Hosting a Halloween Party

When you think of latter year holidays, do you skip over Halloween? It's not just for kids. If you want to throw a party for grown-ups, kids or families, here are some ideas for some scary fun that everyone will love.

Everyone loves a good scare. And, Halloween night is the perfect time to do it. As an alternative to trick-or-treat OR just a way to get in on the fun, hosting a Halloween party at your home can help you usher in the fall season.

Preparing for the Goosebumps

Like with any other party, the best plans begin early. It is never too early to get the word out. Once everyone else jumps on the bandwagon, it will be hard to scare up any guests.

The invitation: Send them out at least three weeks in advance of the event. Give everyone time to get their costumes in order (for that type of party) or just to check their calendars. It also gets you in the planning mood so you have time to put together a fantastic shindig.

Party theme: It is Halloween, but you can narrow down your theme a bit more according to your choice of guests. For adults, it can be a period party like the 50s or 60s. Or you can ask everyone to come as their favorite monster or vampire from a movie. Teens will like a Twilight theme. Mention if you will be giving prizes for costumes.

Decorations: You can get as detailed as you want but you don't have to go over budget. Construction paper, pipe cleaners and yarn can be used to fashion spiders to hang from the ceiling. Cotton balls and white yarn can double as sticky webs. Strings of orange lights in the trees and along the walkway also give the idea of a great scary party just inside. Carve up a few pumpkins for the guests to admire.

Games: Even adults love games. Do you have a back patio? Set up some chairs and a few candles around a table. Each guest can take turns telling the scariest story they know. For ambitious hosts, how about offering a haunted walk? Your family can help you by being scary characters around the yard just waiting to scare the willies out of the party guests.

Food: There is so much that you can do with Halloween food. Put gelatin eyeballs in the punch. Make dirt and worm cupcakes. Tombstone cakes or gingerbread men decorated as skeletons will bring delight from the crowd. Drizzle your popcorn with red-tinted caramel for a bloody treat.

Entertainment: Have a few scary CD's playing for the guests as they mingle. Or, if you like slasher flicks and you also have a large television, broadcast the scariest movies you can find for your guests.

Halloween is supposed to be full of creepy, scary fun. Use these ideas to throw a great party.

Have fun!