Halloween Duck Duck Ghost Game Printable

Pumpkin, Pumpkin, Ghost: A Halloween Twist on a Classic Circle Game

If your Halloween party needs a game that gets kids moving without a lot of setup, this one is hard to beat. Halloween Duck Duck Ghost takes Duck Duck Goose and gives it a spooky makeover: players chant “Pumpkin, Pumpkin, Ghost!” and one ghost has to jump up and chase the tapper around the circle.

It’s simple, it’s silly, and it works for a surprising range of ages. Younger kids love the chant and the chase, older kids love trying to be sneaky about who they pick, and adults love it because you don’t need to buy anything or explain a long list of rules. You just need a circle, some space to run, and a group ready to laugh.

You can play it in a backyard, a classroom, a church hall, or a living room with the furniture pushed back. This guide gives you the full rules, the chants written out word for word, safety tips, and variations so you can play it more than once without it getting old.

What You Need

The supply list is almost nothing.

Players:
At least 5 players, but 8 to 15 makes the circle feel full and the chase more exciting.
Space:
A flat area with room to run around the outside of the circle — grass, a gym floor, or a cleared room.
Optional extras:
A ghost costume or a white sheet with eye holes for the tapper, pumpkin decorations to mark the circle, and a small prize or sticker for each round’s ghost.

Keep the circle smaller for younger children so the chase stays short. For older kids and teens, a bigger circle makes the run longer and the finish more dramatic.

Printable Rules Card

Print this card, read it out loud once, and you’re ready to play.

PUMPKIN, PUMPKIN, GHOST — QUICK RULES:
1. Everyone sits in a circle, facing inward, with space to run around the outside.
2. One player is the Ghost. The Ghost walks slowly around the outside of the circle.
3. As the Ghost walks, they tap each seated player lightly on the shoulder or head and say “Pumpkin.”
4. When the Ghost chooses someone, they tap that player and say “Ghost!” instead.
5. The chosen player jumps up and chases the Ghost around the outside of the circle.
6. The Ghost runs all the way around and tries to sit down in the empty spot before being tagged.
7. If the Ghost sits down first, the chaser becomes the new Ghost.
8. If the chaser tags the Ghost first, the Ghost stays the Ghost and plays another round.

Printable Chant Cards

Chants are half the fun. They build suspense and give younger players something easy to shout together. Here they are, written out exactly as you can say them.

MAIN CHANT — EVERYONE JOINS IN:
Pumpkin, pumpkin, pumpkin, pumpkin…
Pumpkin, pumpkin, GHOST!
Run, little ghost, run!
Run around the circle before the morning sun!

WHEN THE GHOST IS CHOSEN:
Ghost, ghost, catch me if you can!
Round and round the pumpkin patch!
Don’t let the ghost catch you —
Run, run, run!

WHEN THE GHOST SITS DOWN SAFELY:
Safe at last, safe at last!
The ghost is home, the chase is past!
Now it’s your turn to haunt the patch!

Don’t worry about getting the chant perfect — kids will make up their own verses within two rounds, and that’s part of the charm.

How to Play

Have everyone sit in a circle, facing inward, with knees tucked in so the runner has a clear path around the outside. Pick the first Ghost — the birthday child, the party host, or whoever volunteers first. The Ghost stands outside the circle and starts walking slowly around it.

As the Ghost walks, they tap each player gently and say “Pumpkin.” They can take their time: part of the game is the suspense, since nobody knows who will hear “Ghost!” next. When ready, the Ghost taps one player, says “Ghost!” clearly, and takes off running around the outside of the circle in one direction.

The chosen player jumps up right away and chases the Ghost in the same direction. The race is on. The Ghost is trying to get all the way around the circle and sit down in the spot the chaser just left. The chaser is trying to tag the Ghost before that happens.

If the Ghost sits down first, they’re safe, and the chaser becomes the new Ghost. If the chaser tags the Ghost first, the Ghost goes again. One round flows straight into the next, and kids will happily play for twenty minutes without anyone explaining anything twice.

A few safety rules keep the game fun instead of chaotic. Everyone runs in the same direction, always, and the path stays outside the circle, never through the middle. Tags are light taps on the shoulder or back, never pushes, grabs, or trips. Outside, pick soft ground like grass and clear away toys, hoses, or anything someone could trip over. If a child falls, pause the game, check they’re okay, and let them sit out a round if they want to.

For younger players, slow it down: let the Ghost walk instead of run for the first few rounds, or let an adult be the first Ghost to show how it works. Once kids see one round, they’ve got it.

Ways to Change It Up

Once your group knows the basic game, these variations keep it fresh for a second party or a longer play session.

Skeleton, Skeleton, Ghost: Swap the chant to “Skeleton, Skeleton, Ghost!” and let the tapper wear a skeleton mask or carry a plastic bone. The rules stay exactly the same, but the new chant feels like a whole new game to younger kids.

Witch, Witch, Ghost: In this version, the tapper is a witch who walks around the circle saying “Witch” until she picks a ghost. It’s a fun pick for a witch-themed party, and it works well when you’ve already got witch hats and brooms as decorations.

Monster Mash Round: Everyone in the circle makes their best monster noise when they’re tapped. The circle gets loud fast, and shy kids often loosen up once everyone is being silly together.

Indoor Version: Push furniture to the walls and use a rug or taped circle on the floor. The Ghost walks, not runs, around the outside. It’s great for rainy parties or classrooms where running isn’t an option, because the suspense is in the chant, not the speed.

Team Ghost: For a big group, split into two circles and play both at once. It keeps large parties moving and stops waiting players from getting bored.

Try the classic version first, then throw in Skeleton, Skeleton, Ghost for round two.

Free Printable + Premium Bundles

The rules and chants above are free to print and use at your party, classroom, or family night — just print this page and you’re set. If you’d like the full premium printable bundles with ready-to-print game cards, decorations, and matching party pieces, you’ll find them at https://fukroo.etsy.com.