5 Tips to Keep the Halloween Spirit Alive in a Costume-Free Office

POPSUGAR Photography | Sheila Gim
POPSUGAR Photography | Sheila Gim

Not all workplaces are OK with employees sporting elaborate Halloween costumes on Oct. 31. But before you throw in the Frankenstein-printed towel on having a hauntingly fun Halloween at work, we've found a few ideas that conjure up the holiday's spirit and may not be too spooky to a conservative office. Run your ideas by your manager and HR before you organize any Halloween activities to make sure that they approve of your plans, and check out these five frighteningly fun ideas!

Decorate Your Desk
Flickr user Infusionsoft

Decorate Your Desk

Get your surroundings in a festive mood by decorating your desk with fake cobwebs, plastic spiders, pumpkins, or other creatively spooky decor.

Plan a Potluck
POPSUGAR Photography

Plan a Potluck

Coordinate a Halloween luncheon with your team and assign a type of dish to each person. You can even create a theme for the meal (a Transylvanian feast, the Monster Mash, the Last Supper). You never know what creative dishes your co-workers will present, like this pumpkin pie dip!

Coordinate a Costume Contest
Flickr user anitakhart

Coordinate a Costume Contest

Even if your workplace doesn't allow costumes throughout the day, management might be OK with an organized costume contest. People can bring their costumes to work and change into them for the duration of the contest. Make sure to email the office in advance with the contest's time, duration, and rules, and include any additional office policies like types of costumes that are off limits or the expectation that participants will remove their costumes by a certain time.

Organize Halloween-Themed Activities
POPSUGAR Photography | Sheila Gim

Organize Halloween-Themed Activities

You may not be able to dress the part, but you can still enjoy some of the holiday's best games and activities! Put on a pumpkin-carving contest or get your co-workers to bob for apples. So long as it doesn't take up too much of your day or create a huge mess, your office might encourage these team-building events!

Trick or Treat!
POPSUGAR Photography / Sheila Gim

Trick or Treat!

Don't forget everyone's favorite part of Halloween: the candy! Encourage your team to set out candy on their desks so that co-workers can stop by to trick-or-treat and mingle.