Booo-sting Your Member Engagement - Halloween Event Ideas To Engage Your Members
September has come and gone, and Spooktober is finally here, the greatest time of the year that fills my little black heart with… well, not quite joy, but as close as I can get.
That's right, Halloween, aka goth Christmas, is creeping closer. If you couldn't already tell, I can’t wait. The life-size skeleton is up, pumpkins are adorning every corner, and I’ve painted the traditional Spooktober coffin.
Okay, so that last one might not actually be a tradition, but I’ve done it anyway. But in all seriousness, Halloween offers the perfect opportunity to throw a spooktacular event for your members and boost engagement. So, plaster on those smiles, and let’s dive into some creative ideas and tips to make this Halloween the most memorable one for your club or association.
Why You Should Plan A Halloween Event For Your Members
Halloween is the perfect excuse to gather, let loose, and embrace the silly side of life. It's an opportunity to boost club engagement, provide a memorable experience for your members, and even raise some funds. But beyond that, Halloween taps into a universal appeal, that primal fascination with the unknown and the thing that goes bump in the night. It's a chance to let our imaginations run wild and connect with others in a playful, lighthearted way.
Halloween events are fantastic for community building, providing a unique space for members to interact in a less formal setting. From costume contests to pumpkin carving, these activities encourage bonding and create shared memories that strengthen the sense of community within your club.
Plus, don't forget the fundraising potential. Halloween offers a fantastic platform for creative fundraising. Think haunted houses, spooky bake sales, or themed raffles; the possibilities are endless. It's a win-win; you raise funds for your club while providing your members a fun and memorable experience.
And the best part? Halloween is a holiday that appeals to people of all ages. Organising an inclusive and family-friendly event can attract a wider range of participants and potentially even draw in new members.
Let's face it, sometimes club activities can feel a bit routine. A Halloween event injects a dose of fun and excitement, breaking up the monotony and reminding everyone why they joined your club in the first place.
Before we get onto the next section, how about a spooky Halloween TV show recommendation? Below are three TV shows that I would thoroughly recommend if you are looking for a creepy horror night.
- Yellowjackets: A creepy drama about a bunch of kids stranded in the wild after a plane crash. This show has one of the most incredible creepy scores I have ever heard.
- Marianne: This is my personal favourite horror TV show. It is the best horror show I've ever watched. It is clever, intriguing and could scare the dead.
- The Haunting of Hill House: This adaption of Shirley Jackson’s landmark horror novel is spine-tingly creepy and packs an emotional punch.
What Kind Of Halloween-Themed Events and Activities Should You Run For Your Club?
We have already briefly touched on it, but there are a whole lot of interesting, fun Halloween-themed events that you could run. So, let’s talk about some of the best ones.
Costume Contest
Costume contests are basically as old as Halloween itself. Well, maybe not, but people have been dressing up for Halloween since the 16th century, so I think it counts. A costume contest is an awesome interactive way to engage your members and have a bit of fun at a Halloween club event.
Hosting a costume contest at your club's Halloween event injects an extra dose of interactive fun and friendly competition. It's a fantastic way to get everyone involved, spark creativity, and encourage a bit of playful rivalry. You could even split the contest into two categories; one for the kids and one for the adults. Then, the winners could win a bottle of wine or a voucher or whatever makes sense for your club. Though, I’d recommend that the prize for the kid's contest not be a bottle of wine, probably not the best idea.
Remember, the goal is to create a light-hearted and inclusive atmosphere where everyone feels comfortable showcasing their creativity. So, encourage participation, celebrate the effort put into each costume, and let the good times roll.
I mean, who wouldn’t be into that? Who doesn’t want to dress up as something funny or spooky and hang out with their friends? Just take this all-time great costume that Heidi Klum wore to her annual Halloween Party a few years ago.
Yes, that’s international supermodel Hiedi Klum dressed as a big, slimy-looking worm, 10 out of 10.
A Spooky Bake Sale
Why not pair your costume contest with a frightfully delicious bake sale? Recruit a few enthusiastic members to whip up a cauldron full of Halloween-themed goodies. Think creepy cupcakes, ghostly gingerbread, and monstrous muffins; the more creative, the better.
This isn't just about satisfying sweet tooths; it's also a fantastic fundraising opportunity. Whether you're raising money for the club, an upcoming event, or a charitable cause, a bake sale offers a fun and accessible way for members to contribute.
The best part is Halloween baking is all about embracing the spooky and silly. Even if your decorating skills aren’t the best, those slightly lopsided spider cookies or wonky witch hats only add to the charm or make them look even more like spooky monstrosities.
Take, for example, this person who tried to make these creepy-mouth cookies.
Yeah, the bottom one might not look as good as the top, but it will still taste the same, and it is still just as spooky, just in a silly way.
Other Kinds Of Halloween Themed Events/Activities You Could Run For Your Members
Depending on the amount of time, energy, and money you want to put into your Halloween event, there are a whole lot of events you could run, including:
- A Halloween movie night
- Pumpkin carving contest
- Face painting booths
- Halloween trivia night
Plus, a whole lot more.
Halloween is a fantastic opportunity to throw open your doors and invite the families of your members for a big, inclusive celebration. So, get creative and choose activities that appeal to all ages and interests. Don't be afraid to step outside your usual programming; this is a holiday where a little bit of spooky fun is more than welcome.
How about some quick horror movie recommendations? Below are three of my favourite recent horror movies:
- Talk To Me: This Australian indie horror film was made by two young guys from Adelaide. It is a lot of fun, extremely creepy, and one of the best horror films of recent years.
- Nope: Nope is clever, funny, and features some of the most unsettling scenes I’ve ever seen. A master class in terror, not horror.
- The VVitch: The Witch, but spelt with two V’s, is an instant classic in the folk horror genre. A period of horror about pilgrims so set on feeling genuine that the crew didn’t even use electric lights during filming, with all the light being natural or coming from candles and fires. Absolutely worth watching.
How Member Jungle Can Help You Throw A Fantastic Halloween Event For Your Club
Member Jungle's event management system transforms the often chaotic world of event planning into a well-orchestrated symphony. Member Jungle handles everything from the moment you create an event page.
You can add captivating descriptions, eye-catching visuals, and any details you like. Set how many tickets are available, if there are different ticket prices, and if certain membership types get discounts or not on tickets. Your members can register and pay for tickets online. Automated reminders can be set to remind people that the event is coming up and prompt them to buy tickets. Plus, the system is smart enough to know who has bought tickets, so it won't include them in the ticket emails.
On the event day, you can use the Member Jungle app to scan in members, making check-in easy with no need for clipboards; it's all just recorded in the system for later reference. This means you can gather valuable feedback post-event, ensuring continuous improvement and member satisfaction.
In essence, Member Jungle lets you focus on making your events as good as possible without having to worry about the nitty-gritty of managing the event.
Finally, let's cover some great horror novel recommendations if you really want to get into the spirit this spooky season.
- The Troop by Nick Cutter: This book’s deeply disturbing in the best way. Every review I read of this said not to read while eating. After reading it, I’d say that’s good advice.
- A Head Full Of Ghosts by Paul Tremblay: All of Tremblay’s books are amazing horror novels, and you couldn’t go wrong with any of them; it was very hard to pick just one, but this one was the first of his I read.
- Rawblood by Catriona Ward: This dark, creepy gothic novel is brilliant, thought-provoking and well worth the read. Be warned, there is no light at the end of this tunnel however.
What Else You Need To Know About Running A Halloween Event With Member Jungle
You probably noticed that I didn’t go into too much detail above about how the Member Jungle Event Module actually works. Well, that’s because I have covered that topic in great detail before.
So, if you want to know everything about it, check out How To Run An Event With Member Jungle - A Guide.
The other type of event that we didn’t mention here is an online event, which could be perfect if you decide to host a horror movie watch-along or something like that. So, for more information on how Member Jungle can help with that, please see How To Host An Online Club Event With Member Jungle.
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