I’m Magic Gareth, your host for this magical journey of trickery and fun for Spooky Season!
Imagine a party filled with fun magic, spooky puzzles, and a ghost made from toilet paper…
Well, that is what I do!
I’m a family magician based in Edinburgh, Scotland, and author of The Party Tricks Handbook: 40 Tricks and Puzzles to Fool Your Friends. I’m very happy to be with you here at Major League Mommy!
Whether it’s a small family party or a big event, I’m about to show you 7 Easy Halloween Magic Tricks and Puzzles that will make your party unforgettable. All wrapped up in an interactive and engaging game!
We often forget that the act of TRICK OR TREATING used to mean ‘show me a trick and THEN I’ll give you a treat’. We now simply dress up and expect some candy… and it can be SO much more entertaining!
For this reason, I made a video of ‘tricks’ that you can perform to impress and WOW your friends for Halloween, and actually be REWARDED with your treat.
But first… The Magic of Learning!
Photo Credit: Yuganov Konstantin via Canva.com
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It’s not just about the tricks that you will do; it’s also about expanding your mind, learning new neurological pathways, and improving hand-eye coordination.
Magic Tricks can boost self-confidence and personal growth. It nurtures creativity in both the young and old.
So, as we dive into these tricks, remember, it’s not just about the magic; it’s about the magic of learning and, of course, FUN! Let’s do this!
The PARTY Set Up: PUMPKIN – POP – PERFORM!
Everyone in your house/party will learn one of the following Tricks from my Party Tricks Handbook (all detailed below).
The Vanishing Coin
11 Fingers
Walk through Paper like a Ghost
The Dancing Skeleton
The Selfie CARD Trick
Mega Mind Reading
Tommy the Toilet Paper
They will then perform it at some point through the night… BUT WHEN?
Grab as many ORANGE balloons as there are people (maybe extra if you have a spooky black cat that would like to perform too…) and write the names of each individual on a small piece of paper.
BONUS POINT OPTION: if you ‘tea-stain’ the paper and slightly singe the edges it makes it look super old and creepy!
Each name goes into an orange balloon which is then blown up, nice and BIG! Throw the balloons around a bit, mixing them up so no one knows whose name is in which balloon. Now, draw a spooky pumpkin face design on each balloon.
You can hide these balloons around the house (for a scavenger hunt style party) put them in a pile on the floor (for a ballpit-type feel) or fill them with helium (… FLYING PUMKINS!).
Set an alarm for 10 minutes. When the alarm sounds, someone in the group is nominated to pop a PUMPKIN balloon. The name inside is the first performer.
*MAGIC – OOOOH – AAAAHH*
When that performer has blown your socks off with magic and trickery, you now have a choice… You could continue with more balloon-popping fun, or set a new 10-minute timer (in ‘WITCH’ time you could have some nibbles, maybe dance ‘The Time Warp’, or brush your spooky kitty. The alarm goes off and the game continues.)
Prizes for each performer could be a Magic Wand or a simple pat on the back. You decide. But remember to congratulate and acknowledge the courage it takes to stand and perform, even in front of your nearest and dearest.
And now…
THE TRICKS AND PUZZLES
Vanishing coin
You’re sitting around the dinner table and the spooky magician magically vanishes a coin from under a glass!
YOU WILL NEED:
a coin
glass
tin foil
sheets of colored cards
Scissors
HOW?
On one sheet of card draw around the opening of the glass and cut out that circle. Stick the circle to the opening of the glass and turn it upside down on top of the other sheet of card. This creates an invisible barrier – a secret compartment, if you will – when you can hide something flat, like a coin!
11 fingers
Prove you have 11 fingers in 3 ways!
YOU WILL NEED:
10 fingers
A sausage
This is based on some sneaky wordplay and maths. Hold both hands up.
First, you are going to use one hand to count backward, using your fingers, from 10 – 6. Then on your other hand, you count upwards 1 – 5. You finish up by saying ‘6+5 is? 11!’
Next, hold up both your hands again, and you are going to count upwards, starting at 1, putting your finger down at each number BUT you are going to add the number 8 after each number (sneakily skipping 8/8). When you say it out loud you will see how easy it is!
1 8
2 8
3 8
4 8
5 8
6 8
7 8
9 8
10 8
11!
3. Now when everyone is either trying to figure out what on earth you just did, or rolling on the floor laughing, you pick up a sausage (that you had secretly in your pants pocket) and put it between your middle fingers on one hand. Hold up your hand, show 11 fingers, and take a BIG BITE out of the sausage.
MEGA LOLZ.
Walk through paper
Ghosts can walk through walls, but can YOU walk through a piece of paper?
Challenge everyone to cut one hole and ONE HOLE ONLY in a piece of A4 paper, big enough to fit their whole body through! Sound impossible right? Not when you know this sneaky pattern here!
Photo credit: Magic Gareth
Cut along the lines you see in the image. Open it out and VOILA! You can step right through… just like a GHOST!
You, as the magician, are going to predict a number that you had NO control over!
Photo credit: Magic Gareth
Photo credit: Magic Gareth
Dancing Stick Skeleton
This is super simple and SUPER FUN!
Grab a dinner plate and dry-wipe marker. With the marker, dry a stick person (or skeleton) in the middle. Now gently pour a few drops of water on the stick person and watch them come to life, dancing around the plate on the body of water. This may take a few times to perfect, when you do, you will be pleasantly surprised!
I hope you have enjoyed this journey of Halloween Ideas that fell out of my head and turned into Pumpkin – Pop – Perform!
Please do share your magical moments with us, and remember, real magic lies in learning and having fun together. Happy Halloween, and may your celebrations be filled with wonder and laughter!
With The Party Tricks Handbook, you’ll have all the secrets and skills you need to leave your friends astonished and amazed!
Developed by Magic Gareth, a renowned magician from Edinburgh, Scotland, with over fifty thousand followers on TikTok, this book is your ultimate guide to becoming a party trick master.
Photo provided by: Magic Gareth
Photo provided by: Magic Gareth
What makes The Party Tricks Handbook by Magic Gareth special is its collection of 40 mind-boggling effects and puzzles that are guaranteed to leave your friends speechless. In these 78 pages, you’ll discover a world of magic and trickery that will keep everyone guessing.
Imagine pulling off a jaw-dropping illusion like a color-changing apple, defying logic with mind-bending optical illusions, or making a coin vanish into thin air.
These are just a few of the amazing Party Tricks you’ll learn in this one-of-a-kind handbook. Each trick is carefully explained, step by step, making it easy for kids aged 8 and above to master them and perform like a pro!
There are even QR codes that take you to performances of the tricks so you can see exactly what it looks like!
Unlock the secrets of magic and make memories that will last a lifetime. With The Party Tricks Handbook, you’ll have the power to create unforgettable moments and become the ultimate magician.
