Halloween picture bingo to print
Show a Halloween picture, say its name and let each player cover the matching drawing. Children can join in without reading the words on a board. Print the 24 caller notes above and the blank grids below, then add your drawings before the party. There are instructions for a full class, a smaller board for younger children and eight ways to win.
What you can print
The caller pack has 24 names and drawing hints, from a smiling ghost to a bubbling potion bottle. Its print button prints the page. It does not include finished illustrations or 24 ready-made picture boards. Use the hints to draw one set of pictures, then copy those same drawings for the caller and every board. Matching artwork matters more than elaborate artwork: a child should be able to recognize the picture you hold up.
The on-screen picker is useful for trying a call, but it can repeat a picture drawn earlier. For a game without repeated calls, print and cut the caller notes, add pictures, shuffle the cards and put each called card in a separate pile.
Keep the caller notes, supplies and rules together so another adult can take over. The printable party games guide covers preparing a helper copy.
Print and fill in the bingo boards
A 5×5 board with a free center
Put one picture in each blank square: 24 pictures around the free Party Pumpkin center. Cover the center before the first call. Keep words off the children’s boards; put the names on the caller cards instead. Write a board number below the grid.
For a larger handmade version, draw squares 4 cm wide with 2 mm black outlines. Five squares make a grid 20 cm wide, so allow room for margins or use landscape paper. Check one printed copy before making the class set; browser scaling can change the dimensions.
| FREE Party Pumpkin | ||||
Board number: ____________________ Player: ____________________
A 3×3 board for younger players
Try this version with ages 3–4, adjusting it for the children attending. Pick nine of the caller pictures, put one in every square and use only those nine caller cards. There is no free center on this board. Fill the whole card to finish together, or use a row if you want a shorter round. With the same nine pictures on every card, everyone finishes a full-card round on the same last call.
Player: ____________________ Nine-picture caller set: ____________________
Keep a helper beside a child who wants support, and demonstrate a match before starting. The preschool party games guide has more games with short explanations and picture-based play.
Arrange 24 different boards
Number the pictures 1–24 in the order shown in the caller pack: Ghost is 1, Jack-o’-lantern is 2 and Potion bottle is 24. These numbers are preparation notes, not labels children need to read.
Read each 5×5 grid left to right, top to bottom, skipping the free center. For board 1, use pictures 1–24 in that order. For board 2, start with picture 2, continue through 24, then put picture 1 in the last empty square. Keep moving the starting picture forward by one for each board. Board 24 starts with Potion bottle, then uses pictures 1–23. Each board has all 24 pictures in a different arrangement.
This gives you a repeatable way to prepare 24 boards. It does not guarantee a single winner: some patterns can finish together, and blackout will finish together because all boards contain the same pictures. If children shuffle and glue their own pictures instead, compare the finished boards for duplicates.
Print one grid and one set of 24 pictures per player, plus two spare sets. For 24 players, that means 26 grids and 26 picture sets, with one separate caller deck. Keep a completed reference copy and number the boards so you can sort them after printing. You can laminate finished boards and use dry-erase circles for another party.
If children will assemble boards during the party, allow time for cutting and gluing before bingo starts. The craft activity guide covers preparing table supplies and helping with individual steps.
Get the supplies ready
- Print a test grid and check that the pictures are easy to see.
- Prepare the 24 drawings and copy each one onto the matching caller card and board pieces.
- Print one grid and picture set per player, plus two spares; use nine pictures for each mini-board.
- Cut and arrange the boards before guests arrive, or leave a separate slot for children to glue their pictures.
- Prepare 25 markers per player for a 5×5 board, or nine for a mini-board. The extra marker on the larger board covers the free center.
- Choose markers that suit the group. You can use candy corn, cereal loops or pom-poms; dry-erase circles work on laminated boards.
- Put the caller deck, a pile for used cards and any marker refills beside the caller.
- Write or draw the round’s winning pattern where everyone can see it, and have stickers ready if you want prizes.
If you plan to use edible markers, include them in your food planning rather than adding them at the table without checking the arrangements. The party food guide covers food requirements and labels.
Your checkmarks are not saved when you leave this page.
Show the pictures and play
Demonstrate one call: hold up the ghost drawing, say “Ghost,” and show how to cover the same ghost on a board. Use the drawing on the card, not just its written hint. For a larger room, check that children at the far table can see it.
Draw from the shuffled deck. Hold each image up for at least a slow three count, say the name twice and wait until players have found it. About 20 seconds between calls is a starting pace; pause longer whenever a table is still matching. Leave the called cards visible to the caller so you can check a winning board.
When someone completes the announced pattern, they shout “Boo!” Check that each square in the pattern matches a card already called. Accept simultaneous winners rather than deciding by who shouted loudest. A winner can draw the next card if they want a turn helping. For a quieter version, players can raise a hand instead; quiet party games offers more seated alternatives.
Before another round, clear the markers, cover the free center again, change the pattern if you like and reshuffle the full deck. Keep helpers available for as long as children need them.
Eight winning patterns
Show the pattern before each round. These patterns describe the 5×5 board; the free center counts wherever the pattern passes through it.
| Pattern | Squares to cover |
|---|---|
| Top row | All five squares across the top |
| Left column | All five squares down the left side |
| Four corners | The four corner squares |
| Big T | The top row and the middle column: nine squares including the free center |
| Letter H | The left and right columns plus the middle row: 13 squares including the free center |
| Picture frame | All 16 squares around the outside edge |
| Diagonal | Five squares from one corner to the opposite corner, through the free center; show which diagonal |
| Blackout | Every square on the board |
The middle row plus the middle column makes a cross, rather than a T. Use that as an extra pattern if the group wants another round. Save blackout for a shared finish: every 5×5 board uses all 24 pictures, so everyone should complete it after all 24 calls.
An example ten-minute round
This example assumes the boards are already prepared. It allows 2 minutes to explain, 5 minutes to call and 3 minutes to check and reset: 10 minutes total. A winner is not guaranteed within the calling slot. Full-deck blackout needs about eight minutes just for 24 calls at 20 seconds each, before explanations or pauses.
- 0:00–2:00 — Hand out boards and demonstrate. Give everyone markers, cover the free centers and show the pattern. Use one practice match, then clear it before the real round.
- 2:00–7:00 — Call pictures. At roughly 20 seconds per call, this slot allows about 15 calls. Pause to check any winning pattern; the group may need longer.
- 7:00–10:00 — Check and reset. Check winners against the used cards, give stickers if you’re using them and clear boards. If nobody has finished, either continue beyond this example slot or end the round without declaring a winner.
For a 30-minute party slot, leave room for slower matching and changing activities instead of promising three completed rounds. Use seasonal party ideas to fit bingo around the rest of the gathering, and easy party games for a simple backup if you finish early.
What to play after bingo
Keep one next activity ready rather than making finished players wait for another full round:
- Stay at the table: The Halloween picture-search page explains how to prepare scenes with counting and hidden-picture tasks. Check its preparation instructions before adding it to your print list.
- Make something: Halloween lacing cards describes shapes, difficulty levels and lace preparation for a separate table activity.
- Take a movement break: Halloween acting cards for kids has acting prompts and a card-trade option when a child cannot start a turn.
- Leave the table for a hunt: Halloween hunt around the house pairs picture and riddle clues along a route you prepare before guests arrive.
For a wider choice, the party games guide helps you consider the room, guest list and where children will wait for turns.
Halloween picture bingo questions
Can I print 24 finished picture boards here?
No. This page prints caller names with drawing hints and blank grids. Add matching pictures before playing. The arrangement instructions give you 24 different layouts, but finished illustrated boards are not included.
How do children play without reading?
The caller shows a drawing and says its name. Players cover the same drawing on their board. Use the same artwork on both, demonstrate one match and offer help as needed. The 3×3 version uses only nine pictures.
What works as markers?
Candy corn, cereal loops or pom-poms can cover the squares. Choose what fits your guests and food arrangements, and keep refills nearby if you use edible markers. Laminated boards can use dry-erase circles instead.
How long does a round take?
The ten-minute example is a schedule to adjust, not a guaranteed finish time. Calling all 24 pictures at 20 seconds each takes eight minutes before setup, checking or pauses. Patterns using fewer squares can finish sooner, depending on the order drawn.
What if two players shout Boo! together?
Check both boards against the cards already called and accept both if they complete the announced pattern. Different layouts do not rule out ties. On blackout, everyone with all 24 pictures should finish on the same last call.