9 Easy Backyard Halloween Party Ideas For Hosting on a Budget

This post is all about the best backyard Halloween party ideas. 

There’s no better place to throw a Halloween party than your very own backyard. It can be done for cheap too! 

I absolutely love DIY Halloween parties because they are super fun to create and very budget-friendly.

In this post, we will cover all things outdoor Halloween decorations, Halloween games and crafts, and everything else you need to know to throw the perfect outdoor Halloween party! 

How to throw a backyard Halloween party on a budget 

1. Choose a themed party plan to not overspend on random Halloween decor 

One way to go overboard on spending is simply thinking that your backyard needs to look the best on the block. It really doesn’t! 

Of course, you want to create the festive Halloween ambiance but what will make it an unforgettable party for your guests is the memories that are created. 

Try to divide your Halloween budget to include spending more on creating fun moments than going wild on Halloween decor and props. 

That being said, the decor does matter! Try to choose one overall theme and stick to it the best you can. That way, when you are out shopping you will be less likely to buy things that don’t fit your theme. 

Classic Halloween party themes:

• Carnival of fear
• Zombie apocalypse 
• Haunted house
• Spooky graveyard 
• Masquerade ball 
• Monster Mash 
• Witches and wizards

2. Get festive by creating outdoor Halloween decorations

Luckily, outdoor Halloween decorations tend to be cheaper and more reusable that indoor ones. 

Get creative and tap into your inner DIYer to make your backyard look the part! 

To really cut costs try to start with using decor that you already own. You can always paint, upcycle or put fabric over items to give them that Halloween vibe! 

Budget-friendly outdoor Halloween ideas: 

• String lights, battery-operated lanterns, fairy lights & homemade candles 
• Carve or paint Pumpkins 
• DIY Halloween chalkboard signs like these super easy designs! 
• Hay bales to sit on with blankets on top
• DIY scarecrow from hay & thrifted clothes 
• Use twine and sticks to make hanging spider webs 
• Create spooky silhouettes and shadows to display on your home or walls 
• Make yard ghosts from tomato cages and sheets 
• Halloween tablescape using thrifted tablecloths, plates, and utensils 

For a full list and details on making outdoor Halloween decoration ideas for your party, check out the post below! 

{RECOMMENDED POST: 28 Cheap DIY Outdoor Halloween Decorations For Sustainable Home Decor}

3. Enjoy an outdoor Halloween movie night 

A super cheap and cozy Halloween party idea is a simple movie night! You can still do all of the Halloween party games and yummy treats before the movie but making the main attraction a movie is a chill way to stay festive and within your budget. 

All you need is a streaming service, rented or borrowed Halloween movies. Sometimes the library has movies you can borrow for free! 

If you have a large guest list and not a ton of seating area you can always display ghost stories in a section of your yard for guests to cozy up and enjoy. 

Skip the expensive inflatable screens (unless you plan to reuse it!) and simply use a white sheet that you already own. You can hang it up on the side of your house, with poles/ string or on your garage door. 

Create some cozy seating with lawn chairs, cozy blankets, inflatable seats or a blow up mattress. You could even ask guests to bring a chair or two! 

The most expensive part will of course be the projector and speakers. Again, you may be able to rent one (or borrow from the library) or simply ask around and see if a friend can bring one. 

If not, this is a mini projector that you can use! 

To make things extra cozy bring out your patio heater or portable fire pit to keep party guests warm. 

{RECOMMENDED POST: 8 Super Fun Halloween Movie Night Ideas At Home}

4. Make your own fun Halloween yard games & Halloween activities

October can be so chilly in some areas so keeping everyone active on Halloween night is the perfect way to keep everyone cozy! 

Whether you want to have organized and scheduled games or yard games sort of laying around there are tons of creative ways to bring the fun to your backyard. 

I had no idea but you can actually rent yard games which is a really great way to cut costs on your Halloween party! If you tend to throw a few outdoor parties per year it may make more sense to DIY some of the yard games below. 

Outdoor Halloween games: 

• Cornhole using refurbished wood and paint 
• Scavenger hunt-plenty of free printables online 
• Bingo/trivia games  
• Costume contest- can offer prizes or DIY medals/certificates
• Rented yard games (ex. tic-tac-toe, giant Jenga, horseshoes)
• Glow in the dark capture the flag- DIY flags with this glow in the dark paint. Super easy to make! 

5. Set up a Halloween craft table that doubles as party favors 

Some may call it cheap while others may call it creative. Set up a cute little Halloween craft table on your patio or in your backyard and offer an amazing craft that guests can take home at the end of the party! 

No need to buy the plastic bags and mini Halloween toys that people will lose in a week. Give your guests something memorable to enjoy! 

Halloween crafts for your party:

• Mini pumpkin painting section
• Thrift faux Halloween pumpkins to decorate 
• Face paint station with this non toxic face paint
• Halloween nail painting or nail stickers 
• DIY Halloween garland using felt and twine 
• DIY Halloween masks using markets, stickers etc. 
• Photo booth and decorate pictures/thrifted picture frames 

6. Music for an eerie atmosphere in your outdoor space

A free way to “decorate” your Halloween backyard party is with music!

There are tons of different free Halloween party playlists on Youtube or you can make your own with the songs above!  

7. Create a Halloween snack bar 

Instead of having a dinner party, keep it light and cheap by offering fun Halloween snacks. 

If you want to save some prep time you can even make parts of it a buffet style or DIY section. 

Halloween party treats your guests will love: 

• DIY Smores bar 
• Halloween candy buffet 
• Candy corn cake pops 
• DIY caramel apple 
• Apple nachos 
• Hot chocolate 
• Apple cider 

{RECOMMENDED POST: 5 Healthy Plant-Based Fall Snack Ideas You Need To Try This Fall Season}

8. Make invitations on Canva for free (and other Halloween party supplies!)

Canva is such a lifesaver when it comes to party planning. Skip the expensive and outdated invitations and whip some up on Canva.

If you haven’t used it before it’s basically a free platform where you can create a variety of graphics like social media posts (if you are sending E-invites), party invitations, recipe cards etc. 

It might seem small but little touches like this can really make the party feel complete! It’s also great because it’s completely free! 

Here are some other Halloween party decorations you could create digitally:

• Halloween game rules sheet
• Cards for the snack table with creative festive snack names (monster mash, witches brew etc.)
• Graphics to cut out and put on the craft table to glue on pumpkins or masks
• Festive signs for bathroom, food table, exit, do not enter areas etc. 
• They have templates for scavenger hunts, this or that Halloween games, bingo and more!

9. Thrift, upcycle, and repurpose to bring your outdoor Halloween party ideas to life

Steer clear of Spirit Halloween and Party City at all costs when party planning! You will unknowingly spend a bunch of extra money. A lot of the stuff there is made from plastic and could snap during your Halloween party or soon after. 

Try to prioritize reusing Halloween decorations from previous years before buying new! It’s virtually free at that point. 

Don’t be intimidated by DIY projects and upcycling either! Just take each project step by step and remember that paint and duct tape are your best friends when it comes to quick fixes. 

Lastly, head to the thrift store or yard sales! Some thrift stores hold onto seasonal items to put out right at Halloween or you can dig around and find items you can upcycle. 

Important note* Plan and decorate with inclement weather in mind. Consider renting a tent for your backyard or making your covered porch a part of the party landscape. You don’t want all of your hard work on DIY decor and cute Halloween party food to wash away.

It may take a bit of creativity and extra time but there are plenty of ways to throw an amazing, memorable and fun backyard Halloween party that fits within your budget! 

Have any other backyard Halloween party ideas? Let us know in the comments below! I’m sure others in the community would love to learn from you as well as they get into the Halloween spirit!

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Stay well, 

Maggie 

This post was all about the best backyard Halloween party ideas.

Other posts you may like: 

No Tricks, All Treats: 9 Simple Ways To Celebrate Halloween Sustainably

7 Sustainable Fall Family Activities For New Fall Traditions

46 Cozy Front Porch Fall Decorating Ideas On A Budget

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