Fall is in full swing and spooky season is just around the corner. We are now in the homestretch of the year where holiday parties will be happening left and right. First up is Halloween, the one that has equal parts fun for people of all ages. While the youngins have their classroom parties by day and trick or treating at night, adults can let loose on the weekend. If you’re the type that loves planning, you might be more inclined to host your own shindig. We’d love to help so check out our list of seven essentials to throw a party that’s to die for.
Decorations
Whether you want to turn your garage into a haunted house or simply dim the lights and add some strobes, the visuals are the main ingredient. The party has to feel like your guests are immersed in spookiness, so the decor has to be eye-catching. Throw up some streamers and stretch fake cobwebs over furniture pieces (nothing that will catch on fire of course), then add some plastic spiders to it to top it off. If you’re super crafty, carve out some pumpkins into jack-o’-lanterns and add those around the party. This could be a good way to add some minor lighting in case you’re considering turning off most of the lights to set the tone.
Costumes
It goes without saying, but have your guests dress for the occasion. On your invite, encourage them to go all out and maybe even opt for a costume contest. Some categories to consider when picking winners can be overall costume, best couple, and scariest. This brings an element of excitement as people show up looking to see the competition. Let’s be honest: It kind of sucks to go to a party when people are boring and ignore the theme. Incentivize partygoers with cool prizes, and, depending on how deep your pockets are, maybe even offer some cash prizes too.
Themed Drinks
This is a fun one! While a punch bowl is standard, craft some specialized cocktails (alcoholic and non-alcoholic) for folks to enjoy. You can really get creative with this one as food coloring will be your best friend. Get some plastic syringes and fill them with red Jell-O for a “bloody shot” or orange Fanta with your favorite vodka for some “pumpkin tears.” If you want to take your drink set up to another level, snag a block of dry ice to create ghost-like fog. Try some green coloring in lemonade (liquor is optional) and drop in some candy eyeballs for a ghoulish themed concoction. The recipes and ideas are endless.
Solid Playlist
We go to holiday parties for the people and the fun, but the music definitely sets the vibe. There are essentially two main approaches for whoever is taking the reins of being on “the aux.” You can take the route of curating a playlist in advance that’s full of sounds and music from your favorite Halloween movies or just a general list of “bangers” that’ll really get the party going (I think “Not Like Us” might still hit at a costume party, right?). Either way, make sure the tunes are continuous, as dead air always ruins the mood and draws everyone’s attention in a bad way.
Photo Wall
Did you even go to a party if you didn’t take pictures? An underrated piece to throwing a memorable party is the photo wall. Have a designated area where people can flick it up with props and good lighting. People often spend lots of money and time on makeup to get their costume to killer status so they are going to want to document every bit of it. It’s also a win for you as they post to their social media letting everyone know that you threw a dope party that they missed out on.
Spooky Movie
Your guests will be there to chat it up and have a good time, but having a scary movie on in the background is a must. Will they sit and watch the whole thing from beginning to end? Probably not, but a few might stumble over to the coach and get sucked into Hocus Pocus if it’s on. This is one of those elements that contribute to the overall ambiance rather than being a front and center feature. Why not throw on Agatha All Along? Lucky for you, if you turn it to ABC or TBS, you’ll most likely catch a marathon of spooky flicks on repeat anyway so that’ll help you out.
Treats
This goes without saying, but food and snacks are a must (especially if drinking will be involved). There are so many creative ways to turn everyday appetizers and desserts into Halloween-themed bites. How about some string cheese with marinara on the tips to look like a bloody finger or popcorn balls with candy corn on them to look like pumpkins? If you’re wanting to cut corners on time, perhaps order a pre-made charcuterie board (some places will even align it with your party’s theme). You can’t forget the sweets! Cookies, brownie bites, or even pretzel sticks dipped in white chocolate with sprinkles for eyes to make them look like ghosts.