As the sun sets and the darkness of the night surrounds you, there’s nothing quite like gathering around a campfire with friends and family. The warmth of the fire, the smell of burning wood, and the sound of crackling flames all create the perfect atmosphere for sharing stories, roasting marshmallows, and taking part in some good-natured pranks.
Campfires are the perfect setting for pulling off hilarious pranks, especially when everyone is gathered around and feeling relaxed. From fake bugs in the marshmallows to spooky ghost stories, here are ten pranks that are sure to make your next campfire memorable.
Prank 1: Fake Bugs in the Marshmallows
One classic prank that never gets old is placing fake bugs on someone’s marshmallow before they roast it over the fire. This can be done with plastic insects or even gummy worms, just make sure they are heat-resistant and won’t melt into the marshmallow.
To pull this prank off successfully, wait until someone is about to start roasting their marshmallow and then secretly place the fake bug on it. As the marshmallow starts to melt, the bug will become more noticeable and cause quite a scare.
Materials needed:
- Plastic insects or gummy worms
- Skewers for roasting marshmallows
- A willing participant
Prank 2: Spooky Ghost Stories
What’s a campfire without a good ghost story? Take advantage of the darkness and set the mood by telling a scary tale. You can either tell a traditional spooky story or get creative and make one up on the spot. To make the experience even scarier, have someone hide in the bushes and jump out at the end to really spook everyone.
For added effect, you can also use props such as flashlights or scary sound effects to enhance the storytelling experience.
Materials needed:
- Scary story
- Flashlights (optional)
- Scary sound effects (optional)
- A willing participant to jump out at the end
Prank 3: Scary Noises in the Woods
Another classic prank is using a phone or a Bluetooth speaker to play scary noises from the woods. This can include howling wolves, rustling leaves, or even footsteps approaching the campsite. The key to this prank is to start off subtle and gradually increase the intensity of the noises to really scare everyone.
To make this prank even more convincing, have someone hide in the woods and make similar noises to the ones being played from the phone or speaker. This will create an eerie atmosphere that is sure to give everyone a good scare.
Materials needed:
- Phone or Bluetooth speaker
- Scary sound effects
- A willing participant to make additional noises
Prank 4: Fake Snake in the Firepit
One way to get your friends jumping out of their seats is by placing a fake snake in the firepit. This prank is best done when it’s dark outside and the only light is coming from the fire. As everyone gathers around the fire, they may not notice the fake snake until it starts to move due to the heat.
Make sure to use a realistic-looking fake snake for maximum effect. You can also have someone hide nearby and control the movements of the snake with a string to make it seem even more real.
Materials needed:
- Realistic-looking fake snake
- String (optional)
- A willing participant to control the movements of the snake (optional)
Prank 5: Scary Shadows on the Tent
This prank is perfect for those camping in tents. As the night falls and the tent becomes visible from the light of the fire, have someone stand outside the tent and cast scary shadows on the walls. This can be done by using a flashlight or even your hands to create spooky shapes.
For added effect, you can also make scary noises outside the tent to really heighten the tension. Just be careful not to scare anyone too much!
Materials needed:
- Flashlight or hands to create shadows
- Scary noises (optional)
- A willing participant to stand outside the tent
Prank 6: Fake Spider Webs on Chairs
Another classic prank that is sure to get some laughs is placing fake spider webs on chairs. You can either use store-bought webs or make your own using string or cotton balls. As people sit down, they will feel the webs and think they are covered in spiders.
To make this prank extra convincing, have someone dress up as a spider and crawl around the campsite. Just make sure they don’t actually touch anyone with their creepy-crawly costume.
Materials needed:
- Store-bought spider webs or string/cotton balls
- A willing participant to dress up as a spider (optional)
Prank 7: Creepy Hand Reaching Out from the Bushes
This prank is bound to freak out anyone who’s easily scared. Have someone hide in the bushes and stick their hand out, pretending to grab at people as they walk by. To make it even more realistic, they can also make scary noises or move their hand in unexpected ways.
Just make sure everyone is aware of this prank beforehand so no one gets hurt or accidentally hurts the person hiding in the bushes.
Materials needed:
- A willing participant to hide in the bushes
- Scary noises (optional)
Prank 8: Fake Campfire Explosion
For this prank, you will need a bit of creativity and some special effects. Create a fake campfire explosion by using tissue paper, confetti, and flash paper. As everyone gathers around the fire, have someone throw in a small amount of flash paper and then immediately toss in some tissue paper and confetti to create the illusion of an explosion.
Make sure everyone is aware that this is a prank beforehand so no one gets injured. This prank will surely leave everyone in shock and then laughing once they realize what actually happened.
Materials needed:
- Tissue paper
- Confetti
- Flash paper
- A willing participant
Prank 9: Scary Mask in the Bushes
For this prank, you will need a scary mask and a willing participant to hide in the bushes. As people walk by, have the person hiding suddenly jump out and scare them with the mask. You can also add in some scary noises or have the person chase after the unsuspecting victim for an added scare factor.
Just make sure to choose your victim wisely and avoid scaring anyone who may not take this prank lightly.
Materials needed:
- Scary mask
- Scary noises (optional)
- A willing participant to hide and scare others
Prank 10: Spooky Ghostly Figure in the Dark
For the final prank, you will need a white sheet and some creativity. Cut out two holes for eyes in the sheet and have someone wear it while walking around the campsite at night. As people catch a glimpse of the ghostly figure in the dark, they are sure to get spooked.
You can also have the person move in unexpected ways or make scary noises to increase the scare factor. Just make sure to be careful and not scare anyone too much.
Materials needed:
- White sheet
- Scissors to cut eye holes
- Scary noises (optional)
- A willing participant to wear the sheet and act as the ghostly figure
Conclusion
Campfires are meant to be a time for relaxation and bonding, but adding some pranks into the mix can make for an even more memorable experience. Just remember to always be mindful of others and avoid scaring anyone who may not find these pranks as funny. So gather your friends and family, start the fire, and get ready for some hilarious campfire pranks.
