Halloween is fall’s favorite lighthearted, easy holiday. There’s not a big meal to prepare for and cook, and no presents to worry about buying and wrapping, Halloween is a stress-free, fun holiday — and isn’t just for kids! It’s the perfect time to throw a party. Grab a some friends, and follow these steps and you’ll have an awesome Halloween party that no one will forget!
1. Food
Keep it simple! The best party foods are things that are easy to eat (no spoons and forks needed) and things that the host can make ahead of time and don’t need much attention during the party. Things like dips and other finger foods are always a good idea. The same goes for desserts: think cupcakes and cookies instead of cake. And, if you serve it attractively or creatively it will add to the ambiance of the party. Check out this easy and creative way for serving any kind of dip: it’s inside a hollowed out pumpkin!
2. Decor
Set the scene with some fun and easy decor. First, think about lighting. Keep the lights dim or use candles to create a more mysterious and Halloween-like atmosphere. Another fun option is to use black lights to make things glow, or colored light bulbs (green or orange would be fun!) to give everything a ghoulish glow.
For other, easy to do and inexpensive decorations, choose an easy color scheme, like black, white and orange, and get table cloths and paper goods (like paper plates, cups, napkins and drinking straws) in that color scheme. Buy a few rolls of inexpensive crepe paper and some googly eyes, and cover drinking glasses with it to make a cute and festive way to contain cutlery.
Gather up all your pumpkins, gourds and your family’s jack-o-lantern and, use them around the party area. Utilize pieces from last year’s costumes, too! If you have any extra masks, witch hats, or skeletons put them out. Voila! You’ve got simple, yet fun, decorations.
Pick up a few bags of candy corn and use it to fill up pretty vases and jars around the party: edible and attractive!
One other helpful tip: remember to set up the bar and the food in different areas of the party. This will eliminate people crowding in one area and will encourage them to mingle.
3. Music
A few days before the party create an awesome iPod playlist that mixes Halloween music with a variety of other fun songs that you and your friends love. Here are 5 must-have Halloween songs you can’t forget:
- Thriller by Michael Jackson,
- Ghostbusters by Ray Parker, Jr.
- Monster Mash by Bobby “Boris” Pickett
- Time Warp by Rocky Horror Cast
- Somebody’s Watching Me by Rockwell
4. Cocktails & Mocktails
To keep things simple, think about serving wine, beer and 1 special, signature drink for the night. This could be a colorful punch (maybe something orange to match the decor!) or a special pumpkin martini. Choose the drink based on your guests and their alcohol preferences.
And don’t forget about non-drinkers and designated drivers. Be sure to have water and soda on hand for those guests, and maybe even a fun mock-tail, like Virgin Sangria.
5. Costumes
Lastly, what would a party be without costumes?! Don’t forget to encourage your guests to wear costumes by including your request on the invitation. Whether you do a formal, mailed invitation or a quick and fun email invitation, guests will appreciate the heads up. At the party, consider having everyone vote for who has the most creative, scariest or most original costume.
Photo Credit: Mamemina , Our Best Bites
I had such a fun time putting together this Halloween party for my kids. Decorating the house was the best part. Great tips!