How to Celebrate Halloween in the Office

As the days get shorter and colder and the leaves start to fall, ghosts, goblins, and things that roam the night start to creep around every corner. That’s right, Halloween is on its way, and the spooky vibes are in full swing. It may have been a decade (or decades!) since you last donned a costume and went door to door in search of candy, but now that you’re an adult, there are still some fun things you can do to celebrate Halloween in the office.

Company-sponsored Halloween events are an excellent way to take advantage of this time of year, involve your employees in your company culture, and build lasting camaraderie. From decorating the office to dressing up in (work-appropriate) costumes, we’ve rounded up a quick and spooky list of the top seven ways you and your team can celebrate Halloween in the office this year.

Costume Contest

You can’t go wrong with an office costume contest, the classic staple of Halloween celebrations everywhere. From spooky to silly to creative, letting employees shed the company dress code and show up to work in costume for a day is sure to be a hit. In fact, this event is an annual LCS staple! Prizes can be given out for best, funniest, or most original costume, among other categories depending on your company size and participation. You could even take the contest a step further and conduct a parade through the office to show off all the creativity!

Need some quick and easy Halloween costume ideas for your contest entry? The possibilities are endless, but here are a couple of suggestions depending on your style:

Punny Costumes

• Smart Cookie
  • A pair of glasses and a cardboard cutout cookie are all you need for this sweet costume.
• Cat Scan
  • Dress in all black with a classic pair of cat ears and tape a barcode to your shirt to complete this punny look. Don’t forget your whiskers!
• Formal Apology
  • Bust out the suit or fancy dress you wore to your interview and wear a sign that reads “I’m Sorry” for a costume that’s sure to get a few laughs.

Classic Costumes

• Sheet Ghost
  • All you need for this classic is a white sheet and scissors to cut out eye holes. Charlie Brown would be so proud.
• Witch
  • I’ll get you my pretty… and your little dog, too! Let out your inner Wicked Witch with a black dress and a witch hat. Painting your face green is optional.
• Vampire
  • Deck yourself out in fangs and a high-collar cape or go subtle with some sparkle Twilight-style to embody your favorite fictional bloodsucker.

Group Costumes

• Spice Girls
  • Scary, Sporty, Posh, Baby, or Ginger? Pick your poison and brush up on your harmonies for this classic pop group.
• Barbie (and Ken)
  • The Barbie Movie might have been all the rage in 2023, but Barbie and Ken are classic costumes that never go out of style. I hope you like pink!
• Scooby-Doo Gang
  • Zoinks! Pile into the Mystery Machine and gather your gang for a spooky group that’s sure to hit you right in the nostalgia feels.

Desk Decorating Contest

Another way to spread the Halloween spirit in the office is to host a desk decorating contest! Let your employees stretch their imaginations with all kinds of festive decorations, from pumpkins to lights to ghosts and everything in between. You’ll want to make sure that there are some guidelines for your competition—for example, decorations can’t make noise, stick out in high-traffic areas, or cause disruption to others. However, offering the chance for employees to get creative and show off their spooky spirit is sure to be a hit.

Pumpkin Carving or Painting

You could go the competition route on this one or make it a “just for fun” event, but carving pumpkins is a classic Halloween activity that everyone can enjoy. Pick up some pumpkins, print out some stencils, provide the tools and the space, and your employees can have fun crafting their very own jack-o-lanterns. Alternatively, you could provide mini pumpkins and paint or markers to offer a less messy way to still take part in this Halloween tradition.

Halloween Crafts

If you have a lot of crafty team members, you can offer a Halloween or fall-themed crafting event as a festive team-building opportunity. There are plenty of options for fun, easy crafts that don’t require many supplies but would offer a chance for your employees to connect over their creations. Try having your team paint wooden pumpkin or ghost signs, create stuffed pumpkins from socks, or use construction paper and tape to craft a spooky spider web for their desks. In fact, we just hosted our own fall crafts event here at LCS, and we can safely say your employees will love showing off their creative side.

Halloween Movie Night

Whether you want to go scary or family-friendly, the Halloween season has no shortage of films perfect for a fall movie night. Bust out a projector after hours or book a conference room during lunch to let your team unwind with a spooky classic movie. Don’t forget the popcorn and candy for an authentic movie theater experience!

Trick-or-Treating

Who said Halloween candy is just for the kids? If you have a large building with many different departments, consider hosting a Trick-or-treat event with sweet treats scattered throughout your office space. Combine this with a costume contest (no costume, no candy, after all!) and let your teams go desk-to-desk during lunch to stock up on that drawer stash.

Let’s Get Spooky!

No matter your age, celebrating Halloween in the office is a surefire way to spark that spooky spirit and keep your employees engaged. Every year, LCS puts on our very own Halloween Costume Contest, and we always look forward to the creativity and joy that comes with seeing our halls filled with all sorts of creepy (and silly) creatures.

If you’re looking to join a team where you can both grow your career and participate in fun teambuilding events, look no further than LCS. Check out our open positions and apply to join our spooky, fun-loving team today.