13 Halloween Activities for Adults for fundraising

Are you planning a Halloween fundraiser but stuck with kid-only ideas? Wondering how to make adults show up, stay longer, and actually enjoy themselves? Need creative Halloween activities for adults for fundraising that feel fresh, fun, and money-worthy, not forced or awkward?

This guide gives you exactly what you need. Whether you’re hosting a community event, nonprofit fundraiser, church night, or workplace party, this article is packed with bold, smart, adult-only Halloween fundraising ideas that work. You don’t need huge budgets or big teams—just well-planned, crowd-pleasing activities that bring energy, laughter, and donations.

Halloween isn’t just for kids. Adults love to dress up, be a little wild, and enjoy themed fun that breaks from the daily routine. When you give them the right space—with social games, challenges, and spooky fun—they show up ready to play and pay.

This article covers 13 high-impact Halloween activities for adults for fundraising—from wine walks to trivia nights, from costume duels to live ghost stories. Each one is clearly explained with how it works, how to raise funds, and why it keeps adults engaged. These ideas are built to make your event memorable, exciting, and profitable from start to finish.

Key Takeaways

Adults love Halloween just as much as kids, and with the right ideas, they’re ready to laugh, compete, and give.

Halloween activities made for adults increase engagement and boost event attendance.

These fundraising ideas make it easy to raise money without boring your crowd; every dollar is tied to fun, competition, or community.

Amazing Halloween Activities for Adults for fundraising

This list features 13 unique Halloween fundraising ideas built for grown-ups—like haunted wine walks, costume roasts, trivia nights, and tarot booths. Each one is designed to be social, fun, and unforgettable. These ideas go beyond candy and crafts—they create real experiences that adults want to be part of, while helping you raise serious funds.

1. Haunted Wine Walk

This is not your average wine tasting. It’s spooky, social, and built to raise money fast. Set up 5–7 wine tasting stations with Halloween themes like “Witch’s Cellar,” “Blood Red Vineyard,” or “Ghost Grapes.” Each station offers a different wine sample with themed decor, lighting, and signs. You don’t need expensive wine—just a fun atmosphere, smart branding, and clear rules.

Charge $15–$25 per entry. Each ticket includes wine samples at all stations. Sell glow-in-the-dark wine glasses or souvenir cups as add-ons. Local wineries, liquor stores, or volunteers can donate wine or sponsor a table. Keep it flowing and keep it spooky.

This idea works because adults want something social that doesn’t feel like a typical fundraiser. They walk, sip, laugh, and spend. It’s easy to run, high energy, and delivers strong returns with minimal effort.

How It Works

Set up 5–7 tasting tables around the venue
Use spooky themes, signs, and lighting at each table
Pour a small wine sample at each stop
Stamp or punch each guest’s tasting card
Sell add-ons like glow cups or full-size drinks
Offer a donation jar or QR code at each table

2. Costume Roast

This is a crowd magnet. Adults step on stage in costume and let their friends roast them—live and unfiltered. It’s fun, loud, and packed with laughs. The best part? People pay to get roasted or to roast someone else. You set the stage, provide a mic, and let the crowd bring the energy.

Charge $5–$10 to enter your name into the roast draw. You can also auction roast spots to the highest bidders. Let guests vote on the best roast using dollars—$1 per vote. The costume with the most money wins a trophy or gift card.

This event makes people stay longer. It turns guests into participants. It’s fun for performers, funny for the audience, and easy for you to run. You just need a stage, a mic, and a bold crowd.

How It Works

Set up a small stage with mic and lights
Guests pay to enter their name or bid for a roast spot
Pick 5–7 participants
Roasters take turns making short, funny comments about each costume
The crowd votes with dollars
Most-voted costume wins a prize

3. Zombie Trivia Night

This is trivia with a Halloween twist. It’s fast, funny, and made for adult groups. Use questions about horror movies, Halloween history, candy facts, and spooky legends. Add sound effects and themed rounds like “Name That Scream” or “Dead or Alive.”

Charge $20–$40 per team. Sell drinks, snacks, or answer cheats for extra. Offer bonus rounds for top donors. Use a scoreboard to keep the energy high and teams competing hard.

This activity brings in money from both entry fees and on-the-spot sales. It keeps adults engaged for over an hour and works indoors or outside. It’s fun, flexible, and easy to run with printed sheets or a mic.

How It Works

Form teams of 4–6 adults
Host asks 3–5 rounds of themed questions
Teams write answers and turn them in after each round
Sell bonus hints or answer cheats
Add prizes for top 3 teams

4. Murder Mystery Fundraiser

Turn your space into a live Halloween mystery. Pick a theme—vampire ball, haunted hotel, cursed carnival. Guests play roles or watch as actors act out the story. The goal is to solve the crime before time runs out.

Sell entry tickets for $25–$50. Include dinner or snacks. Sell clue upgrades or private interviews with “suspects” to raise more. Add a silent auction or donation board between acts.

This event feels big and polished. It works best with small groups or limited seats. People love solving puzzles, dressing up, and being part of the action.

How It Works

Choose a murder mystery script or hire actors
Sell tickets that include food and participation
Assign roles or let guests watch and guess
Reveal clues in rounds with breaks between
Award a prize to the first correct team

5. Costume Duel

lady in costume for halloween, one of the 13 halloween activities for adults for fundraising

Turn costume contests into a game. Pair up guests in a one-on-one walk-off. They show off their outfits while the crowd cheers, laughs, and donates to vote. The winner moves to the next round.

Charge $10 to enter the contest. Voting costs $1 per vote—cash or mobile. Most-voted contestant wins a prize. You keep all the votes as donations. Add drama with music, lights, and a loud emcee.

This works because it’s not just about costumes—it’s about performance. It’s high energy, draws a crowd, and keeps people coming back to vote again.

How It Works

Create a mini runway or stage area
Pair up contestants for each round
Let the crowd vote using dollar bills
Winner of each round moves forward
Final round winner gets a trophy or prize

6. Haunted Beer Pong Tournament

Adults love it because it’s familiar and fun. Add Halloween rules, glowing cups, and spooky team names. You can run the game bracket-style with a final championship match.

Charge $20–$30 per team. Sell snacks and drinks on the side. Offer a prize to the winning team and a bonus prize for best costume. Add extra challenges for donations, like using your non-dominant hand or blindfolded shots.

It’s loud, funny, and keeps people hanging out. Easy to set up in a parking lot, gym, or backyard with basic supplies.

How It Works

Teams of two pay to enter
Use blacklight cups and Halloween balls
Run matches in rounds until one team wins
Offer side challenges for more donations
Hand out prizes for winners and best team name

7. Spooky Bingo Night

This is bingo for adults—louder, faster, and way more fun. Use Halloween-themed cards with words like “ghost,” “witch,” “pumpkin,” or “graveyard.” Add sound effects, music, and spooky voice-overs to keep the crowd laughing and engaged.

Sell bingo cards at $2 each or 3 for $5. Offer fun prizes: drink tickets, candy baskets, or gift cards. Run bonus rounds where only donors can play. You can even auction off the role of bingo caller.

This is easy to run, easy to join, and perfect for big crowds. It works well at bars, halls, or any seated venue.

How It Works

Guests buy bingo cards at the door or at a booth
Host calls out spooky-themed words or numbers
First to shout “BOO!” with a full row wins
Offer different prizes for each round
Run a final blackout round with a big prize

8. Escape the Grave Room

This is a short escape room built around Halloween puzzles. It doesn’t need fancy tech—just props, clues, and a locked box or two. Guests enter in small teams and try to solve everything before time runs out.

Charge $5–$10 per person per round. Teams of 2–4 adults work together. Keep the challenge to 10–15 minutes per group so more people can play. Add a leaderboard with fastest times.

This game pulls in serious interest. It’s competitive, social, and easy to scale. You can use a classroom, small tent, or office space.

How It Works

Build 3–5 clues using printed signs, props, and locks
Groups enter one at a time with a timer running
They solve puzzles to unlock the “grave” or final door
Record time and reset for the next team
Give prizes to the top team or offer bragging rights

9. Scare Dare Challenge

Set up a dare board full of creepy or hilarious challenges. Adults pay to complete a dare—or pay more to make a friend do it. Dares might include dancing like a zombie, eating a spoon of hot sauce, or singing in a monster voice.

Charge $5–$10 per dare. Let guests pay $1 to vote on their favorite performance. Film the dares or project them live. Give awards for “Most Fearless” or “Best Dare Completed.”

This is perfect for high-energy crowds. It’s fast, funny, and keeps everyone watching and donating. No setup stress. Just a board, a mic, and a bold crowd.

How It Works

Set up a dare board with 10–15 options
Guests choose a dare or nominate someone else
Complete the dare on the spot
Collect votes or donations after each round
Award prizes based on crowd reaction

10. Ghost Story Slam

This is Halloween open mic night for adults. Guests tell short, spooky, funny, or real ghost stories. Keep it casual or make it a competition. Stories should be under 5 minutes. The crowd votes with dollars.

Charge $5 to enter your name to speak. Sell drinks and snacks during the show. Let the audience vote $1 per story. The most-voted storyteller wins a prize. This works well with cozy lighting, a mic, and a chill crowd.

It’s a slower-paced activity, perfect for late in the night. People listen, laugh, and get into the Halloween mood.

How It Works

Guests enter their name to tell a ghost story
Host calls up speakers one at a time
Each story lasts 3–5 minutes
Audience votes with dollars
Top-voted story wins a prize

11. Tarot and Palm Reading Booth

Set up a quiet booth with candles, velvet cloths, and soft lighting. Offer tarot card readings, palm readings, or aura readings. Use volunteer readers or hire a local professional for a few hours. Keep each session short to serve more people.

Charge $5–$10 per reading. Offer group reading bundles or “mystery” cards for $2 each. Add a tip jar on the table. Use a sign-up sheet to avoid long lines.

Adults love this because it feels personal, mysterious, and fun. It gives guests a break from loud activities while still bringing in donations.

How It Works

Set up a small, private table with chairs
Offer 5-minute readings using tarot or palms
Let guests pick a card or ask a question
Keep the line moving with short, focused sessions
Give guests a fun takeaway like a lucky charm or printed fortune

12. Monster Marshmallow Roast

Set up a firepit area with spooky lights, benches, and Halloween music. Offer s’mores kits, cocoa, and cider. Let guests roast marshmallows while listening to ghost stories, music, or Halloween trivia.

Sell s’mores kits for $3–$5. Add toppings like sprinkles, chocolate syrup, or cinnamon sugar for extra money. Sell drinks nearby. Make it a cozy spot where guests relax, eat, and donate more.

This booth is great for winding down. It creates atmosphere, gives people a snack, and keeps them on-site longer. All you need is a safe roasting zone and a good playlist.

How It Works

Set up a fire-safe area with benches or chairs
Sell s’mores kits and drinks at a nearby table
Offer toppings or themed add-ons
Play music or tell ghost stories
Keep supplies stocked and trash bins nearby

13. Silent Auction with a Spooky Twist

This is your classic silent auction, but Halloween-themed. Items are labeled with spooky names like “Witch’s Wine Crate” or “Haunted Movie Night Basket.” Display everything on decorated tables with clear bid sheets or QR codes.

Ask local businesses to donate gift cards, baskets, or services. Start bidding at 30% of retail value. Close the auction near the end of the event to create urgency. Add a final “sudden death” round where guests outbid each other live.

This works because people love winning. It raises serious money, gets businesses involved, and feels high-end without much setup.

How It Works

Gather donated items and label them with spooky titles
Set up bidding sheets or QR codes for each item
Let guests browse and bid throughout the event
Close the auction near the end with a 5-minute warning
Announce winners and collect payment on-site

13 Halloween Activities for Adults for fundraising

Key Takeaways