Halloween Trivia Questions and Answers (60 Q&A for Spooky Season)

Spooky season is the single best time of year to host a themed trivia night. People wear costumes, cocktails get orange-and-black makeovers, and almost everyone has at least one good ghost story. This collection of Halloween trivia questions and answers gives you 60 hand-picked Q&As covering horror films, Halloween history, classic monsters, costumes, and traditions — enough to fuel a full bar trivia night, a classroom party, or a spooky family gathering.

Want even more? Browse our Halloween trivia questions hub, grab the printable Halloween Trivia Night Theme Pack, or read our roundup of 100 random Halloween facts that make for surprise bonus questions.

How to Use This Halloween Trivia Set

Each section below is a self-contained mini-round of 12 questions. To run a complete bar trivia night, pick one section per round (4 rounds total = 48 questions) plus 12 from the bonus pile for tiebreakers. Difficulty ranges from warm-ups to expert. Answers are in bold.

Round 1: Halloween History & Origins

Where did Halloween actually come from? Most people get the basics wrong.

1. What ancient Celtic festival is the origin of Halloween? Samhain (pronounced "sow-win")
2. What culture celebrated Samhain over 2,000 years ago? The Celts
3. What does "Halloween" mean? All Hallows' Eve — the night before All Saints' Day
4. What date is All Saints' Day? November 1
5. In what country were the first jack-o'-lanterns carved? Ireland
6. Before pumpkins, what vegetable was carved into jack-o'-lanterns? Turnips (and potatoes)
7. Who was "Jack" in the original jack-o'-lantern legend? Stingy Jack — a man tricked by the devil and doomed to wander with a coal in a turnip
8. What does "trick or treat" historically derive from? The medieval practice of "souling" — going door to door for soul cakes in exchange for prayers
9. What century did Halloween reach the United States in significant numbers? The 1800s, with Irish immigration
10. What event in 1840s Ireland brought Halloween customs to America? The Great Famine / potato famine
11. What U.S. state hosted one of America's first official Halloween celebrations? Anoka, Minnesota (1920) — "Halloween Capital of the World"
12. How much do Americans spend on Halloween annually (approximate)? Around $12 billion

Round 2: Classic Horror Films

The films that built modern Halloween — from black-and-white classics to slasher staples.

13. What 1978 John Carpenter film introduced Michael Myers? Halloween
14. What is the name of the town in Halloween? Haddonfield, Illinois
15. Who composed the iconic Halloween theme? John Carpenter
16. What is the killer's hockey-mask name in the Friday the 13th series? Jason Voorhees
17. What lake is Camp Crystal Lake located on? Crystal Lake (fictional, set in New Jersey)
18. Who is the dream-haunting villain of A Nightmare on Elm Street? Freddy Krueger
19. What 1973 film features a possessed girl named Regan? The Exorcist
20. What 1960 Hitchcock film features the Bates Motel? Psycho
21. What 1980 Kubrick horror is set at the Overlook Hotel? The Shining
22. Who wrote the novel The Shining? Stephen King
23. What 1982 Tobe Hooper / Spielberg film is about a haunted suburb? Poltergeist
24. What 2017 Jordan Peele horror film won Best Original Screenplay? Get Out
25. What 1999 indie found-footage hit was set in Burkittsville, MD? The Blair Witch Project

Round 3: Monsters, Ghosts, and Folklore

From Dracula to Slimer — the creatures that make Halloween scary.

26. Who wrote the novel Dracula in 1897? Bram Stoker
27. What region of Europe is Dracula's castle in? Transylvania (modern Romania)
28. Who wrote the novel Frankenstein? Mary Shelley
29. What is Frankenstein's monster's actual name in the novel? He has no name — "Frankenstein" is the doctor
30. What kind of creature is a werewolf? A human who transforms into a wolf, typically under a full moon
31. What metal is said to kill werewolves? Silver
32. Who is the bandaged Egyptian undead horror icon? The Mummy
33. What monster is famously associated with Loch Ness? Nessie / the Loch Ness Monster
34. What slimy green ghost appears in Ghostbusters? Slimer
35. What's the name of the giant marshmallow villain in Ghostbusters? The Stay Puft Marshmallow Man
36. What Latin phrase do witches stereotypically chant? "Hocus pocus"
37. What 1993 Disney film stars Bette Midler as a witch? Hocus Pocus
38. What's the name of the boy band of witches in Hocus Pocus? The Sanderson Sisters (Winifred, Sarah, Mary)

Round 4: Costumes, Candy, and Traditions

The food and customs of Halloween — pop quiz.

39. What is the most popular Halloween candy in the U.S.? Reese's Peanut Butter Cups (varies by year, but consistently top 3)
40. What candy was originally called "Chicken Feed" when it was invented in the 1880s? Candy Corn
41. What three colors are candy corn? Yellow, orange, and white
42. What costume is statistically the most popular for adults each Halloween? Witch (consistently #1 for women)
43. What classic Halloween game involves grabbing fruit out of a water tub with your teeth? Bobbing for apples
44. What spooky tradition involves visiting houses for candy? Trick-or-treating
45. In what U.S. city is the famous Village Halloween Parade held? New York City (Greenwich Village)
46. What spice is most associated with Halloween baking? Pumpkin spice (cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, clove)
47. What Mexican holiday overlaps with Halloween and honors deceased ancestors? Dia de los Muertos / Day of the Dead
48. What dates does Dia de los Muertos run? November 1-2
49. What sugary skull is a famous Day of the Dead decoration? Sugar skulls / calaveras
50. What is the term for a haunted-house attraction industry estimated to be a $300M+ market? Haunt industry / haunted attractions

Round 5: Halloween Pop Culture & Music

Songs, shows, and seasonal earworms.

51. What 1962 novelty song by Bobby Pickett is a Halloween radio staple? Monster Mash
52. What Michael Jackson 1982 hit features zombies and a horror-movie video? Thriller
53. Who directed the Thriller music video? John Landis
54. How long is the original Thriller music video? About 14 minutes
55. What Tim Burton stop-motion film features Jack Skellington? The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993)
56. What town is Jack Skellington from? Halloween Town
57. What is Jack Skellington's title? The Pumpkin King
58. What animated TV special features Charlie Brown looking for the Great Pumpkin? It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown (1966)
59. Who is convinced the Great Pumpkin will appear? Linus van Pelt
60. What Stranger Things season culminates in a Halloween episode? Season 2

Bonus: Quick-Fire Halloween Facts

• The fear of Halloween is called Samhainophobia.
• The world's heaviest pumpkin weighed over 2,700 pounds (yes, really).
• Black cats were associated with witches in medieval Europe.
• Saying "Bloody Mary" three times in a mirror is rooted in English folklore about Mary I.
• The most-streamed Halloween song each October is Monster Mash, with Thriller close behind.

FAQ: Halloween Trivia

Quick answers to the questions hosts ask us most about running a Halloween-themed trivia night.

Run Trivia Weekly Without Writing a Single Question

Halloween is one night, but pub trivia is a year-round revenue driver. Cheap Trivia delivers 4 themed rounds every Sunday — including holiday and seasonal sets like Halloween, Christmas, Valentine's, and St. Patrick's. Fact-checked, formatted, ready to host. Your first month is just $0.99, then standard pricing applies. Cancel anytime. Start your $0.99 first month. Or grab the standalone Halloween Trivia Night Theme Pack for one-night events.