Some think of Halloween as a holiday created solely for a child’s enjoyment, but the truth is no matter what your age Halloween is a spectacular holiday, especially for a friendly gathering. So this year, why not get in a crisp fall mood, by throwing a spooky all-ages Halloween bash.
Here are seven hot tips for how to throw a fantastic Halloween Party in your own backyard:
- Have a pumpkin Carving Station
Whether you have everyone bring their own pumpkin or you supply a variety of pumpkins for your party goers, a pumpkin carving station is a great way to get people’s creative juices flowing. You can have markers, different carving tools, paint, stencils, etc. If you want to add some friendly competition to it, you can let everyone vote at the end as to who carved the best pumpkin. You can even have your guests save the pumpkin seeds for roasting and enjoy a delicious fall snack.
2. Add to the Fall Harvest Fun by Bringing in Hay Bales for Extra Sitting
An easy way to add some festive fall flair is with hay bales. Put them around your patio for extra seating or as tables to hold food and decorations. To add a spooky element of decor, wrap the bales of hay in fake spider webs for a ghostly effect.
3. Hold a Costume Contest
The most obvious aspect to any Halloween party are the costumes. Why not have a friendly costume contest? To make it exciting, create different categories for example best duo/couple, scariest, most original, funniest, and best overall. As the host, you can pick the winners or make it a group effort and invite the party goers to place votes by passing out ballots to each guest. The winner/winners can take home a wonderful bottle of bubbly or a delicious cider.
4. Sing Your Heart Out
Karaoke fun doesn’t only happen when you have an upbeat night out on the town, there are plenty of great in home karaoke machines. Perhaps nudge your guests to sing their favorite Halloween Hymns, like the Monster Mash or I Want Candy. This is also a great way to keep the kids having a blast if it’s an all-ages party. If you feel like splurging, you can hire a DJ that brings their own equipment and keeps the flow moving for you.
5. Make it a Wine and Cheese Social
Sure, it can be fun to have spooky themed finger foods. Pinterest has a million ideas for this. But why not swing the other way and have fine wines and gourmet cheeses. Just because you are dressed up in your favorite costume does not mean you can’t appreciate a bubbly Prosecco and an aged Parmesan.
6. Ghost Story Bonfire Anyone?
Halloween in California can sometimes be warm, but it is most often a chilly autumn evening. Why not gather the hay bales around a cozy fire pit and bring everyone together to share some of their favorite ghost stories. Also, add some spooky s’mores to your fire pit gathering, they are a sweet all-ages treat.
7. Boogie the Night Away
Maybe Karaoke isn’t your thing. Perhaps Ghost Stories are too slow for you. Why not turn your patio into your very own dance hall? There are plenty of party rental companies that can set up a great looking dance floor. Wouldn’t a black and white checkered one look great for Halloween? Whether you put together a playlist and put your outdoor speakers to good use, or hire a DJ with his own equipment, your costume clad guests are bound to dance into the witching hour.