Cupcakes, Chaos, and Creepy Costumes: Activate’s Spooktacular Night of Connection

On October 25th at the Victoria Park Community Centre, Activate Mental Health hosted a Halloween board games night full of spooky surprises and sweet connections. Sofia, one of our newest guest hosts, recounts the glitter, giggles, and ghoulish games that made the evening unforgettable.

The full haunted crew! Every ghost, ghoul, and giggle gathered for one unforgettable Halloween game night.

Under the waxing crescent moon, the community center was a graveyard of glitter and giggles. A warning sign sneered at us: “ZOMBIES INSIDE. ENTER AT YOUR OWN RISK.” Yet all heroes and villains, in a board game’s dance, embraced the eerie chance. Candles flickered on blood-streaked tables, casting long, twitching shadows across towers of cupcakes and cookies Laura and Elizabeth baked. They stared back with empty eyes, sugar glazing their gaze as if they knew something sweetly sinister. Somewhere in the background, the speakers crackled with a mischievous melody, stitching together the Halloween spirit.

People started trickling in, capes dragging and masks slightly crooked. Showering each other with compliments on our spooky, funny, and downright creative costumes, we began capturing the moment on our cameras. Colin introduced his pet spider, Patricia. Thankfully, Patricia turned out to be plastic, though the screams that followed suggested otherwise.

An interactive Halloween hide and seek was already underway, announced through printed notes placed on every table. Plushies were hidden around the room, waiting to be found. By the time I even realized what was happening, both had already been discovered. Apparently, our group doesn’t just play games; they hunt victory like candy on Halloween night.

Within seconds, everyone huddled around the table, rules forgotten, alliances made and betrayed. I wandered between tables, joining in different games, snapping pictures, and laughing at the friendly interactions happening all around. Somewhere between rounds, I learned that Bonnie has her own YouTube channel, and of course, I had to give her a proper shoutout here. You can check it out if you’re interested: Explore with Bonnie.

Then came Laura’s legendary Halloween bingo, complete with spooky squares like “Zombie hands,” “Bats,” “Haunted house” and many more. The room buzzed with laughter and friendly chaos. Over at the “winning table,” three out of four people managed to score a win, and of course, I was the odd one out. Jokes immediately started flying about how the Halloween spirits had clearly taken up residence at that table, and maybe I needed to switch seats and join the “losers” to balance the energy. At one point, someone from another table even came over to join us, hoping a little of that spooky good luck might rub off on them! They got their prizes, tiny trophies of triumph, while the rest of us clapped dramatically from the sidelines.

Soon after, we slipped back into the games and chatter until Rahul called everyone’s attention for the appreciation gifts. He handed out small tokens of thanks to our talented baker Laura and Elizabeth. The cheers that followed could’ve woken the dead. Then came the crowning of the best dressed of the night.

Next came the raffle draw, three prizes up for grabs, all tied to the donations from earlier. The suspense was real; you’d think we were competing for a haunted mansion.

Finally, we played one last chaotic round of games before packing up. Everyone pitched in, and in what felt like minutes, the center looked even better than when we’d arrived, leaving no trace of this spooky fun night.

The masterminds behind the mayhem — proof that teamwork (and a little chaos) makes the magic happen.

Nathan, ever the multitasker, charming guests, keeping things running, and making sure no soul went unregistered.

Our talented bakers who brought sweetness to the spookiness. Thank you for keeping our spirits (and sugar levels) high!

A feast for the eyes and the fangs. These treats disappeared faster than a ghost at sunrise!

Eyes on the cards, snacks in hand, and laughter all around — Laura’s Halloween Bingo was a hit (even if some of us were one square away from glory!). Guess which table took home the wins from the hint in my blog and on the table!

Answer!!

About the Author:

Sofia has recently joined the Activate Mental Health volunteer team as a guest host of the monthly board games night. She was inspired to volunteer by her belief that small moments of laughter and connection can make a big difference to someone’s well-being. In her free time, she enjoys going to the gym, journaling about personal growth, and exploring new restaurants. Sofia hopes to help others feel seen, supported, and connected through shared experiences and genuine conversation.

Here's how you can support Activate Mental Health:

Volunteer for Activate Mental Health 🙋‍♀️: Click here to find out more about volunteering for Activate Mental Health.

Donate to Activate Mental Health🎗️: If you'd like to support Activate Mental Health in its mission to "Improve well-being through fun and human connection", you can donate to us here.

Sponsor Activate Mental Health 🤝: If you'd like to become a sponsor of Activate Mental Health, please email hello@activatemh.com.au.