Outdoor Halloween Movie Night
Oct 02, 2025
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Hosting an outdoor Halloween movie night is one of the most fun ways to celebrate October. Here’s how you can create your own charming gathering, complete with a supply list, spooky halloween desserts and snacks, festive Halloween cocktails (and Halloween mocktails)!
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Pin ItThere’s truly nothing I love more than watching a movie under the stars. It feels magical every time, snuggling up by a cozy fire, sipping slow cooker cider, and munching on treats while a Halloween movie plays on the big screen.
For me, it’s one of those simple joys that feels extra special when I turn it into a little event for my friends and family.
Our backyard transforms into a charming movie set, filled with glowing pumpkins, a festive popcorn and candy station, and all the cozy touches that make the night unforgettable. It’s the perfect way to celebrate spooky season!
Halloween Movie Night Essentials
Here’s what I used to set up our outdoor Halloween movie night. Everything is simple to put together, but it makes the night feel like a production straight out of a charming Halloween film.
- Movie Screen – This one is easy to set up and collapses for storage. Perfect for indoors and outdoors!
- Projector – We’ve had ours for years, and I use it constantly, from backyard parties to cozy indoor movie nights.
- Glowing Pumpkins – Light up the night with glowing pumpkins and lanterns. Scatter them around the yard for an enchanting effect.
- Popcorn Station – I love using a large cauldron filled with popcorn and little cauldrons for individual servings! Add Halloween-themed popcorn toppings.
- Halloween Candy Bar – Fill jars and cauldrons with festive candy. Use mini buckets or bags for Kids (and adults!) to make their own little candy mix. I like candy eyeballs and gunny candy corn!
- Apple Cider Pitcher – Serve up a big pitcher of homemade apple cider with gummy eyeballs floating inside. It’s spooky, delicious, and charming! For a fun twist, try my apple cider slushies!
- Colorful Flames – Toss in color flame packets to make the fire glow blue, green, and purple. Everyone was obsessed with this!
- Halloween Poppers – I found these at Williams-Sonoma, and they’re a fun touch. Each one comes with a joke and a toy.
- Cozy Cauldron Mugs – Perfect for serving apple cider or homemade hot cocoa.
- Pillows and Blankets – Layer plenty of pillows and throws on the ground so everyone feels cozy and comfortable.
Charming Touches for the Night
- Decorate like a movie set: I add glowing pumpkins and ghosts, twinkle lights, and lanterns to create ambiance.
- Themed drinks: Serve a fun Halloween cocktail like my pumpkin margarita or keep it kid-friendly with a non-alcoholic Halloween punch.
- DIY décor: Try floating citronella candles or giant outdoor candles for an extra cozy vibe.
- Snacks galore: Along with popcorn, I love making Halloween dirt cups or my Halloween sangria bar for the adults.
Halloween Movie Night Snacks
No movie night is complete without spooky-themed snacks! These are some of my favorites that are easy to make and add so much charm to the evening:
- Witch Finger Pretzels – Creepy and delicious shortbread cookies shaped like witch fingers.
- Halloween Dirt Cups – Creamy chocolate pudding cups topped with “edible dirt” and spooky garnishes.
- Pumpkin Cheesecake Truffles – Bite-sized treats full of pumpkin spice flavor.
- Rice Krispie Mummies – Brown butter, easy to make, and SO good!
- Halloween Charcuterie Board – a simple, spooky cheese board to snack on.
- Mummy brie – adorable and easy to make!
Eden’s Hosting Tips
Set up the screen and projector before guests arrive. Test it with a short clip to make sure the sound and picture are just right. Also use stakes and sandbags to hold it down!
Have cozy blankets ready—it can get chilly under the stars.
Add one “wow” moment (like colorful flames in the firepit or a spooky smoke machine) to make the night extra memorable.
Keep it simple with popcorn, a candy bar, sodas and a punch!
Halloween Candy Cart
Set up a little “concession stand” style candy bar for your outdoor movie night! Fill jars, bowls, or mini cauldrons with treats so everyone can grab their favorites. Here are some fun ideas:
- Gummy worms & gummy eyeballs – spooky and fun!
- Classic candy corn – no Halloween is complete without it.
- Pumpkin-shaped chocolates – festive and charming.
- Movie theater candy boxes – Milk Duds, M&Ms, and Sour Patch Kids.
- Caramel apples – a seasonal favorite.
- Popcorn mix-ins – sprinkle in candy corn, chocolate chips, or Reese’s Pieces.
Hosting an outdoor Halloween movie night is a charming way to celebrate spooky season. My kids talk about it for weeks afterward, and it feels like one of those traditions that make fall extra special.
Whether you go all out with glowing pumpkins and candy cauldrons, or keep it simple with a fire, popcorn, and blankets, it’s all about being together and making memories under the stars.
