near you.

9

Play Tree Slab Tic-Tac-Toe

Ditch your devices the next time you head on a family camping trip and focus on the fun to be had in the world around you with this kid-friendly craft.

To make: Pick up a round wood slab and four leather strips. On the slab, form a grid (pictured at left) with the strips and secure each end with an upholstery tack. Once in the woods, gather two five-piece groupings of found objects such as small rocks and pine cones to use as game pieces.

10

Go to a Haunted House…

Spiff up your family dinner table with these DIY ghost leaves. Gather leaves, paint them white, and add two dots for eyes once fully dry. You can also glue them onto pumpkins for a no-carve decoration or string them together for a Halloween garland.

Fall visits to farms often include a trip through the corn maze and, for Halloween, lots of places offer "haunted" versions that take place after dark.

13

Play a Game of Squash Ring Toss

Wrap washi tape around half a dozen small butternut squash, varying the colors and patterns on each. Line up squash and toss rings around necks to play.

It may not be 100 percent Halloween, but apple picking is a decidedly fall activity. Use your haul for bobbing for apples. Check with apple-picking farms and orchards near you for times before venturing out.

15

Whip Up 'Eyeball' Punch

16

Go to a Halloween Festival

You'll need the whole fam for this sweet craft—kids to curate the candy selection (they're the experts, right?!) and a grown-up to handle the glue gun. Cover a wreath form with treats, then finish it off with a colorful ribbon.

18

Build a Halloween Book Library

This classic harvest pastime never goes out of style. Check to see if your local farm offers a haunted version.

Print out some cool vintage candy wrapper designs on paper, cut the paper into strips, and then use Mod Podge to adhere the strips to pumpkins. Opt for faux pumpkins so you can bring them out year after year.

This witch slime will keep your kids entertained through the whole month of October—not to mention it makes for excellent for sensory play for preschoolers exploring their sense of touch. Just pull it out (or make a new batch!) whenever you need to keep them busy.

Get the tutorial at Little Bins for Little Hands.

22

Whip Up Some Sinfully Sweet Halloween Treats

23

Put on a Stick Puppet Show

Thanks to these easy DIY props (they're made with craft sticks!), swapping scary stories just got even more spooktacular.

Get the tutorial at Creative Family Fun.

24

"Spook" Your Neighbors

This game will spark some "spooks" throughout the entire neighborhood! Stuff a few goodie baskets with yummy Halloween treats, leave them on your neighbors' front doors, and then direct them to do the same.

Get the tutorial at Tatertots and Jello.

25

DIY Your Kids' Halloween Costumes

Turn outdoor Halloween decorating into a family affair! Hang a wreath, string up lights, and assemble a display of pumpkins for an arresting, haunted entrance.

28

Roll a Strike in Mummy Bowling

Don't get too "wrapped up" in who's winning this spirited competition.

Get the tutorial at Giggles Galore.

Bobbing for apples has been a longtime Halloween tradition. All you need is a clean tub, water, and—you guessed it—apples. (Bonus points if they are fresh from an apple-picking excursion!)

30

Plan a Halloween Movie Marathon

31

Make Tasty Treats in Mini Cauldrons

Popcorn or a puffy potion? It's almost impossible to tell with this delightfully eerie Halloween snack, which little ones will love helping with.

Get the recipe at Rainy Day Mum.

Rocks rock! Collect a few smooth stones from the yard and encourage your kids to transform them with silly and scary faces.

Get the tutorial at Simple Everyday Mom.

33

Make a Halloween Scavenger Hunt

Whether you play it outside or in, a scavenger hunt with funny clues is always a hit.

Get the tutorial at Sunny Day Family.

34

Try Out a Creepy-Crawly Hairdo

Whether for her school's Halloween party, costume, or just for fun, give your daughter's hair a hauntingly cool makeover.

Get the tutorial at Simple As That.

35

Craft a Vampire Bookmark

36

Cook Fun, Festive Finger Foods

37

Make a Wonderfully Wicked Halloween Decoration

Transform your kids' handprints into boo-tiful paper ghosts, which can instantly give a burlap banner or plain pumpkin a festive feel.

Get the tutorial at See Vanessa Craft.

38

Face Off in a Halloween Bingo Game

Host a game night and play this themed version of Bingo with festive candy corn markers!

Get the tutorial at Crazy Little Projects.

39

Throw a Halloween Party

Invited friends and family over and entertain them with fun Halloween party ideas to ensure an absolutely spooktacular time.

40

Make Halloween-Themed Mini Doughnuts

Few recipes are easier to pull off than these adorable mini doughnuts. Make a pumpkin, bat, spider, zombie, or all four!

Get the tutorial at It's Always Autumn.

41

Make Printable Halloween Masks

42

Play a Pumpkin Toss Game

In search of a rainy day activity? Try this pumpkin toss game (but beware of candy thieves!).

Get the tutorial at Playground Park Bench.

43

Bake a Batch of Monster Cookies

Try these Gooey Monster Cookies as an alternative to regular sugar cookies.

Get the recipe at Lil' Luna.

44

Pin the Spider on the Web

This game is super simple to make and play. See who can put the spider closest to the center of the web—no peeking!

Get the tutorial at Ella Claire.

45

Create Halloween Paper Lanterns

Make multiples of this super simple lantern, add a battery-operated votive candle in each, and display along your sidewalk to light the way for trick-or-treaters.

Get the tutorial at The Crafting Chicks.

47

Make Some Wickedly Cute Halloween Crafts

48

Set Up a Pumpkin Golf Halloween Game

Fore! The whole family can practice their putting prowess with this golf game.

Get the tutorial at Eighteen 25.

49

Play Toilet Paper Mummies

Pass out a few rolls of toilet paper to the kids and watch them get a kick out of wrapping each other up.

Get the tutorial at Gifts of Curiosity.

We know, this one's obvious. But do you know why we trick-or-trick? This activity actually evolved from an old All Souls' Day (November 2) tradition, when children would go door to door asking for "soul cakes," a treat similar to biscuits. Check out more Halloween history and also find out how old is too old to trick-or-treat.

Jennifer Aldrich Editorial Assistant Jennifer Aldrich was the editorial assistant for CountryLiving.com.

Blair Donovan Blair Donovan is a staff writer for CountryLiving.com, where she covers everything from the latest Joanna Gaines and “The Voice” news to home décor, gardening, DIY, and entertaining.

Terri Robertson Terri Robertson is the Senior Editor, Digital, at Country Living, where she shares her lifelong love of homes, gardens, down-home cooking, and antiques. 

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