Halloween activities have a habit of repeating themselves. Every October, someone suggests a haunted house, everyone queues in the cold, and an actor in a boiler suit shouts at you for eight minutes. However, a good scare does not have to come with a queue and a coat you never took off. In short, this guide rounds up Halloween activities for groups who want something they have not done five years running.
Why the haunted house gets old
Walk-through scare attractions are fun the first time. The problem is that they are passive. You shuffle along in single file, somebody screams, and then it is over.
Meanwhile, the group barely interacts. Half of you are at the front, half at the back, and nobody is doing anything together. As a result, the story afterwards is usually “Dave jumped”, which is not much of a story.
In addition, the best slots in the last fortnight of October sell out early, and prices climb accordingly. Therefore, it is worth knowing what else is out there before you book the same night again.
What makes Halloween activities actually memorable
The Halloween plans people talk about for weeks share a few traits. They are not necessarily the scariest. Instead, they are the ones where the group had a job to do.
- Everyone takes part. Nobody stands at the back holding the bags.
- There is a goal. Survive, escape, win, or at least finish with your dignity.
- The fear level is adjustable. Mixed groups need a plan that suits the brave and the not-so-brave.
- It works whatever the weather. October in Britain is not to be trusted.
- There is somewhere to go afterwards. Food or drinks nearby keeps the night going.
Halloween activities that aren’t another haunted house
Here is the shortlist, from properly frightening to gently spooky, with honest notes on who each one suits.
1. Survive a zombie horde in free roam VR
This is the one that changes how people think about Halloween. You wear a wireless headset and walk around a large, empty arena while the game builds a world around you. Meanwhile, up to eight of you share that world, so you can see your friends beside you as the horde closes in.
Crucially, you are not watching the scare. You are in it, and you have to work together to get out. For example, our Halloween line-up at meetspaceVR includes zombie games in the free roam arena, with 30 minutes of gameplay plus a safety briefing before you start. Most of these games are for ages 12 and up.
2. Book a horror VR escape room
If your group prefers puzzles to running, a horror escape room is the slower-burning option. You solve problems together while something unpleasant is clearly getting closer. However, the horror-themed rooms are strictly for over-16s, and they are built for teams of two or four players. Therefore, they suit couples and small groups of friends particularly well.
3. Turn pumpkin carving into a competition
Carving on your own is a craft project. Carving against a timer, with a judge and a prize, is an event. Set categories, such as scariest, funniest and most ambitious failure. As a result, even the people who claim they are not artistic end up fiercely invested.
4. Run a horror film double bill with rules
A film night becomes a plan when you add structure. For example, pair a classic with something newer, ban phones, and give everyone a scorecard for jump scares. Meanwhile, the person who screams first buys the next round of snacks.
5. Join a local ghost walk
Most historic British towns and cities run guided ghost walks in October. They are cheap, outdoors and surprisingly atmospheric. However, wrap up warmly and check the route, because cobbles and heels do not mix.
6. Host a murder mystery dinner
Boxed murder mystery games give everyone a character and a secret. Therefore, the dinner party writes its own entertainment. In addition, it is one of the few Halloween activities that suits people who would rather not be frightened at all.
7. Hold a costume games night
Dress-up plus party games is a reliable formula. Moreover, it costs very little, and it works in a flat as well as a big house. Keep the games short and competitive, and the costumes will do the rest.
8. Book a family-friendly zombie session
Younger players do not have to miss out. Our VR Quest Arena is open to ages 8 and above, with short, cooperative games for up to four players at a time. In short, it gives children a taste of zombie survival without the full horror treatment.
9. Go pumpkin picking
For daytime plans, a farm visit is hard to beat. You get fresh air, muddy boots and a pumpkin to carve later. Meanwhile, it pairs neatly with idea number three on the same weekend.
Halloween activities by group type
The right plan depends far more on who is coming than on how scary it sounds.
Friends who want a proper scare
Go for something active and cooperative. Free roam VR or a horror escape room gives you the fear and the teamwork at once. Afterwards, find a pub nearby and argue about who panicked first.
Couples
A two-player escape room is a surprisingly good date. You find out how your partner handles pressure, and you have something to laugh about over dinner. However, choose the theme together, because one person’s thrill is another person’s nightmare.
Families with children
Keep the fear level low and the activity level high. For example, pumpkin picking in the morning and a family VR session in the afternoon makes a full day. In addition, check age limits before you promise anything, since they vary by game.
Work teams
A Halloween social is a gentle alternative to the Christmas party crush. Therefore, an after-work session that everyone can play, whatever their gaming experience, works far better than another quiz.
How scary is too scary?
Mixed groups always contain one person who loves horror and one who quietly hates it. So it pays to plan around the second person.
- Ask before you book. A private message gets a more honest answer than a group chat.
- Pick cooperative over solo. Fear is far easier to handle when you are not alone.
- Check the age guidance. At our arenas, under-14s need an adult present, although the adult does not have to play.
- Offer a gentler option. For example, someone can take the family session while others take the horror room.
Planning tips for Halloween week
The last week of October is the busiest of the year for Halloween activities. Therefore, a little planning goes a long way.
- Book early. Friday and Saturday evenings around the 31st go first.
- Arrive 15 minutes before your slot. Briefings start on time, and late arrivals may not be able to join.
- Save the drinks for afterwards. Anyone under the influence will not be allowed to play, so the pub comes second.
- Dress for movement. Comfortable clothes and flat shoes are best for VR. Hats, including costume ones, come off during the game.
- Go easy on face paint. Heavy make-up can smear on headset lenses, so keep the costume below the neck.
The best Halloween activities are the ones you do together
A good Halloween is not about the biggest scare. It is about the moment the whole group screams at once and then cannot stop laughing.
Therefore, choose something everyone takes part in. In short, the Halloween activities that stick are the ones that give you a story, not just a fright. Our arenas in Nottingham, Birmingham, Manchester, Guildford and Reading run Halloween sessions for groups of every size and nerve.
If your group fancies swapping the haunted house for a zombie apocalypse, see our Halloween VR experiences and book your session.
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