It’s not too late to throw together a Halloween Party! At my house, every year, we throw a party (more like an “open house”) on Halloween night. It’s a blast! Everyone…I mean, EVERYONE dresses up and there is gobs of food, creepy music, prizes, socializing, and tons of fun! My kids SO look forward to Halloween and I love to see them get so excited! Besides, it gives all the adults a chance to dress up and enjoy the holiday.
We spook up the yard (easily done with tombs and fake bones). You can also make homemade tombstones out of cardboard that has been painted a tarnished gray. Make wanted signs (with pictures of some of your guests) and tack them to the trees in the yard.
Pumpkins. I wish I had time to carve these suckers! But, instant decor AND they double as your Thanksgiving/Harvest decor.
A spooky entry always looks better with flashing strobe lights that you can find at Target or any Halloween specialty store!
Halloween masks are usually under ten buckaroos! Stuff old clothing and make scary dudes using the mask for the face. Have one sitting on the couch, at the table, or anywhere! It’s a great backdrop for your guest’s pictures. AND…super cheap and LARGE decoration! I also like to put scary masks on all of my rail posts.
So, Martha Stewart has a great Halloween web site, Grandin Road. They sell so, so many cute things! These window silhouettes are so cheap (under $15) but, out of stock. However, I found the same Martha Stewart ones for sale at Michael’s Arts & Crafts store! They can peel and re-stick for the next year!
Everyone needs a basket of arms and legs.
My personal favorite, the demon child. Evil, I know. My kids love to scare the pants off of all their friends with it. Great fun…we’re a bunch of psycho-pants.
Change your light bulbs to black lights. You can leave up your every day decorations and just mix in a random Halloween decoration here and there. It pulls everything together. Not everything displayed HAS to be Halloween oriented.
At our party, everyone has to give their Halloween dish a “scary or gross” name. It’s always fun and hilarious to see what people come up with!
For some clever Halloween dishes, check out:
Our Best Bites – These foodie pals of ours always come up with fabulous recipes! They recently did a whole string of Halloween ones!
The Picky Palate – Always something sinful.
Martha Stewart – The Queen of Creative.
Jessica’s Previous Halloween Post – Ideas for a fun party & Links for great food ideas!
If it’s a smaller Halloween gathering, you can play Halloween games:
Pass The Pumpkin – Divide everyone into two teams. Each team is given a mini pumpkin. Each team stands in a line and has to pass the pumpkin to the next person in line by holding it under their chin. No hands! The first team to get their pumpkin down the line and back, wins!
Mummy Wrap – Divide everyone into pairs. Each team of two is given 4 rolls of TP (take donations). They have to wrap each other up like a mummy, using every inch of toilet paper, before anyone else! The fastest wrapping team wins!
Who Am I?? (will also work for large groups) – As your guests arrive, pin a paper on their back with a Halloween person, place, or thing. or character written on it. For example: vampire, pumpkin, mummy, witch, graveyard, Transylvania, Salem, Trick-Or-Treat bag, candy, etc. Throughout the night, your guests have to go around asking “Yes or No” questions to try and figure out what is on their back. When they have figured it out, they can trade their tag for a small prize. (Jone’s soda makes really cool mini cans of Halloween Pop. They come in gross and weird flavors, like Candy Corn. Separate the package and give one to each of the people who figure out their tag.)
Happy Haunting! I would love to hear any of your party and decor ideas!
Cute decorations!
I love the decorations! I’ll have to check out those links. Halloween is my 3rd daughter’s birthday. So the whole day is partying!! We do mummy dogs (hot dogs wrapped in dough)and all sorts of fun finger food.
GREAT decor and thanks for the ideas. We play Who am I at Christmas to determien who opens up their gift first…that ;s for the BIG family Christmas…not the one with just us….that is complete CHAOS!!
You have such cute decorations.
Awesome and so timely. I am having a Halloween Party this Friday. You guys should come if you happen to be in Colorado.
You do a great job! Great decorating, and game ideas.
love the ideas!
I have never seen those window decals before, I WANT SOME!!!