Halloween isn’t just for little ones racing door-to-door with candy buckets. It’s a holiday perfect for laughter, creativity, and connection at any age. For grandparents and grandkids, October is filled with opportunities to share traditions, make new memories, and add a little extra magic to the season. Whether it’s painting pumpkins, dressing up in costumes, or curling up with a spooky (but not too scary!) movie, Halloween is the perfect excuse to enjoy quality intergenerational bonding time together.
We’ve rounded up 9 fun and festive Halloween activities for seniors and grandkids that are simple, meaningful, and guaranteed to bring smiles across generations.
1. Decorate Your “Haunted” House Together
Decorating for Halloween feels special at any age. Gather the grandkids and turn it into family intergenerational bonding right at home. You don’t have to go full haunted mansion – just a few pumpkins, colorful fall leaves, and twinkle lights can instantly give the fall feel. Crank up some spooky tunes or put on a Halloween movie while you decorate for one of the most enjoyable Halloween activities for seniors and grandkids alike.
If you’re looking for even more things to do with grandkids, make the décor together! Try a DIY wreath, paper bats for the walls, or little clay ghosts. A trip to the craft store becomes part of the adventure.
2. Host a Costume Craft Day
Skip the pricey store-bought costumes and let imagination lead the way. Crafting your grandkids’ Halloween costumes is a fun, creative intergenerational activity.
Pick a day to design and build costumes with your grandkids using whatever you have on hand – old hats, scarves, makeup, cardboard, or even recycled boxes. Let the kids pitch their wildest costume ideas, then team up to bring them to life. It doesn’t matter if it turns out a little wacky; that’s where the fun comes in. This kind of intergenerational bonding sparks creativity, builds confidence, and gives everyone a memory to look back on.
3. Bake Spooky Snacks
Kids always love a good treat, but too much sugar can leave them crashing before the night is over. A baking day with healthier goodies is a fun alternative – and one of the tastiest Halloween activities for grandkids. Try pumpkin muffins, monster-faced fruit kabobs, or ghost- and cat-shaped sandwiches made with cookie cutters. The process itself is half the fun – mixing, decorating, and sneaking little tastes along the way.
This Halloween activity for grandkids also shows that food can be festive and delicious without a mountain of sugar. And if you’re following a special diet, you’ll get to enjoy the treats guilt-free, too.
Tip: If your schedule is packed this fall, you can skip the grocery lines and have GoGo Grocery deliver all your ingredients right to your door. Learn more about GoGo Grocery here.
4. Share Silly Ghost Stories
You don’t need a campfire to enjoy a round of ghost stories. Dim the lights, grab a few flashlights, and let everyone take a turn telling a spooky – or completely silly – Halloween tale. For extra fun, go around in a circle with each person adding one line to the story at a time. This makes for one of the most memorable intergenerational bonding experiences, since both young kids and teens can join in and add their own twists.
You can also pick up Halloween-themed books from the library or play a family-friendly spooky audiobook. Either way, it’s an easy way to spark imagination and laughter while creating a cozy Halloween memory.
5. Check out Community Halloween Activities for Grandkids
Check your local town calendar, website, or bulletin board for family-friendly Halloween activities for seniors and kids to enjoy. Some intergenerational activities might include pumpkin patches, hayrides, fall festivals, or outdoor trick-or-treating events. These are often family-friendly, held during the day, and not too spooky. They’re also a great way to get out, mingle with neighbors, and enjoy the crisp fall air together.
If transportation is a concern, GoGo Rides can help you get to and from the event safely. With GoGo, you don’t need a smartphone or app; you simply call our friendly operators, and a driver and car will be arranged for you. Every ride is monitored by GoGo Guardians, so your family knows you’re safe, and your loved ones can even track your trip in real time with Family Features. It’s a reliable way to get out and enjoy Halloween activities for seniors without the hassle of driving or parking. Learn more about GoGo Rides here.
6. Host a Halloween Movie Marathon
Pick a night, pop some popcorn, grab a few cozy blankets, and dive into a family Halloween movie marathon. Go for classics like Hocus Pocus, Casper, or It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown, or throw in some vintage monster comedies like Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein. It’s one of the simplest and coziest things to do with grandkids, especially if you want to wind down at the end of a busy week. To make it feel extra festive, add themed snacks and encourage the grandkids to wear costumes or Halloween pajamas.
7. Host a Pumpkin Painting Party
Carving pumpkins is a classic, but it can be messy, tricky, and not always safe for little hands or seniors with arthritis. Pumpkin painting is the perfect alternative Halloween activity for grandkids and seniors alike! It’s colorful, creative, and one of the easiest Halloween activities for grandkids of all ages, from toddlers to teens. Set up a painting station with brushes, markers, or even stickers, and give it a theme, like favorite movie characters, silly monster faces, or autumn leaves. Best of all, no sharp tools are required, and cleanup is a breeze.
8. Set Up Trick-or-Treating at Home
If walking door-to-door isn’t practical, bring the fun inside with your very own indoor trick-or-treat Halloween activity for grandkids. Turn your home into a mini-Halloween-wonderland by hiding goodies like a scavenger hunt or creating “stations” in each room with different surprises. Think beyond candy: stickers, pencils, or fruit snacks all work great. It’s one of the best Halloween activities for seniors and grandkids, keeping everyone safe and cozy indoors while still capturing the excitement of the holiday. You can even host it before Halloween to build anticipation for the big night.
9. Try a Halloween-Themed Puzzle or Game
Puzzles and board games are fantastic intergenerational activities, and they can be extra fun with a Halloween twist. Break out a Halloween-themed jigsaw puzzle, a spooky card game, or even a board game with a fall twist. Grandkids of all ages enjoy a little friendly competition, and games are a wonderful way to encourage conversation and laughter. On a rainy day or quiet afternoon, this screen-free bonding time becomes one of the most memorable forms of intergenerational bonding you can share.
Halloween Activities for Seniors and Grandkids
Halloween doesn’t have to mean sugar rushes and late-night trick-or-treating. With a little creativity, you can fill the season with meaningful things to do with grandkids that strengthen your connection and make October extra memorable. From baking treats and painting pumpkins to sharing stories and solving puzzles, these intergenerational activities are what truly make the holiday special.
And if you want to get out and explore, GoGo Rides makes it simple to enjoy local pumpkin patches, fall festivals, or trick-or-treat outings without worrying about driving or parking. Learn more about GoGo Rides here.
Happy Halloween from all of us at GoGoGrandparent!
