Halloween with new people: games, bingo and a low-key host checklist

Impostor: Halloween word pack

42 word pairs of costumes, monsters, autumn things, sweets and horror-film tropes. Pass one phone round the table: everyone sees a secret word, the impostor gets a close decoy.

Halloween bingo

32 “Find someone who…” squares: a homemade costume, a ghost story, a favourite scary film. Everyone gets a different card, so you have to mingle.

Host checklist: a low-key Halloween with strangers

Eight small things that make a first Halloween with new people feel easy, for the host and for the guests.

1. Costume optionalSay it in the invite: ears, a hat, a scarf or just a smile all count. Nobody should feel dressed wrong.
2. One shared playlistStart a playlist everyone can add to, spooky and silly. Keep it quiet enough that people can talk.
3. A table with something to doSet out pumpkins to paint or carve, a bowl of sweets and simple snacks. Busy hands make talking to strangers easier.
4. Open with a gentle gameStart with Halloween bingo so people ask each other questions, then play Impostor once everyone knows a few names.
5. Spooky, not frighteningSkip jump scares and let anyone sit out a scary story. Ask before taking photos.
6. Alcohol not requiredPut tea, hot chocolate and soft drinks on the table next to anything else. Nobody should need a drink to belong.
7. Mind the neighbours and the fireworksKeep the noise down after dark, skip fireworks, and use LED candles near costumes. Some pets and people dislike loud bangs.
8. An easy way to leaveGive an end time in the invite and say people can go any time without explaining. Suggest sharing a taxi or walking home in a group.

More Halloween plans nearby

Looking for a spooky night out, not a night in? Comealone.app lists Halloween events you can join alone.

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