Stay at home this Halloween: Ideas to get the party started! 🎃👻

Halloween doesn’t have to be boring this year!

Author: Sarah ReevePublished 14th Oct 2020
Last updated 30th Oct 2020

Trick-or-Treating may seem like an odd concept during a pandemic and you may not want to venture into the cold as the weather starts to turn!

Don’t worry, we are here to give you an alternative to Halloween this year with ideas for hosting your own party at home with your family and social bubble.

We hope you have a safe and happy Halloween!

From hallow-scream movies to spooky sweet treats, there is plenty you can do to keep the whole family entertained.

Halloween party ideas:

Create invites

Just because the guests of your party live with you or are part of your bubble doesn't mean they won't appreciate a good old-fashioned invite – y'know on paper and everything! So, get the craft box out and let your imagination run wild!

There’s no party without decorations…

Bats made from loo roll (no bulk buying please), a Halloween bunting from colourful card or tissue paper or go cliché with pumpkin carving. The possibilities for homemade decorations are endless. A party isn't a party without balloons, bunting and maybe even some cobwebs and pumpkins!? Whether you decide to make your own or shop-bought, the fun of hosting a party is all about how the venue i.e. your living room or kitchen looks.

Spooky or scrummy?

After the decorations comes the food. Many supermarkets do a wide selection of party food and platters; but if you are getting creative, there are plenty of ideas to revamp the common sausage roll or hot dog! Simply wrap pastry around a hot dog to make it look like ancient mummies or how about a splatter of ketchup to have everyone fooled you've chopped your fingers off!

Dress up or don't show up!

You may only be going down the stairs and not venturing out trick-or-treating, but that doesn't mean you can't make an occasion of having a party at home. Dig out your best devil horns, halo or witches' hat and show your family your most 'boo-tiful' costume. Why not turn dressing up into a competition; it will certainly determine who is the most competitive!

Separate the winners from the losers

I-Spy Halloween edition, pumpkin beanbag toss, boo Jenga. Continue the competitive streak with a game or two! With the house adorned in festive décor, why not simply print off an I-Spy sheet and get the kids to spy the ghosts, pumpkins, black cats, bats and many more that lurk around the house - these can easily be found online.


Get the most for your money and your pumpkin by creating a beanbag toss from the orange faces everyone has come to know and love. Simply carve one small pumpkin and one large, place them on top of one another using skewers to secure and award points to the family member who gets the most beanbags in hungry Jack o'lantern's mouth.


A twist on a classic with 'boo Jenga'. Draw ghost faces on plastic cups and stack them like you would the wonder blocks – the first to make them tumble is the loser.

Hallow-scream movies

Once all the brain power has been used up, settle down on the sofa for a Halloween themed movie night. We all secretly love hiding behind a cushion at a horror, but they don't all have to be scary! Classics like Hocus Pocus and Tim Burton's Nightmare Before Christmas will keep the whole family happy.

Tell ghost stories

To ensure the kids' eyes don't go square; grab a candle or torch and sit under a forte of blankets while telling ghost stories. Don't worry, you don't have to scare them before bedtime, after all, Casper is a friendly ghost – right!?

Whatever you decide to do, stay safe, stick to guidelines and advice and most importantly remember to have fun!

We hope you have a safe and happy Halloween!

For great music and incredible competitions tune into Clyde 1 on 102.5FM, online, on our Clyde 1 app, your DAB radio, or say ‘Play Clyde 1’ on your Smart Speaker. We play you the biggest hits from the world’s hottest artists. You’ll find new favourites every day and hear the songs you've missed from the last few years. From Bowie@Breakfast in the morning, to the latest on Scottish Football with Superscoreboard every weeknight and Saturday afternoon.