October has officially begun, which means the season of Fall is well underway. Numerous organizations are looking for virtual ways to engage their teams with events inspired by Fall, not to mention incorporating the approaching holiday of Halloween. As such, I have put together a brief list of virtual, Fall-themed (and Halloween-centric) team-building activities, perfect for Halloween buffs and “scaredy-cats” alike!
1. Murder Mysteries
Looking for an event that’s entertaining, captures the eerie nature of Halloween, develops problem-solving skills, and encourages teamwork? An online murder mystery may be just the thing! The best part about this activity is that dozens of potential mysteries are available, meaning there’s a mystery perfect for every team. Murder Mystery Zoom Parties Hosted by Detective Ness, fitting 8-12 participants, is a great event for beginners, as the titular Detective Ness is there to help guide the case along. For groups interested in a more hardcore, Halloween-esque mystery, Zombie Cannibal Asylum is set during the apocalypse and can accommodate up to 100 people. Murder in the Queen’s Court is a mystery that’s “part history lesson, part fantasy story, part true crime tale, and all fun,” perfect for those seeking royal drama!
(Worried about budgeting? Check out Sour Grapes of Wrath, The Movie Murder Mystery, and The Business of Murder, all of which are free!)
2. Escape Rooms
For organizations that want an event as suspenseful and exciting as what’s expected from Halloween, but maybe with a little less death than murder mysteries, a virtual escape room is the perfect choice. Like online murder mysteries, these escape rooms will increase communication, improve problem-solving skills, and encourage teamwork! One option is Jewel Heist, which involves teams of 4-8, where participants must work together to recover the hidden jewels. International Monster Hunter, on the other hand, is a Halloween classic, where participants work together to track down legendary creatures (from the Loch Ness Monster to Chupacabra).
(Worried about budgeting? Check out The Minotaur’s Labyrinth Escape Room, Escape: The Midnight Express, and Romeo & Juliet Escape Room, all of which are free!)
3. Ghost Stories
Looking for a Halloween activity that’s on the nose? Prior to the event, all participants receive a small treat box in the mail, containing delights such as s’mores and cookies. The event itself is run by multiple guides, some of whom are professionally trained in telling ghost stories and others who will lead participants on a live, on-location tour of a Victorian cemetery. Other aspects of the event include storytelling contests, arts and crafts, and more!
4. Ghost Tour of Salem, Massachusetts
For teams still interested in a spooky tourist experience but may lack the option to ship members treat boxes around the world, a virtual tour from Salem Ghosts could be the perfect fit! The organization offers virtual tours both live and on demand, meaning if a participant cannot attend for any reason, they can view the experience on their own time afterwards. It’s a win-win!
5. Ghost Hunt: The Haunted Online Halloween Scavenger Hunt
There’s only one thing better than a scavenger hunt: a Halloween-themed scavenger hunt! Watson Adventures describes this event as follows:
“On teams, you’ll go for a virtual walk to and within haunted places and learn the stories of their ghosts. You’ll meet our host on Zoom, then your team will go into a breakout room and use our browser-based app to follow a trail of clues across surprising websites, in search of answers to tricky questions.”
This event captures the Halloween spirit while simultaneously involving creative puzzles and challenges, making it perfect for both intense brainiacs and Halloween buffs. Best of all? The organization reports that “[a]n international version of the hunt is available for groups with ESL participants,” meaning it’s one of the most inclusive experiences on this list!
6. The Magic of Fall
Now, I doubt I’m the only person out there who isn’t quite as keen on the horror aspects of Fall, especially those associated with Halloween. As such, it felt only right to include a team-building activity fitting for those of us interested in an event that’s a little less spooky stress and a little more fun relaxation! The Magic of Fall is an autumn-themed Bob Ross painting tutorial; teams can hop on a Zoom call and follow the tutorial together, allowing everyone to complete their own autumnal scene. For those eager to go the extra mile, they can even buy a Bob Ross painting kit (though this isn’t required). This activity builds patience and conversation, and overall helps team members grow more comfortable with each other.
7. Explore the Paris Catacombs
Last but certainly not least, exploring the Paris Catacombs is perhaps the easiest team-building activity on this list! Groups can join a Zoom call with one person screen-sharing, and together they are able to walk through the famous Paris Catacombs. With the perfect balance of being eerie but not overly horrifying, this activity is fantastic for Halloween enthusiasts and those of us who are more timid. Navigating the catacombs as a group requires patience, clear communication, and confidence in speaking, and best of all? It’s free!
Halloween is going to be here before we know it, so what are we all waiting for? It’s time to get spooky! Happy haunting—I mean, team-building! ?
Dima Ghawi is the founder of a global talent development company with a primary mission for advancing individuals in leadership. Through keynote speeches, training programs and executive coaching, Dima has empowered thousands of professionals across the globe to expand their leadership potential. In addition, she provides guidance to business executives to develop diversity, equity, and inclusion strategies and to implement a multi-year plan for advancing quality leaders from within the organization.
Reach her at DimaGhawi.com and BreakingVases.com.