How to Throw the perfect Halloween Party for the scariest night of the year

Written by Joyce Wilson

Halloween time is synonymous with parties and get-togethers. The crisp autumn breezes stir up exciting energy in anticipation of candy, costumes, and the start of the holiday season. So if there are numerous parties to attend, you need to make sure yours stands out as one of the best. Here is a plan of attack to throw the best Halloween shindig:

Take Time to Plan

Most people wait until the last minute to iron out party details, and some don’t even take the time to plan at all because they believe it takes up too much time. In reality, proper time management can end up saving you time in the long run. Some people need longer than others, but if you get invites mailed early, you might get more commitments from friends, and if any problems arise, you can recover with grace.

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Find a Location

Deciding where to have the party is a good place to start. You can make a lot of decisions based on where a party is located, such as start and end time, whether children will be invited, how many people can come, and more.

Throwing your party at home can cut down on a lot of stress in many ways. You can have much more time to decorate and prepare than if you decided to rent a banquet hall or party room.

Some of the best Halloween parties are outdoors. People love a good bonfire as the centerpiece, and you can easily build a DIY fire pit in your yard to keep the revelry going after dark. Just make sure anything flammable is far away from the flames and that you have a shelter in case of rain.

Answer These Questions

Once you decide where to have the party, it will make the following basic questions much easier to answer:

Who are you planning to invite? Get a list together to see the total number of potential guests and anticipate how many you think will show
What type of party is it? Are kids allowed? Is a costume required? Do guests need to bring anything? Will there be food and drink? What about games or other entertainment?
When? Deciding what time during the week it will be and the hours of the party depend greatly on who is coming and where the party will be. Most likely, people will be more willing to commit and participate when the party is scheduled on a weekend. As for times, kid parties tend to start and end earlier. Adult parties start later and often don’t have a specific stop time.
What will you do with your pet? Is your dog a little hyper around guests? Or do you have a pet who gets nervous around loud noises? If so, you may want to consider designating a pet zone that is off-limits to your guests or hire a sitter to look after your four-legged friend for the night.

Pick a Halloween Party Theme and Go

If you have a theme in mind, planning decorations, the menu, and your attire is easier. Try to make it a little more general for people to express their creativity. Here are some theme ideas:

Halloween party snacks

Once you have the theme, choose a menu that fits it (or at least fits Halloween in general). Don’t be afraid to ask some friends to help prepare some of the dishes. Or it can’t hurt to tell guests that if they’d like to bring something, they can. Pick a central location for the food, like a decorated table that will keep with the flow of guests. For easy clean-up, get paper plates and plastic utensils. Some other tips:

Halloween party games

As for entertainment, it might be nice to have at least a game handy for an icebreaker or a lull in the action. There’s no need to schedule them. If the party warrants it, then you have them at the ready. Here are a few ideas:

Another idea is to play some Halloween-themed music at your party. If your party is outdoors, it’s easy to play your favorite tunes with a portable smart speaker.

When it’s time to find theme-based supplies or inspiring Halloween decor and invitations, visit The Theme Party!

Play It Safe

Halloween is one of the most incredible times of the year, but it can also become scary, and not in a good way. Here are some tips to avoid any mishaps:

Keep the noise level down
Collect keys at the door or suggest carpooling
Play bartender to monitor how much alcohol your guests are consuming
Provide plenty of food, so guests aren’t drinking on an empty stomach
Serve non-alcoholic beverages

With the tips above, you’ll be able to throw an amazing Halloween party while keeping everyone safe this year!

Joyce Wilson worked as a teacher for decades. She believes knowledge is the key to a more prosperous and fruitful life. She enjoys sharing lesson plans, resources, and teaching tips on Teacher Spark.