Halloween trivia questions and answers
By Votense · Published 2026-10-11 · Updated 2026-10-11
These Halloween trivia questions and answers are grouped by theme: origins and customs, books and characters, and films and music. Each group works as a short round on its own. Read the question, let people guess, then show the answer below it. The origin round often leads to good discussion, because the traditions behind Halloween are older and more varied than most people expect.
For a version players can take on their phones, the Halloween trivia quiz template carries ten questions with the correct answers marked. Host it live with a PIN, or send the link and let each person take it in their own time.
How to run a Halloween round
Keep rounds short, around eight to ten questions, so the room does not lose interest. Mix one origin question into each round to add a little history. If you run a family or classroom game, choose the films and books your group already knows.
To score the round, give each correct answer a point and reveal the answer after everyone has guessed. The quiz maker records each player’s score and shows which question most people missed, so you can see which parts of the round landed.
Origins and customs
- What ancient Celtic festival is linked to the origins of Halloween? Answer: Samhain.
- On what date is Halloween celebrated? Answer: 31 October.
- What is 1 November, the day after Halloween, called? Answer: All Saints’ Day.
- Which vegetable was carved into the first jack-o’-lanterns in Ireland and Scotland? Answer: The turnip.
- Which fruit is traditionally bobbed for at Halloween parties? Answer: The apple.
- Which Mexican holiday is observed on 1 and 2 November? Answer: Día de los Muertos, the Day of the Dead.
- Botanically, what is a pumpkin? Answer: A fruit.
- How many legs does a spider have? Answer: Eight.
- Which flying mammal is the only mammal capable of sustained flight? Answer: The bat.
Books and characters
- Who wrote the 1897 novel “Dracula”? Answer: Bram Stoker.
- In which region of Romania is Count Dracula’s castle set? Answer: Transylvania.
- Who wrote “Frankenstein”, published in 1818? Answer: Mary Shelley.
- What is the name of the scientist in “Frankenstein”? Answer: Victor Frankenstein.
- Which 1820 story by Washington Irving features the Headless Horseman? Answer: “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow”.
- In which town is “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow” set? Answer: Sleepy Hollow, in New York’s Hudson Valley.
Films, TV and music
- Which 1993 Disney film stars Bette Midler as a witch? Answer: “Hocus Pocus”.
- Which 1984 film features a team who capture ghosts in New York City? Answer: “Ghostbusters”.
- Which 1966 TV special shows Linus waiting in a pumpkin patch for the Great Pumpkin? Answer: “It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown”.
- Who recorded the 1962 novelty song “Monster Mash”? Answer: Bobby “Boris” Pickett.
- Which 1982 Michael Jackson song is the title track of his best-selling album? Answer: “Thriller”.
More trivia for the season
The Christmas trivia questions and the Thanksgiving trivia questions cover the next holidays. For a general round with no theme, the trivia questions and answers template is ready to play.
Frequently asked questions
Are these questions suitable for children?
Yes. The questions are about history, books, films and nature rather than frightening content. Check the film and book questions against the age of your group, since some classic horror titles are for older audiences.
How do I turn these into a quiz?
Use the Halloween trivia quiz template. It opens in the quiz editor with ten questions and their correct answers filled in, and you can change or add any question before you host it live or share a link.
Why does the Halloween origin story vary?
Halloween draws on several traditions, including Samhain, All Saints’ Day and later folk customs. Good quiz answers describe the link between them rather than claiming one clear origin, so check any origin answer against a reference before a formal event.