These are some simple, easy to manage games and activities that will make your party memorable and fun. The games cover a wide age range, choose the ones that best fit the ages and temperaments of your guests.

THINKING GAMES

Guess How Many

Fill a jar with candy corn or miniature
marshmallows and have guests guess how many are in the jar. This is a good game to play at the beginning of the party, as guests filter in.

Memory Game

Put a few theme-appropriate items (an apple, a piece of candy, a leaf, etc.) on a
tray. Show the tray to the guests for a few seconds, then have guests write down (or call out) as many items as they remember.

How Many Words…can you make from HALLOWEEN or SCARECROW.

Physical Fun

Popcorn Relay Race

Set out bowls full of popcorn at one end of the room, empty bowls at another. Teams must transport the popcorn from full bowl to empty, using a measuring cup. This is a messy game - plan it for the end of the party! (Note: popcorn is a choking hazard for children under three).

Cotton-ball Scoop

Fill large mixing bowls with cotton balls and give each guest a spoon. Kids must scoop out as many cotton balls as possible in one minute - without using fingers!

Pin The…...

...Nose on the Jack-o-Lantern, Stem-on-the-Apple, Hat-on-the-Scarecrow, or whatever variation best suits your party theme.

Arts And Crafts

Paints: Finger or sponge-paint with fall colors, or black and orange. Guests can make a tablecloth or placemats for the party, or pictures to take home.

Collages: Guests can make collages of fall leaves, pictures from magazines that relate to your party theme.

Picture Frames: Buy clear plastic frames, or make you own from craft sticks, and have guests decorate the frames with paper, paints, cutouts, and other craft items. Take a Polaroid of the guests when they arrive and the photo and frame are a great gift.

Odds And Ends

Dance - Young children love to dance; pop in a Sesame Street tape and let them go!

Parade - If your guests come in costume, have a costume parade throughout the house.

Ghost Stories - If your guests are older (nine and up) have them create a ghost story. Dim the lights and sit guests in a circle. The host(ess) holds a flashlight and begins the story. At an exciting or pivotal moment in the tale, pass the flashlight to the next person to carry on the story.