Are you looking for some fun new ways to celebrate Halloween with your grandkids this year? Costume contests are just one of the many options to get everyone in the spirit. How about getting the whole neighborhood, a youth group or your grandkids’ friends involved? Read on to see if one of these wicked ideas grabs you.

1) Craziest costume 

Pass out fliers inviting all the kids to meet at your house or meeting place an hour before trick-or-treating begins. This can even be done the weekend before Halloween. Give everyone a name tag when they arrive. Then each child and adult can fill out a voting slip. Include best costume, scariest, funniest, most creative and more. Hand out a special prize to the winners of each category. And don’t forget a small consolation prize for all children who participate—even if it’s just extra candy!

2) Most ghoulish yard

If you have a large neighborhood, it likely has its fair share of houses that decorate for Halloween. You may even be able to convince others to join a decorating contest. You could have a few categories, such as scariest, silliest and best overall. Ask some of the neighbors to deliver their votes to you by a specified date after Halloween and award them with a handmade sign they can put up next year for bragging rights.

3) Funniest carved pumpkin

Invite your neighbors or group to participate in a carved pumpkin contest. You can schedule a date and time when everyone will meet with their carved pumpkins at your home, neighborhood park or another public space. Suggest everyone who participates pitch in $2 per pumpkin for a jackpot. To keep it fair, allow only one pumpkin per child. Prepare numbered cards in advance so each pumpkin will have its own number. Then have everyone fill out a voting slip. The carver of the winning pumpkin gets the jackpot. You could also pass out small goody bags for all the kids who participate.

4) Funnest Halloween game 

Hold a Halloween game day. Ask each participant to set up a Halloween kids game in their front yard, room or space. Participants can give out small prizes, such as stickers or candy, to each kid who plays their game. Kids can wander from one game to the next. When they’re done, have each child fill out a ballot for the most fun Halloween game. Then award the winner. Some game ideas: bobbing for apples, spoon relay race (with eyeballs!), guess the food, Twister, glow-in-the-dark Tic-Tac-Toe and scavenger hunts.

5) Scariest scarecrow 

Ask your neighbors or friends to participate in the scariest scarecrow contest. Keep the scarecrows secret until voting and set a specific day when they should be on display. Have everyone, whether they participate by making a scarecrow or not, hand-deliver their vote to you by the end of the day that the scarecrows are set out. Then deliver a fun Halloweenish homemade yard sign or other award to the winning home.

6) Creepiest food

Hold a traditional potluck Halloween
party. Each participating family should be instructed to bring a Halloween-themed food or dessert. Place a numbered card next to each dish. Then have everyone fill out a ballot for the cutest, grossest, funniest and scariest food. Once the winners are announced, take photos of the families next to their creepy food. Then everyone can dig in and eat the yummy dishes and treats. 

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