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If you’re reading this, you’ve probably been roped into organizing a Trunk or Treat event. Don’t panic – it’s not as terrifying as it sounds.
Trunk or Treat is basically Halloween on wheels, where cars become candy dispensers and kids get to trick-or-treat in a parking lot.
But why add games, you ask?
Well, besides the fact that it’s a great way to burn off some of that candy-induced energy, games make the event more fun and memorable.
Plus, it gives the adults something to do besides standing around awkwardly, pretending they’re not eyeing the leftover Snickers. Shall we?
17 Easy Trunk or Treat Games: Because Standing Around in Costumes Isn’t Enough
Let’s face it, trunk or treat without games is like Halloween without candy – sad, boring, and likely to end in tears (mostly from the adults).
So, let’s spice things up with these 17 games that are easier to set up than your kid’s TikTok account.
1. Pumpkin Ring Toss
Overview:It’s like ring toss, but spookier. And orange-er.
Objective:Get the ring around the pumpkin stem. It’s not rocket science, folks, though I’ve seen some kids treat it like it is.
How to Play:
- Set up pumpkins (real or fake, we don’t judge)
- Hand out rings
- Watch kids (and competitive adults) try to ring those orange beauties
Why It’s Fun:It’s simple, it’s classic, and it’s a great way to work out those candy-grabbing arm muscles. Plus, kids get to throw things without getting in touble. Win-win. P.S. This is one of my 7 year old daughter’s favorite games. She’s got a mean toss for a kid her age.
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Looking for a last minute party game that won’t haunt you with a ton of prep work? This FREE Candy Corn Guessing Game printable is easier to set up than a bowl of trick-or-treat candy. Grab your download and get ready for some ghoulishly good times.
LET’S GET CORNY, RIGHT NOW!
2. Pumpkin and Broom Relay Race
Overview:It’s like the Olympics, but with more orange and wooden sticks. And let me tell you, it’s a sight to behold
Objective:Race while sweeping a mini pumpkin towards a finish line. What could go wrong?
How to Play:
- Divide into teams
- Sweep a small pumpkin to the finish line (and hope that it goes in the direction that you want it to)
- Beat everyone else there.
Why It’s Fun:It’s hilarious to watch people try to run while sweeping a pumpkin. Plus, it’s a great way to tire out the kids before the sugar high kicks in. I’ve seen gorwn men reduced to giggling messes trying to keep that pumpkin
Tip
Wanna make it easier on the preschoolers and toddlers? Use plastic pumpkins.
3. Witch Hat Ring Toss
Overview:Like regular ring toss, but with 100% more witchiness. It’s amazing how adding a pointy hat can make a game 10 times more fun.
Objective:Get rings around the pointy end of witch hats. It’s harder than it looks, trust me. I’ve seen Olympic athletes struggle with this one.
How to Play:
- Set up witch hats
- Hand out rings
- Watch as people realize their ring-tossing skills are severely lacking
Why It’s Fun:It’s challenging enough to be interesting, but easy enough that you won’t have a bunch of frustrated kids on your hands.
Tip
Secure the hats to the ground. Maybe on a foamboard or a piece of cardboard? Nothing kills the Halloween spirit faster than a gust of wind turning your game into a witch hat chase.
4. Eyeball and Spoon Race
Overview:It’s like an egg and spoon race, but grosser. Perfect for Halloween!
Objective:Balance a plastic eyeball on a spoon and race to the finish line. Try not to lose your eyeball… or your lunch.
How to Play:
- Hand out spoons and plastic eyeballs
- Line up participants
- Race to the finish line without dropping the eyeball
Why It’s Fun:It’s gross, it’s challenging, and it’s a great photo op. What’s not to love?
HEADS UP!
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5. Twister Treat
Overview: Forget vanilla Twister – we’re cranking it up to 11 with a prize-packed version that’ll have folks spinning with joy!
Objective: Transform a classic Twister mat into a carnival-style prize bonanza. It’s like your living room floor had a baby with a prize counter.
How to Play:
- Snag a Twister game (or dust off that one in your closet).
- Go prize crazy! Tape goodies to each colored circle.
- Spin that wheel of fortune (aka the Twister spinner).
- Land on red? Snatch a prize from a red circle. Blue? You guessed it, blue circle jackpot!
Why It’s Fun: It’s part game show, part yoga, and 100% giggletastic. Watch Grandma lunge for that coveted red circle prize while little Timmy eyes the blue. Family game night just got a whole lot twistier!
Tip
Wanna spice things up? Hide some ‘mystery prizes’ under opaque wrapping. Nothing says excitement like potentially winning a rubber chicken… or was it a gift card?
What’s Up | Cool Stuff | Not So Cool Stuff | Just a Heads Up | Who’s Gonna Love It? |
---|---|---|---|---|
Pumpkin Ring Toss | Easy setup, classic fun | Might be too easy for older kids | Rings getting stuck in trees | Little ones and ring toss champs |
Pumpkin and Broom Relay Race | Hilarious to watch, great for burning energy | Potential pumpkin casualties | Brooms becoming impromptu weapons | Energetic kids and clumsy adults |
Witch Hat Ring Toss | Festive, challenging | Hats might blow away | Rings getting lost in the night | Aspiring witches and wizards |
Eyeball and Spoon Race | Gross factor is off the charts | Eyeballs rolling everywhere | Potential choking hazard | Kids who love anything icky |
Twister Treat | Fun twist on a classic | Can get a little repetitive | Have lots of extra prizes on hand | Anyone with a sweet tooth who likes low-stakes games |
6. Candy Corn Tic-Tac-Toe
Overview:It’s tic-tac-toe, but with a sugar rush.
Objective:Get three candy corns in a row. Then try not to eat the game pieces.
How to Play:
- Set up a giant tic-tac-toe board
- Use candy corn as game pieces
- Play tic-tac-toe, resist snacking
Why It’s Fun:It’s a familiar game with a sweet twist. Plus, the loser gets to eat their candy corn, so everyone wins!
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I WANT CANDY DICE GAME FUN NOW!
7. Pumpkin Bean Bag Toss
Overview:It’s cornhole’s spooky cousin.
Objective:Toss bean bags into a jack-o’-lantern’s mouth. Easier said than done after a few candy bars.
How to Play:
- Set up a large cardboard jack-o’-lantern with a cut-out mouth
- Hand out bean bags
- Try to get the bags in the mouth from a set distance
Why It’s Fun:It’s challenging, it’s festive, and it’s a great way to practice your aim for when you’re tossing candy wrappers into the trash later.
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8. Candy Corn Guessing Game
Overview:It’s a classic guessing game with a sweet reward.
Objective:Guess how many candies are in the jar. Winner takes all (or a reasonable portion, let’s be real).
How to Play:
- Fill a jar with candy corn
- Have participants write down their guesses
- Closest guess wins
Why It’s Fun:It’s simple, it’s suspenseful, and there’s candy involved. What’s not to love?
Think you can count better than a sugar-crazed kindergartner? Click for more sweet details on the Candy Corn Guessing Game and for a free printable.
9. Pumpkin Candy Toss
Overview:It’s like feeding a very orange, very inanimate pet.
Objective:Toss candy into a pumpkin’s mouth from a distance. It’s harder than it looks, trust me.
How to Play:
- Carve a pumpkin with a wide mouth or cut the top off a pumpkin (or even cut the top off of several pumpkins)
- Hand out individually wrapped candy
- Try to toss the candy into the pumpkin’s mouth
Why It’s Fun:It’s challenging, it’s seasonal, and you get to keep the candy you catch. Win-win-win!
Feed a pumpkin, they said. It’ll be easy, they said. Check out the full rundown to see how hilariously wrong they were!
Tip
Have different distance lines for different age groups. Unless you want to see toddlers throwing tantrums and teens getting bored.
10. Pin the Face on the Pumpkin
Overview:It’s like Pin the Tail on the Donkey, but more seasonal and less animal cruelty.
Objective:Stick facial features on a pumpkin while blindfolded. Prepare for some very abstract pumpkin art.
How to Play:
- Create a large pumpkin poster
- Cut out eyes, nose, and mouth shapes
- Blindfold players and let them stick the features on
Why It’s Fun:It’s hilarious to see where people think a pumpkin’s eyes should go. Plus, no pumpkins are harmed in the making of this game.
What’s Up | Cool Stuff | Not So Cool Stuff | Just a Heads Up | Who’s Gonna Love It? |
---|---|---|---|---|
Candy Corn Tic-Tac-Toe | Sweet twist on a classic | Temptation to eat game pieces | Sticky fingers everywhere | Sugar fiends and strategy lovers |
Bean Bag Toss into Jack-o’-Lantern Mouth | Festive and challenging | Potential for missed throws | Flying bean bags of doom | Aspiring pumpkin dentists |
Candy Corn Guessing Game | Simple setup, big payoff | Only one winner | Jar breakage disaster | Math nerds and candy enthusiasts |
Pumpkin Candy Toss | Edible ammunition | Candy everywhere | Ants. Ants everywhere. | Candy lovers with good aim |
Pin the Face on the Pumpkin | Hilarious results | Dizziness from spinning | Accidental wall decorating | Creative kids and clumsy adults |
11. Needle in a Haystack Game
Overview:It’s like looking for a needle in a haystack, but with more candy and less tetanus risk.
Objective:Find hidden treats in a pile of hay or leaves. It’s like a treasure hunt, but itchier.
How to Play:
- Hide wrapped candy in a pile of hay or leaves
- Let kids dig through to find treats
- Try not to laugh at their hay-covered costumes
Why It’s Fun:It’s a sensory experience, a treasure hunt, and a way to get kids to do yard work without realizing it.
Don’t get stuck wondering – harvest the full scoop on our Needle in a Haystack game here!
Tip
Use plastic eggs filled with candy for easier finding and less unwrapping hassle.
12. Glowing Ghosts Halloween Game
Overview “Glowing Ghosts” – the DIY Halloween game where you’ll lasso luminous milk jug specters with hoops. It’s Ghostbusters meets carnival games, minus the slime.
Objective Catch as many glowing ghosts as possible. Your inner ghost wrangler’s time to shine!
How to Play
- Line up milk jug ghosts.
- Throw hoops from the line.
- Start with the closest ghost, work backwards.
- Catch ’em all in order to win.
Why It’s Fun Hurling hoops at glowing jugs is oddly satisfying. Plus, watching friends flail about? Priceless entertainment.
Light up your night! Float on over to uncover the spooktacular secrets of our Glowing Ghosts game.
13. Pumpkin Bowling
Overview:It’s bowling, but with more orange and less fancy shoes.
Objective:Knock down pins with a pumpkin. Yes, a pumpkin.
How to Play:
- Set up plastic bottles as pins
- Roll a small pumpkin towards them
- Try not to laugh at how badly pumpkins roll
Why It’s Fun:It’s unpredictable, it’s seasonal, and it’s a great way to use up those small, oddly shaped pumpkins.
Tip
Have a few backup pumpkins. They tend to, well, not survive multiple games.
14. Fall Lollipop Pull
Overview: Time to turn a small bale of hay into a lollipop-studded showstopper that’ll make dentists weep and party guests cheer.
Objective: Create the ultimate candy-dispensing decoration that doubles as a prize-winning game. It’s a centerpiece with benefits, honey.
How to Play
- Set up a table and snag a bale of hay.
- Color-code the bottoms of the lollipops and stick ’em into the hay bale. Each color presents a prize bin that the players can pick out of it they pull that particular color. Sneaky!
- Set up prize tubs matching the secret colors.
- Players pick a pop, reveal the color, and score a prize from the matching tub.
Why It’s Fun: It’s eye candy that dispenses real candy AND prizes. Kids love it, adults secretly adore it, and it’s more versatile than your grandmother’s Tupperware collection.
Tip
Mix up your lollipop and prize game with wacky options. Blue bottom could mean anything from a spider ring to a mini slime kit. Keep ’em guessing, sugar!
15. Pumpkin Roll Race
Overview: It’s a race, but with pumpkins. Because why not?
Objective: Roll a pumpkin across the finish line faster than your opponents. It’s harder than it looks.
How to Play:
- Set up a race course
- Give each kid a small pumpkin or gourd
- On “Go!”, have them roll their pumpkins to the finish line
- Watch the chaos as pumpkins roll in every direction except straight
Why It’s Fun: It’s unpredictable, challenging, and hilarious to watch. Triple threat.
What’s Up | Objective | Cool Stuff | Not So Cool Stuff | Just a Heads Up |
---|---|---|---|---|
Needle in a Haystack Game | Find hidden treats in a pile of hay or leaves | Fun sensory experience, treasure hunt vibes, gets kids outside | Kids might get itchy, costumes could end up full of hay | Watch out for allergies or hay poking too much |
Glowing Ghosts | Catch glowing ghosts with hoops | Satisfying to toss hoops, hilarious to watch friends miss | Ghosts can be tricky to catch, some might get bored if it’s too easy | Hoops might bounce off in weird directions and hit people |
Pumpkin Bowling | Knock down pins with a pumpkin | Seasonal, unpredictable, tons of laughs | Pumpkins don’t roll as well as balls, pins might be hard to knock over | Pumpkins can break or squish after a few rolls |
Pumpkin Lollipop Pull | Grab a lollipop and win a prize | Double fun as decoration and game, prizes make it extra exciting | Drilling holes could get messy, kids may pull lollipops too quickly | Lollipops might run out fast, have backup prizes on hand |
Pumpkin Roll Race | Roll a pumpkin to the finish line faster than others | Hilarious, challenging, and chaotic | Pumpkins roll in random directions, not easy to control | Be ready for kids tripping or pumpkins getting crushed |
Prizes and Rewards: If You Wanna Go The Healthy Route
Look, we all know the real prize is the candy, but here are some ideas to mix it up:
- Non-candy prizes: Stickers, temporary tattoos, or small toys. You know, things that’ll end up lost in the couch cushions by next week.
- DIY options: Get crafty! Nothing says “I tried” like a homemade ghost made from a tissue and a lollipop.
- Prize station: Set up a table where kids can trade tickets for prizes. It’s like a casino, but with less regret and more sugar crashes.
Age Is Just a Number (Except When It Comes to Games)
The only thing scarier than a haunted house is trying to entertain everyone from tiny tots to grandparents at a Trunk-or-Treat.
But remember, age is just a number when it comes to Trunk or Treat fun – these are just suggestions for where you might want to steer certain age groups, not strict rules.
Feel free to mix, match, and let your inner child run wild (just like after too much candy corn)!
Age Group | Game Suggestion | Why It Might Work | Spooky Twist |
---|---|---|---|
Toddlers | Pumpkin “Roll” Race | They’re already wobbly on their feet. Embrace the chaos! | Use glow-in-the-dark paint on the pumpkins for extra giggles |
Kids | Eyeball and Spoon Relay | Combines gross-out factor with friendly competition | Replace plastic eyeballs with peeled grape “eyeballs” for a squishy surprise |
Teens | Glow-in-the-Dark Ring Toss | Appeals to their nocturnal nature and competitive spirit | Add spooky sound effects for each successful toss |
Adults | Boozy Candy Corn Guessing Game | Adds a grown-up twist to a classic | Use a skull-shaped jar for extra Halloween flair |
Seniors | Sit-Down Pumpkin Bowling | All the fun, easier on the joints | Use mini pumpkins and toilet paper roll “ghosts” as pins |
Once again, these games aren’t age-exclusive. Grandpa might dominate the Eyeball and Spoon Relay, while little Susie could be a Pumpkin Bowling prodigy.
The key is to offer variety and let everyone choose their own spine-tingling adventure.
Tip
Set up a “Game Passport” where participants can get stamps for trying different activities. It encourages mixing and mingling across age groups, and who doesn’t love collecting stamps? (Spoiler: Everyone loves collecting stamps.)
Your Turn (Let’s Get Social)
If you could design the ultimate Trunk or Treat game, what would it be? Bonus points if it involves candy!
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