Looking for a Halloween activity that combines the thrill of trick-or-treating with the safety of staying indoors? A Halloween scavenger hunt may just be the answer! Scavenger hunts are perfect for Halloween because it concentrates every activity into one given place, especially if you’re holding it in your house. All you need are a handful of treasure-hunters to go through every clue, regardless of age. Plus, reading each clue for the ultimate prize will challenge your kids’ skills in reading comprehension and creative thinking, not to mention teamwork. Best of all, it’s easily customizable–you can leave as many or as few clues as you want, or even swap the candy for Halloween-themed toys for little ones with food allergies. 

Here are some tips for staging your own scavenger hunt this Halloween for your family:

Build up the anticipation

If you’re holding the Halloween scavenger hunt in your house, you can build up the hype at the party. We’re not saying you should turn down the lights (unless you have older kids who can find their way through the dark) but you can set the mood for the Halloween experience with dark decor, creepy music, and even a few scary snacks.

Hide all your clues while nobody’s around

The best time to scatter the clues for your Halloween scavenger hunt is when no one else is watching. Send the whole family out for a day and map out all the hiding places so nobody else will know where the clues are until the activity begins. If writing scavenger hunt clues are a challenge for you, you can print out pre-made clues; check out these examples from Party Delights and Play Party Plan for inspiration. 

Change the stakes

The possibilities are endless for every Halloween scavenger hunt. Think the clues are too easy? Set a time limit and watch everyone scramble to beat the clock. Kids too impatient to go hunting? Set up a small basket of toys or candy at every stop. Remember that scavenger hunts should be fun for the whole family, so plan your activity well. 

Get creative with your prizes

Some of the scavenger hunt prize ideas we’ve picked up for Halloween range from stickers and pencils to Halloween-themed rubber duckies and bath bombs. We also recommend gift cards for stores like Roblox for unique videogames, or Starbucks for pumpkin spice-flavored drinks. Our ultimate scary gift idea for all ages, though, is to buy used copies of R.L. Stine’s Goosebumps books from eBay or your neighborhood book shop–it’ll get your kids more hyped up for Halloween, and challenge their reading skills at the same time!

If you want to take your Halloween scavenger hunt to the next level, The Party Palooza is here to help! Whether you’re staging your Halloween festivities at home or hosting it at our York Galleria location, we have everything you need to make special parties for kids of all ages! All you need to bring is the food and the guests, and you can be a guest at your own party! Call us at (717) 751-1720 or email us at [email protected] for more information! 

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