How to Organise a Budget-Friendly Kids’ Halloween Party
Halloween is creeping up on us (quite literally if your house is anything like mine – full of cobwebs I definitely didn’t put up for decoration). But if your little monsters are desperate for a spooky celebration, don’t panic – you don’t need to spend a fortune on flashy décor or overpriced costumes. With a bit of creativity (and maybe a packet of Poundland sweeties), you can throw a Halloween party that’s both fun and budget-friendly.
Here’s how to plan a kids’ Halloween party without scaring your bank account
This post contains some affiliate links. If you make a purchase through these links, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. This goes towards the costs of running this website.
Invitations – Spooky but Simple
You could skip the expensive shop-bought invites. You can:
Make your own with black card and a silver pen.
Send a free digital invite via WhatsApp or email.
Or, if you want to be extra, print out a free Halloween party invite template
Halloween party theme ideas
If you’re posh, you might want to go with a theme for the party. Pick a child-friendly theme that’s more fun than frightening, like “Pumpkin Patch Party,” “Not-So-Spooky Monster Bash,” or “Magic and Witches
Pumpkin Patch Party
Lots of fun at a Pumkin party, decorate a pumpkin, pumpkin themed food, pumpkin oufits …
Decorations on a Shoestring
Forget pricey party packs – half the fun is DIY décor.
Bin bag bats & ghosts: Cut wings or ghost shapes out of bin bags and stick them up with blu tack.
Pumpkin balloons: Orange balloons with silly faces drawn on in black marker.
Fairy lights + loo roll = instant glowing mummies!
Decorate with a Fun and Spooky Twist
You could go all out and create a really spooky entrance by hiring a fog machine, have some glowing pumpkins, and sound effects to set the mood as th ekids arrive!
Halloween Pumpkin Lights decor
This one is great, I found it on Ebay – it lights up and has a fog effect and light show!
Halloween Costumes – Keep it Cheap
No need for £30 supermarket costumes. Raid the dressing-up box or:
Old sheet = ghost.
Black clothes + cardboard ears = cat.
Bit of face paint = instant zombie.
(Pro tip: a dab of talcum powder in their hair makes them look spookily grey.)
Plan Child-Friendly Activities
Classic party games with a spooky twist:
Wrap the Mummy: teams race to wrap someone in loo roll.
Apple bobbing: an oldie but goodie.
Pumpkin hunt: hide paper pumpkins around the house for a treasure hunt. Here’s a free printable Pumpkin hunt to use.
Pin the hat on the witch: DIY with cardboard and a bit of blu tack.
Mini pumpkin kits, paint your own pumpkin
Pumpkin Decorating: Provide small pumpkins, markers, stickers, and paint for decorating without the need for carving.
Kids Halloween craft pack
Halloween Crafts: Set up a station with supplies for making paper plate ghosts, bat hats, or spooky masks.
Would You Rather? Halloween: 200 Spooky and Silly Questions For Fun Family Games For All Ages
This fun book is a great game starter.
Crochet Halloween Bowling Set Pattern
Ghost Bowling: Set up “pins” made from white cups decorated like ghosts and let kids knock them down with a small pumpkin.
Or if you’re really crafty you can crochet a set as above!
Monster Freeze game
Play Halloween-themed music and have the kids dance like monsters. When the music stops, they must freeze in place.
Everyone loves Colouring in, here is a free printable to get you started.
Food & Drink – Ghoulish but Budget Friendly
You don’t need themed caterers for kids to be impressed. Some easy wins:
Monster fingers: hot dogs with a slice at the end for a nail.
Witches’ brew: blackcurrant squash with lemonade. (Here’s some free Witches brew labels)
Eyeball grapes: peeled grapes in a bowl for a gross lucky dip.
More Halloween Themed food
- Monster Munch: A mix of popcorn, pretzels, candy corn, and chocolate drizzles.
- Witch’s Brew Punch: Serve green or orange punch with gummy worms.
- Mummy Hot Dogs: Hot dogs wrapped in ready made roll dough to look like mummies.
- Ghostly Fruit Cups: Fill cups with fruit salad and top with whipped cream ghosts.
- Pumpkin Cookies: Decorate sugar cookies with orange icing and jack-o’-lantern faces.
Limited Edition Halloween Sweet Treats
All sweets are Halloween themed and include mallow, fizzy, gummy, chocolate and hard candy.
Halloween Recipes for Ages 3-5
Delight your little ones with these 13 spooky Halloween recipes designed for ages 3-5!
Halloween Photo Booth
You will want to take some photo of you little monsters. A photo booth could also be a great idea:
- Create a backdrop with Halloween themed decorations.
- Provide fun props like witch hats, vampire teeth, and spooky masks for kids to use in their photos.
Halloween Photo Booth Props
Pack includes 10 card props on wooden birch sticks, Witches Hat,Trick or Treat
Speech Bubble, Pumpkin Glasses, Skull, Boo! Bat, Spider Web Glasses, Witches Glasses, Bat Bow-tie, Dracula style teeth and red lips.
22 Kids Halloween Photo Booth Props - Instant Download
This set includes our more kid friendly Halloween props so it is great for a kids party or an event with a range of ages.
Set Up a Costume Parade
Have the kids show off their costumes in a fun parade. Provide small prizes for categories like “Most Creative,” “Funniest,” or “Best Homemade Costume.”
Personalised Monster Bash T-Shirt
These are great because they are not just for the day, your child can wear it all year!
Wind Down with a Halloween Story
End the party with a fun, not-too-scary Halloween story or a short, child-friendly Halloween movie.
Room on the Broom: the perfect story for Halloween
A very funny story of quick wits and friendship, Room on the Broom is another smash hit from the unparalleled picture book partnership of Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler, creators of The Gruffalo.
Mr. Men Little Miss: Halloween Party - Mr. Men & Little Miss Celebrations
Following the success of Mr Tickle and the Scary Halloween, this new story features your favourite Mr Men and a spooktacular Halloween party. The perfect Halloween treat for all Mr Men fans with a fluorescent cover finish!
Instant download - Kid's halloween stories
Each page of this storybook is filled with thrilling tales that transport children to a world of witches, ghosts, and pumpkins.
Send the Children Home with a party Bag
Prepare small goody bags with Halloween-themed toys, stickers, and sweets to thank them for coming.
