Every Halloween party needs to be carefully planned out in order to be a big hit. Yours is no exception! Here is some information to help with your ideas and make sure that your party will be one your guests will not forget!

Tip #1

The first thing anyone who wishes to plan a party must do – whether for Halloween or not – is to decide who is going to be attending the party. Who your audience and guests are greatly affects the choices you will be making later on. So, take the time to decide if you will be hosting adults, children, or a mix of both. Once you do so, you may make invitations. Invitations should be appropriate for your audience – nothing too scary for kids – and should detail information such as address, date, time, and tidbits such as costume contests or if guests should bring anything. Sending out invitations a week or two before the actual date of the party is ideal to let your guests prepare themselves.

Tip #2

Decorations can make or break any party, and your Halloween party is no exception. In order to orchestrate a successful party, one needs to choose decorations appropriate for it – using this rule, try not to decorate your house with anything too scary if you are going to be hosting children. Decorations can be found at nearly every local store near Halloween. If you need help setting up your house for a party, you may invite some guests over earlier to help you decorate – it’s often best to start decorating the day before your party.

Tip #3

To make your house’s atmosphere even scarier, you may choose to modify the lighting of your home. Making your house dimly lit is preferable, but be careful not to make it overly so, as you don’t want any accidents or anyone tripping over anything. To add to the mysterious atmosphere, you can employ fog machines in your decorations and get cauldrons filled with dry ice. The mist will definitely make your home seem like a true horror house! Just be careful not to go overboard with the fog machines too, as too much fog can result in poor visibility.

Tip #4

Music is one of the deal breakers of any party. If the music isn’t good or enjoyable, some people may leave in the middle of the party, and may not even come at all next year! As such, you should make sure to choose appropriate music – more light-hearted songs will be used at family-friendly events, while darker and scarier music can be used for more grown-up parties. Try not to make the music too loud, as it may disrupt the party itself.

Tip #5

Most people who go to parties expect exciting games and contests to take part in. It’s rather boring if you’re only going to be talking, drinking punch, and listening to music, after all. Most children would likely be satisfied with games such as hide-and-seek or singing games that utilize “scary” music. Adults would be content with charades or card games. And it’s never a bad idea to add a “movie spot” where your guests may watch a horror movie or two!

Tip #6

It is advisable to include food at your Halloween party so that your guests aren’t hungry. Food can be anything from cookies, pastries, candy – mostly anything sweet. You may also have pizza or other more filling food at your party in case some of your guests neglected to have dinner before arriving. To make your party really interesting, you may decide to fashion your consumables into eyes, arms, and other body parts to go with the scary theme. For drinks, try serving something thick and sweet – something that looks like blood or green slime is the best.

Tip #7

Be a part of your party! Some hosts and hostesses choose to simply stand at the side and watch their party from the sidelines. But the trick to a successful party is interacting with your guests and having fun along with them.

Tip #8

For a finale, it’s always good to give your guests goodie bags filled with candy and other treats. If you’ve hosted contests, then you should give the winners presents or prizes. It’s best to stick with chocolate or candy, but if you feel like you have the resources and money, you may purchase other things as gifts as well. The more extravagant the gift, the more compelled your guests may feel to come next year!

by Kathryn Rembiejewski

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