Classic Halloween Game for Children

Ghost in the Graveyard

Game Rules

This game is played with kids from around the neighborhood. Or it can be done with invited friends as long as they hide in the hosts’ yard or an area they are familiar with.

This game is traditionally played after dark but with younger children it can be played during the day.

Three or more players are needed but the more the merrier. A home base should be designated as a safe spot. Boundaries for the game should be picked, such as, only host’s yard or several players' neighborhood yards--if it is being run as neighborhood game.

The object of the game is to find the “ghost”--this is the player that is “it” and then has to hide.

Methods to pick first player to be ghost can be done by playing rock, paper, and scissors or by the shortest or tallest, youngest or oldest person in the group etc.

As picked “ghost” hides other players known as Dead Ones chant: one o’clock, two o’clock, three o’clock etc. until twelve o’clock is reached then the group yells, “Midnight! I hope I don’t see a ghost tonight!” Another ending to this chant: Starlight, star bright, I hope to see a ghost tonight.”

Or players can simply count to 50 etc. Once this is done each players goes in search of the ghost.

The player that is “it”--"the ghost" must choose a place to hide that is away from “home base” so that once found they can tag another player before they reach home base.

When a player finds the ghost they shout out, “Ghost in the Graveyard” they then must race back to home base--this also alerts rest of players to head for home base so they don’t get tagged by the ghost.

The player that is tagged then becomes the next “ghost” that must hide. Play continues until all players have had the opportunity to be the ghost.