Halloween Swimming Pools

scary-halloween-lifeguard

Halloween is on a Saturday this year! And even though Halloween 2020 requires some social distance protocols, there is still fun to be done.

Northern pool owners are already closed for the season, but southern pool owners are still enjoying their pool through October. Before it officially becomes ‘off-season’, have some fun with a Halloween party.

Here are some spooky decor ideas and Halloween pool activities for all you sunbelt pool owners out there  – there’s still more time to enjoy the fall weather around the pool!

Halloween Decor

1). Pumpkins Galore

halloween-floating-pool-pumpkins

It’s time to harvest pumpkins in the garden or the multitude of pumpkins at the local pumpkin patch. Floating pumpkins in your pool is a really neat way to decorate the swimming pool. You can carve real pumpkins and place small candles inside so your designs can light up the pool. If you don’t want to use real pumpkins, your local craft store carries an array of plastic pumpkins that will look just as appealing.

2). Party Pool Dye

skeleton-in-pool

Swimming pool dye is a fun way to get into the Halloween mood. Whether you choose creepy red or goblin green, swimming pool dye is a terrific way to decorate. Party Pool dye is non-toxic and won’t stain your pool and in 3-5 days the color will filter out, and you’ll be back to a beautiful blue pool.

3). Bubbles and Candles

soap-bubbles

Add laundry soap and point your pool returns at the surface to create a foamy swimming pool. After the party, shock the pool to break up the foam, and run the filter. Decorate the swimming pool with candles to make a magical backyard that is perfect for an outdoor party.

4). Dry Ice

dry-ice-in-pool

For Halloween this year, make a spooky swimming pool with dry ice or fog machines. A foggy atmosphere gives a spooky aurora to the yard. If you put dry ice in the pool, take safety precautions and make sure that no one is swimming. Touching dry ice can cause skin burns.

5). Plexiglass Pool Cover

plexiglass-party-pool-cover

If you want to expand your backyard and create a dance floor or dining area, you might consider having a party rental company install lighted plexiglass panels over the pool, or a stage over water for the band to play, or for a costume contest catwalk. Pricey, yes and a super creative way to transform your pool area into an incredible space for big events.

6). Spiderwebs, Tombstones, and Skeletons

skeleton-in-pool-chair-float

It’s time to dig out your go-to decorations in in the basement. Don’t be afraid to use the decorations you already have and spice them up with some new décor from the store. Spider webs are a classic decoration that can be placed in bushes and trees surrounding the pool. Get some tombstones and make a creepy scene in a corner.

7). Glowing Hands

glowing-hands

Need some unique lighting ideas in your swimming pool? Get some latex gloves and put a glow stick in each of them. Inflate the gloves and tie them off, and set them afloat. At night it’s really creepy to see glowing, floating hands in the swimming pool.
 

8). Sound Effects & Music

halloween-pool-party-music

Music and sound effects are the perfect way to set the mood for the Halloween season. Sound effects might be good if you are not outside the entire time, otherwise the repetition might get a tad annoying to your guests. There are plenty of Halloween CDs out there for adults and kids that incorporate fun/creepy music. Or, make your own Halloween playlist! (see list below)

 9). Spooky Floats

scary pumpkin floating in pool

Float something scary in the pool. Floating skeletons in a pool float, or laying on a pool lounger can enhance the spookiness. Carvable funkins, made from low density foam. Cut some scary faces and float them in the pool with a tea candle or small battery light. Floating plastic hands, large spiders or severed heads can be extra gory, if you want to go that route.

10. Final Touches

jack-o-lantern

Last but not the least, you will need a few Jack-o-Lanterns to make this party authentic – Halloween is incomplete without some scaring and glaring pumpkins. Use candles or LED lights to place inside your carved pumpkins for a spine-tingling stare.

How about spider webs, skeletons, grave stones, zombies and witches? Hang the spider webs on your deck and patio furniture and put the skeletons and zombies by the entrance so your guests can feel the chill as soon as they enter your backyard. Rent a fog machine and/or strobe lights to add to the supernatural effect.

Halloween Party Games

1). Dive for Pumpkins

dive-for-pumpkins

For Halloween parties for kids, get a dozen pumpkins and place them in the pool. The kids can swim to their pumpkins that they want to carve. After they carve the pumpkins and it begins to get dark, they can float them in the pool with candles inside, or set them in various places around the pool.

2). Halloween Hunt

halloween-hunt-in-the-pool

For the Halloween hunt, fill some Halloween colored eggs with small toys, hard candy or coins and place them in the pool. Make it a fun competition and let the children race in the swimming pool to get as many eggs as they can. If there are many ages, divide the hunts into age groups.

3). Costume Contest

phelps-swimmer-costume

The possibilities are endless really…whether you want to be a pirate or Olympic swimmer, a themed costume party is a lot of fun for not only kids but adults as well. At least the party host should dress up! Fortunately adult Halloween costumes are easy to buy, rent or make yourself!

Any boy willing to go shirtless could dress up as Michael Phelps. A great idea for babies that are not swimming is a shark or fish costume. Finding Nemo, anyone?

Party Food and Snacks:

Your guests may lose their appetite after all the scare and fear we caused, but a party is never complete without good food and snacks. You can check with your guests if they would like to bring in some treats or prepare food yourself.

FUN! Mummy Hot Dogs Idea (Pigs in a Blanket)

Halloween is all about the treats!  No Halloween pool party is complete without a bowl of candy and creepy munchies. There are many fun recipes to be found (like these cute mummy hot dogs) that can make your Halloween pool party fun for young and old. Don’t forget to brew up a cauldron of witches’ brew punch, complete with dry ice for a spooky fog!

halloween pool party punch

You can find great recipes online or call your friends and family for tried and tested, delicious recipes. Ghoulish cocktails or a scary punch bowl will give your guests something fun to sip on while the zombies mingle. A small cube of food grade dry ice will create a creepy fog over the punch bowl, or you can drop in a few floating “eyeballs”.

shrunken heads punch by FoodOddity.com

Make any type of punch you like, and add these ‘shrunken heads’, which are actually apples that have been soaked in lemon juice, carved and then baked for a few minutes to shrivel them up. Scary!

Another way to make any punch scary is to add a cube of dry ice so that it fogs up and spills over onto the table. Or, add a ring of regular ice, frozen in a bundt pan, with gummy worms in the ice.

Pool Safety First:

You have covered all the basics for throwing the best ever Halloween party, but don’t forget that pool party safety comes first and foremost. If you live in cold climate and are not going to swim, make sure that the access to your pool is restricted so your guests, especially the little ones, don’t accidentally fall into the pool.

If you are lucky enough to live in a warmer climate and plan on swimming, ensure that pool equipment is in proper working conditions and your water is chemically balanced.

halloween pool party lifeguard

It is a good idea to hire a trained life guard to keep an eye on the swimmers, so that your guests (and you!) can relax. Many local pools or schools will have some trained lifeguards you can contact for your party. If you have trouble finding one, designate a responsible adult to watch the pool in shifts of less than an hour.

Make your Halloween pool party UNFORGETTABLE

Boo! Happy Halloween, image by istockphoto

Now it’s time to sprinkle in the Halloween magic!  This is where your creativity will take your Halloween pool party to the next level.  On top of traditional Halloween decorations, you now also have an entire new angle to spin – a creepy haunted swimming pool!

First, decorate your backyard and the area around your pool with spider webs & fake spiders, pumpkin leaf bags, ghosts, bats and anything else your heart desires.  A great spooky pool party tip is to lay a stuffed scarecrow/zombie/mummy on a floating chaise lounge which slowly moves around the pool.  Playing some eerie music and sound effects tracks helps create a spine-tingling ambiance.

Second, install a red or green color pool light bulb or lens cover and a lighted tiered fountain in your pool to give it that spooky hue when the sun goes down.  For those that want to go the extra mile, adding some light rolling fog over the pool will give the illuminated water the illusion that it’s alive!  Black Lights can also be used in different areas around the pool.

Pool Jack-o-Lantern by Lauren Hudgins, CCO image from Pixabay

Finally, during the party, take those freshly-carved Jack O’Lanterns and arrange them around your pool for an even spookier evening glow. Gather your guests around the pool [or in the pool] for one of the most incredible group photos!


Enjoy!

All the bases are covered, now it’s time to hit a home run! Enjoy yourself watching your friends have a ton of fun and admire your creativity. It’s easier than you think to throw a Halloween pool party that no one will forget!

Have a safe and fun Halloween!