Getting dressed up in a scary costume and heading to a Halloween party is fun no matter how old you are (especially when there are so many meme-able options kicking about), but does the spooky season hit the same as it did when you were a kid? Not quite.
Kids just love Halloween, what with all the pumpkin carving and trick-or-treating, so to help the little terrors really get their groove on this year, we’ve compiled a list of the very best kid-friendly Halloween songs. There’s kindie-rock darlings, sing-along hits and some ghosts of Halloween past on this list, so you’ll have plenty to keep ‘em moving while they dance through that sugar rush. Happy Halloween!
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This list was written by Danielle Valente, who is Time Out New York’s former kids editor. At Time Out, all of our travel guides are written by local writers who know their cities inside out. For more about how we curate, see our editorial guidelines.
The absolute classic Nightmare Before Christmas song is done right with this hella-dark cover by Marilyn Manson. Essentially, it’s everything you want in a Halloween song: dramatic electric guitar, chaotic lyrics, and Manson’s deep, raspy vocals. He really committed to this one (all in the name of the ‘ween), and it pays off.
If there’s something strange in your neighbourhood, who’re you gonna call? The Ghostbusters, obvs. And you’d do well to also call on them when it’s time to entertain any little monsters you’re hosting this Halloween. When the theme song to the 1984 film of the same name starts playing, the lyrics come rushing right back. When unknown spirits come a-knocking on your door in the night, just tell them, ‘I ain’t afraid of no ghost.’
If you’re going to bust a dance move on Halloween, you would be remiss to forgo playing ‘Monster Mash.’ This ‘62 hit has made its way to the black hearts and souls of various generations, and no get-together in the fall is complete without it. How does your ‘Monster Mash’ stack up to the competition?
Little ghouls, goblins and vampires will have no problem jumping along to this folk tune about the creatures who possibly appear when they sleep. Monsters under the bed are certainly a frightening topic come bedtime, but this jingle welcomes the spookiness with fun beats that beg for a quick dance marathon.
A jaunty, spindly, xylophone-heavy ode to the spine-tingling effect of dancing skeletons, Andrew Gold’s goofy tale of misunderstood bags of bones – turns out they only want to hang out – is a crowd-pleaser to be sure. But it’s also the gift that keeps on giving: Once you’ve exhausted the original, pop on the EDM remix.
Kindie rock favourite Caspar Babypants – AKA The Presidents of the United States of America singer Chris Ballew – takes the classic skeleton song on a funky spin in this creepy-crawly jam that encourages all sorts of twisting, quivering, shivering and noise-making. It essentially renders the ‘Hokey Pokey’ irrelevant.
This ‘60s throwback will give you chills! Follow along as Bert catches sight of Frankenstein, Dracula and other ghastly monsters. The bluesy undertones make it practically impossible not to bust a move.
Is it a purple creature who eats people? A monster that only eats people who are purple? Who cares: It can rip a crazy good sax solo, and that’s kept this novelty song in the cultural conversation for more than 60 years.
If you thought hearing ‘Baby Shark’ a few million times was scary, wait until you get ahold of the Halloween rendition of the toddler fan fave. We're treated to a slower, jazzier tempo and a few ‘boos’ to replace the ‘doos,’ but ultimately it's a safe bet to assume that this is probably going to get stuck in your head, just like the original.
Perusing Spirit Halloween is more challenging than it is entertaining. With aisles of fun costumes, it makes choosing just one almost impossible. This track is for any kiddo who can't decide what to be on the spookiest day of the year.
Although They Might Be Giants is one of our go-to bands for kids, we won’t judge if you choose to rock out to this catchy industrial jazz tune solo. It’s eerie and unusual enough to put a spin on your Halloween party playlist. These Brooklynites certainly make the kindie scene cool for the adults, too.
A monster with purple eyes and green teeth is the inspiration behind the rhythmic folk tune from The Laurie Berkner Band. We're more than willing to boogie to anything she sings, but this track is on repeat for us when October hits.
Del’Rey’s airy vocals are the perfect complement to Donovan’s original track. We can't help but feel a sense of mystery brewing every time we listen. Ultimately, the remix just might be even creepier than the original, which is no small feat. No wonder it made it onto the Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark soundtrack.
The sing-song jazz tune will draw listeners in and get them groovin’ as the dissonant strings start to play. It’s spooky, it’s fun and, honestly, worth a listen even if your Halloween party is totally free of kids.
The Weezer-esque rock tune makes a ghost in the house sound more fun – and at times irritating – than scary. We get total little brother vibes from this jam. Plus, any paranormal presence that's entertaining and not menacing is a win!
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