Are you trying to organize the best Halloween party that will be talked about for weeks after your special event?
Here you'll find fresh tips and ideas from party planning to Halloween themes that will guarantee your guests have fun:
Depending on how much money you want to spend on supplies and how much effort you're willing to put into it, the more of these ideas used -- the scarier your party will be.
Mix and match tips to fit your preference and check your haunted house or party setting over for any hazards your guests may run into. For a safe Halloween party, plan ahead and remove any possible dangers.
Party Tips
Halloween parties make a great alternative to trick-or treating. For an incredible, well-put together Halloween party, it's best to make arrangements well in advance. Here's some party planning tips for a terrifying good time.
Send out Invitations
Get your party invitations out 1-2 weeks before the party. To avoid any confusion, clearly state instructions about themes, costumes, and when the party ends.
Have Adult Supervision
For minors, adult supervision is necessary for safety reasons as well as preventing any property damage. Adults can help with the party and enforce rules, while the guests have fun.
Have a Camera Handy
Take pictures and arrange them in a photo album to show your guests after the party. Better yet, buy a huge photo album and add pictures every year, after your annual Halloween Party. It's hilarious to watch how the costumes evolve over the years.
Another idea is to have someone take Polaroid pictures of each guest as they arrive. Give everyone their pic as they leave your party in remembrance of the occasion.
Have a Backup Plan
If you're planning your party outdoors, be prepared for inclement weather. Have other arrangements ready at a moments notice.
Get Help in Decorating
Allow some guests to arrive early and help with the Halloween decorations. This will ease your workload and add some creative minds.
Supply Food and Candy
And plenty of it. What's a party without goodies? Try dressing up your food to look like gross things such as eyeballs, body parts, etc. Make the punch look like blood.
Hand out Party Favors
Don't let the kids leave empty handed. Hand out gifts to game contest winners and make up some party favor bags with Halloween candy.
Halloween Party Themes
Pick a party theme and decorate accordingly. For example, a haunted house, graveyard or mausoleum theme would encourage specific costume types such as ghosts, vampires and zombies. Decorate with spider webs, tombstones and fake body parts. Send out theme appropriate invitations.
Try a history or time-era theme, from the Victorian era to the 1970s and 80s and have everyone dress appropriately. Decorate in accordance to the time era and serve old-fashioned, homemade snacks.
Halloween Party Activities and Games
You've got your invitations, theme, costumes and food picked out for your Halloween Party. Now, what activities are you planning to entertain your guests? Need some ideas for your special event? These activities will satisfy children and adults to ensure the best Halloween party ever.
Halloween Scavenger Hunt Ideas
Are you up to the challenge? A scavenger hunt is probably one of the most popular party games on Halloween. Not only does it get your guests out and about, it gives them the opportunity to show off their costumes.
These tips should give you some good ideas for planning your own creepy scavenger hunt on Halloween. Save your ideas and lists for future hunts or swap them with friends and neighbors next year.
Pick a Theme
You can use individual themes for your hunt, such as vampires, mummies, etc. The list will need to be according to the theme. For example, a vampire theme would have items such as a wooden stake, cross etc. Keep in mind that specific themes will limit your list.
Identify Your Teams
After dividing your guests into teams, allow them to chose a team name. Fun names such as "The Monsters," "The Mummies," and "The Ghouls" will make the game more fun.
Use Your Yard
If your scavenger hunt is for children, you will probably need to limit the hunt area. Consider using your own yard and hide the items on the list outdoors. Make sure your yard is clean and safe. Don't leave any rakes or objects laying around that they may trip over and make sure you provide adequate lighting.
Alert the Neighborhood
Whether the hunt will involve the neighbors or be limited to your own yard, it's best to let the neighborhood know that you will be having a scavenger hunt on Halloween -- and the approximate time it will be. This way, they can be available to answer the door for items and they won't be alarmed at any ghouls roaming about near their backyard.
Supply Flashlights
Hand out flashlights with fresh batteries to your participants. This will make it much easier for them to navigate and help assure their safety. Look for inexpensive ones in the Halloween seasonal department at your local discount stores.
Supply a Halloween Bag
Give each team some type of sack or bag to put in the items as they are found. Be creative and have them decorated Halloween-style.
Take Pictures
Take pictures of your teams before they leave. If your team members are teenagers or adults, give each team a disposable camera and tell them you need at least 5 pictures as part of the list. They can be of any part of their hunt that they choose -- or have the entire list be of specific items that you have chosen. These could be items hard to bring back, such as a scarecrow or huge pumpkin.
Award Prizes
Present prizes to the winning teams. How many places you want to award is your choice, but the teams will all put forth effort so consider a cool grand prize for first place and unique gag gifts for the other teams. This way everybody wins something.
Make a Scrapbook
Assemble a scrapbook with the pictures you receive back and document any special events that occur during the hunt. Write the year, the winner(s) and prizes. Have your photos on display for next year's Halloween party and bring back some ghoulish memories.
