Halloween is here. It’s time to throw a party! Here’s everything you need to know to make your get-together frightening and fun.
Who’s coming anyway?
Before you do anything else, decide who is coming to the party. Are you inviting entire families or adults only? Is this a party for kids or teenagers? Everything else you plan hangs on this decision. It’s the difference between choosing Rocky Horror or Harry Potter as your theme, which brings us to the next point.
Pick a party theme
Halloween is a great time to throw a themed party. Color schemes, decorations, food and music are already tailored to the holiday, almost like Christmas. Make sure the theme is flexible enough to give guests plenty of costume options. Time periods, movies, TV shows, heroes and villains are all great ideas for themes.
For free printable Halloween Party invitations, visit Web sites like About.com, 123printcards.com or Hooverwebdesign.com.
Sounds of the season
A party just isn’t a party without music. Select your music to match your theme; the soundtrack to “Saw VI” wouldn’t fit in with an ’80s theme. If you want to play some general holiday music, Halloween soundtracks are available for as low as $5.99. Movie soundtracks like “Army of Darkness,” “The Frighteners,” “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory” or anything else by Danny Elfman will add fun and fright to your festivities.
Get the right stuff
Creating a haunting atmosphere is essential, but you don’t have to kill yourself with the effort. If you like to do things yourself, look for creepy craft ideas online. Specialty stores like Spirit Halloween will have staples like instant cobwebs, fake blood and plastic insects.
Eye scream, brains and other spooky food
Halloween food can be as simple as booger-green Cheez Whiz or as complex as kitty litter cake. Best of all, food doesn’t have to be meant for consumption. Ketchup can be used for fake blood, and Baby Ruth bars, Tootsie Rolls and chocolate covered raisins make great fake feces. Use an interesting bowl or new trash can as a punch bowl, or freeze gummy spiders and use them as ice cubes. If you plan on serving alcohol, have a designated driver system in place such as a key bowl to prevent guests from driving home drunk.
Click here to get recipes for gross-looking food, appetizers, and drinks.
Ghoulish games
Games are optional, but guests might enjoy bobbing for apples. If you want to include games in your party make sure you have enough space for them. That space in your living room might be perfect for pumpkin bowling until you have twenty people crowding the lane.
Click here for Halloween Party game ideas for kids and adults.