National Ghost Hunting Day

It’s the last Saturday of September, the air is crisp, and Halloween is just around the corner. But before the ghosts get too busy with their October hauntings, we’ve set aside a day to go looking for them—yes, seriously!

National Ghost Hunting Day marks the official start of spooky season. It’s when paranormal enthusiasts and brave souls alike gather to explore some of the world’s most haunted locations. Think of it as a global game of hide-and-seek, except the ones hiding are ghosts, and they’re very good at it.

The purpose is to highlight the most eerie spots and to recognize the dedicated paranormal investigators who spend their time chasing shadows, capturing mysterious sounds, and asking the all-important question: “Is anyone there?” And sometimes, much to everyone’s surprise, the answer is yes.

So, if you’ve ever wanted to spend a night in a haunted house or are just fascinated by the paranormal, this is your day! Just be sure to bring a flashlight, maybe some ghost-hunting gadgets, and a healthy dose of courage—because things might just get a little spooky.

Here’s a little video for you to get in the mood 👻

When is National Ghost Hunting Day?

Celebrating since 2016, National Ghost Hunting Day has been celebrated since 2016 and has grown into a fun and spooky way to embrace the paranormal. Here are the dates from 2024 to 2030.

7 Fun Ideas to Celebrate National Ghost Hunting Day

Here’s a fun list of ways to celebrate National Ghost Hunting Day that’s perfect for anyone looking to get into the spooky spirit, whether you’re an adult or planning something with the family:

1. Go on a Ghost Hunt (From Home!)

You don’t need to venture into a creepy abandoned building to experience the thrill of ghost hunting. Set up a ghost hunt at home with your family or friends:

• Turn off the lights and grab some flashlights.
• Use your smartphone to download a ghost-hunting app. They might not be scientifically accurate, but they sure are entertaining!
• Walk around your home or backyard and see if you can “detect” any spirits. Make it a friendly competition to see who can spot the most “ghosts.”

2. Host a Ghostly Movie Marathon

There’s nothing like watching some classic ghost movies to get in the spirit of the day:

• Pick a mix of spooky but fun movies like Ghostbusters, Casper, and The Addams Family. If you are interesting in some blood-chilling movies instead, check out this 50 Of The Best Ghost Movies by IMDb.
• Make it a pajama party, complete with popcorn and ghost-shaped cookies.
• For the brave, end the night with a scarier movie—just keep the lights on!

3. Play Spooky Board Games

Board games are a great way to celebrate with a group, and there are plenty of options with a spooky twist:

• Mysterium: Work together to solve the mystery of a haunted house by communicating with a ghost.
• Betrayal at House on the Hill: Build and explore a haunted mansion with friends, but beware—one of you might turn traitor!
• Ghost Blitz: A fast-paced game that’s perfect for both adults and kids, where quick thinking is key to catching the right ghostly objects.
• Ghost Hunters: A single-player puzzle game designed for ages 6 and up. The goal is to capture all the ghosts in a haunted house by shining light on them using specially designed puzzle pieces. It’s part of the “Smart Games” series, which focuses on developing logical thinking and problem-solving skills.

4. Host a Party with Ghost-Themed Printables & Activities

Throw a fun and spooky gathering with ghost-themed printables and activities that everyone, from kids to adults, can enjoy:

• Ghost-Themed Games: Print out ghost-themed coloring pages, bingo cards, word searches, or scavenger hunt lists. These activities are easy to set up and fun for all ages. For example, you can hide ghost cutouts around your home or yard and have a scavenger hunt to see who can find the most.
• DIY Ghost Masks: Provide guests with printable ghost masks that they can color and decorate themselves. Set up a crafting station with markers, glitter, and stickers. It’s a great way to get everyone involved, especially the kids, and they can wear their masks during the party.

5. Ghost Storytelling Circle

Gather around for a good old-fashioned ghost storytelling session:

• Each person takes turns sharing their favorite ghost story, whether it’s a classic, something local, or even a personal experience.
• Make it more interactive by using a flashlight under your chin for that eerie glow, and encourage everyone to really get into character.
• For a twist, create a “pass-the-story” game where each person adds a sentence to a ghost story that everyone builds together.

6. Have a Spooky Scavenger Hunt

Plan a ghost-themed scavenger hunt around your house or neighborhood:

• Create clues that lead participants to different spooky spots where you’ve hidden “ghostly” items like ghost figurines or glow-in-the-dark sticks.
• Make it more exciting by doing it after dark with flashlights.
• End the hunt with a treasure chest filled with ghostly goodies like candy or small toys.

7. Virtual Ghost Tour

If you can’t get out to a real haunted location, bring the experience to you:

• Many haunted places offer virtual tours—check out famous spots like the Winchester Mystery House or Eastern State Penitentiary from the comfort of your home.
• Invite friends or family to join you online and experience the chills together.
• End the tour with a discussion about which place gave you the biggest goosebumps!

Before You Go:

We have many more national days lists for you to explore.

• Food-related national days: complete list of national food days, pasta & noodles days, vegan & vegetarian days, mushroom days, ice-cream days, pizza days, coffee days, chocolate days, wine days, alcohol & drinking days.
• Non-food national days: National Days Calendars 2024-2025 (check out the printable calendars in my Etsy shop), National Days for Teachers, and a wide array of special lists such as cat days, dog days, animal days, cleaning & organizing days, book days, music days, family & relationships days, national days for women, stationery days and even Harry Potter days.
• Country-specific national days: Australian national days, more coming soon.