Halloween Party Ideas

Fall is here and Halloween is fast approaching. View our seven helpful hints below on how to make your Halloween celebration a big sucess with just a little luck. 

Be sure to check out our main Halloween index for even more spooky fun including our full list of Halloween costumes, our creepy crafts and our haunted recipes.

Step 1 - Guest List
Step 2 - When, Where, and What Time?
Step 3 - Invitations
Step 4 - Refreshments
Step 5 - Games/Activities
Step 6 - Decorations
Step 7 - Costumes

Everything you plan from the date to the activities depends upon who you are inviting. Most likely not all your friends will be able to attend. When making your list make a side note of people you would like to come if some on your initial list cannot attend. When the guest list is complete you will probably already have a good idea of who will be able to come and who will not. With this knowledge you're ready to move to step two.

Step 2 - When, Where, and What Time?

When choosing a date, for your party, keep in mind those things already going on in the community or elsewhere that may conflict. Cross off dates that will not work and go from there. Keep your guest list in mind and choose a date that should work for the majority.

Where to hold your party is often a matter of how many guests you plan on attending. If there are too many guests for your home, or parking is poor in your area, consider asking a friend if they would be interested in co-hosting a party with you. It's fun to plan with a friend and you usually get a wider variety of people that attend. Please make sure, if you do this, that you do not leave the clean-up to your friend. Follow through with the party from start to finish.

Timing is everything they say! If this is a kid or teen party make sure curfews are obeyed and parents are aware of when their youngster will be arriving home or should be picked up. If an adult party is the plan take into consideration the needs of your guests. Questions you may ask yourself are:

What time are most people home from work?
Will my guests need time to get a babysitter?
When will most of my guests need to take their sitters home?
Will I need to serve my guests a meal, or will they have time to eat before the party? (Be sure to let them know if you're planning on serving a meal)

Step 3 - Invitations

Purchase your invitations at the store or make your own. If your party has a theme you may want to make an invitation that goes with it. For example if you want all your guests to dress up as some kind of famous monster you are planning on being Dracula, your invitation could be in the shape of a Haunted House and the language of the invitation would be as if Dracula were speaking.

You can use some of our coloring pages as a start for making your own invitations. If you are mailing invitations send them out at least two weeks before the party. Hand delivery works well if you are planning last minute, or would like a quicker response on your RSVP. Follow-up with a phone call to those who have not RSVP'd you five days prior to the party. Address any concerns your friends have and try to get a commitment one way or the other. When a friend declines, politely express your dissapointment AND understanding. Take note of that guest side list you made in the beginning and fill in the holes.

Step 4 - Refreshments

What would a party be without food? Check out our Revolting Recipes to get some great ideas for things like Spider Cakes, Dracula's Blood Pudding, and Halloween Hand Treats. You might even let the guests make some of their treats... Unless your party is formal, paper and plastic are probably preferential for easy clean up. Don't forget to have plenty of party ice on hand.

Step 5 - Games and Activities

You might want your guests to do more than just eat and chat at the party. You can put out some printable activities and pencils and crayons for young guests, or might want to supply them with their own Halloween Tic-Tac-Toe Game to customize and play.

Maybe some ghoulish games would keep things moving - if so, check out our page of putrid party games.

You could have everyone gather round in a circle, darken the room, and read them a spooky story, like One Halloween Night (complete with gross props to pass around).

Or maybe you'd like to set up some simple crafts projects - like letting folks make their own ghosts, spider bracelets, or more.... here are some super easy to make crafts just for you...

Step 6 - Decorations

Keep it simple with crepe paper and balloons or go all out and create your own Haunted House. For an easy Haunted House get some blank newsprint/butcher paper and hang from ceiling to floor in the party room, hallways and kitchen. Now your walls are your canvas! Before you hang it, paint the paper in dark colors, with creepy scenes. Add cobwebs in the corners that stretch across the ceiling, complete with spiders. Hang bats from the ceiling. Paint a skeleton onto a wall with glow-in-the-dark paint.

Turn your kitchen into a mad scientist's laboratory. Perhaps you'd like to have some mystery drawers guests can reach into and be surprised. Don't forget the scary music and sound effects.

For more indoor and outdoor decorations check out our Halloween Crafts. for ideas like a Halloween Centerpiece, Boo-tiful Bushes, a Trick or Treat Witch for your door, Pumpkin Blockheads, Jack-O-Candles and a lot more.

Step 7 - Costume

Buy them at the store or make your own costume creation. Visit our Halloween Costumes for lots of spooktacular ideas that are easy and inexpensive to make, there's currently over 40 costume ideas there.

Above all we hope you have a safe, happy Halloween!!!

For more Halloween party supplies, check out Birthday in a Box.