5,000-Step Walking Playlist for Halloween
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October is here! If you haven’t already gotten all of your Halloween decorations out, this is your reminder that it’s officially Spooky Season! And what better way to get yourself in the mood for some fun fall walks than with a playlist full of eerie, haunting, and just plain creepy Halloween-themed songs? We’ve got everything here from the wacky to the downright disturbing. And there’s plenty here to get your heart pumping in all the best ways.
A little more about the playlist:
I’ve included a number of different ways to listen. I’ve got YouTube videos posted below. If you want to download the MP3, I’ve also got links to find them on Amazon. Or you can listen to the whole thing by playing the Spotify playlist.
For each song in this playlist, I’ve listed the beats per minute, the pace (in minutes per mile) that you’ll be walking if you’re walking to the beat, and the number of steps that you’ll take during the song if you keep up that pace. We’ll start with an easy pace and work our way up, finishing with a cool-down. The songs here eventually build up to a pretty brisk pace, but take it at a pace that works for you—whether that means moving faster or slower. You’re totally allowed to dance and sing your way through this playlist, too (in fact, it’s almost guaranteed). If you follow the pace of each song, you’ll be over 5,000 steps (or around 2.5 miles) by the time you reach the end. If you’re looking for more steps, feel free to play it again—or move on to another one of my playlists. You can find them all on the Playlists page.
1) “Superstition” by Stevie Wonder
We’re kicking off our Halloween walk with a classic Halloween party track. The pace may be easier, but the funky beats are sure to get you moving (and maybe dancing) along as we set off.
Find it on Amazon
Beats per Minute: 100
Pace: 20:00
Steps: 408
2) “Dracula’s Wedding” – Outkast
The same guys who got everyone to “shake it like a Polaroid picture” produced this playfully spooky track about the King of Vampires coming down with a case of cold feet. But this one is sure to get your feet warmed up for more Halloween fun to come.
Beats per Minute: 102
Pace: 19:36
Steps: 258
3) “I Want Candy” – Bow Wow Wow
My daughter would tell you that the best thing about Halloween is the candy. Obviously. And while it may not be an especially spooky song, this sugary-sweet ‘80s pop hit is the perfect way to give you a little extra energy as we keep building up our pace.
Beats per Minute: 110
Pace: 18:11
Steps: 301
4) “Bones” – Imagine Dragons
Despite its eerie, skeletal title, this track doesn’t seem especially creepy—until you watch the video. Once you see this Wall Street-meets-“Thriller” music video, you’ll never hear the song the same way again.
Find it on Amazon
Beats per Minute: 114
Pace: 17:33
Steps: 314
5) “Ghostbusters” – Ray Parker, Jr.
Sure, this song comes from an ‘80s movie that was silly enough that it was eventually adapted into a Saturday morning cartoon—but it’s still the perfect song for a Halloween playlist.
Beats per Minute: 116
Pace: 17:14
Steps: 464
6) “Thriller” – Michael Jackson
No Halloween playlist would be complete without “Thriller.” Everything about this song is perfectly creepy—complete with narration by Vincent Price—and its beat will keep you moving. If you know those classic dance moves, feel free to bust them out on the trail while you’re walking.
Beats per Minute: 118
Pace: 16:57
Steps: 702
7) “Bury a Friend” – Billie Eilish
I feel like there are so many songs by Billie Eilish that would work on this playlist. But the mix of eerie melodies and creepy lyrics (it was reportedly written from the perspective of a monster under Billie’s bed) give this one an edge over some of the others. Really, though, the album cover alone is enough to give anyone nightmares.
Find it on Amazon
Beats per Minute: 120
Pace: 16:40
Steps: 386
8) “Psycho Killer” – The Talking Heads
Back in my college days, a few lifetimes ago, I had a super-cool punk-rock boyfriend who had a radio show on our school’s station. He played this haunting track on every show—and I still love this track (even when it’s not Halloween).
Beats per Minute: 123
Pace: 16:16
Steps: 535
9) “Somebody’s Watching Me” – Rockwell
Do you ever feel like somebody’s watching you? This track is sure to make you feel more than a little bit paranoid—it might have you looking over your shoulder on the trail—but it’s perfect for our Halloween walk.
Beats per Minute: 124
Pace: 16:08
Steps: 446
10) “Heads Will Roll” – Yeah Yeah Yeahs
In case you’re not feeling sufficiently creeped out yet, don’t worry—there’s still plenty more to come! Up next, we’re dancin’ till we’re dead with this haunting dance track by the Yeah Yeah Yeahs.
Beats per Minute: 132
Pace: 15:09
Steps: 486
11) “Dead Man’s Party” – Oingo Boingo
Don’t let the catchy, fast-moving beat fool you—this track by Danny Elfman’s old band, Oingo Boingo, is about the dead gathering together for a wild Halloween bash. Keep up with them if you can!
Beats per Minute: 161
Pace: 12:25
Steps: 1,025
12) “Heathens” – Twenty-One Pilots
It’s cool-down time! While we’re slowing down the pace, though, we’re keeping things perfectly eerie with this Twenty-One Pilots track.
Fun fact: If I were to set out on foot from my house, I could pass by Twenty-One Pilots drummer Josh Dun’s neighborhood before the end of this Halloween walk.
Fun fact #2: Josh Dun and I have participated in the same race at least once that I know of (though he’s a runner, so he was way ahead of me).
Beats per Minute: 90
Pace: 22:13
Steps: 294
Total Time for Today’s Workout: 46:37
Total Steps: 5,619
Congratulations! You’ve made it to the end of our creepy Halloween playlist! I don’t know about you, but I’ve thoroughly creeped myself out while putting this list together. It’s funny how these songs seem fine on their own—but when you listen to them back to back, they’re a whole lot more haunting.
If you’ve kept up with the beat, you’ve already gotten more than 5,000 steps (I went a little over, since it’s pretty tough to keep up with the pace of “Dead Man’s Party”). That’s more than 2.5 miles! Way to go!
Do you have any favorite songs from this playlist? And do you have any other Halloween favorites? Let’s hear ‘em!