Halloween Parties

Parties & Having Fun

Halloween is a holiday that screams for a big party and some real scary fun. The shorter days in October allow for more nighttime party hours and the cool weather is comfortable for dressing up in costumes.

If you're ready to plan the perfect Halloween party, we've got lots of ideas for  themes, activities, and games for both kids and adults. Just how scary it's going to be? That's for you to decide.

10 Things about Halloween

There's plenty of things to love about Halloween and the autumn season. This list wraps up our top 10 favorites and why they make us so happy.

Fun Activities for Adults

Grown-ups love Halloween too and here's some sure ways for them to regress and have some good, old-fashioned Halloween fun.

Get Organized for Halloween

Have a fun Halloween season with these 10 spooktacular tips for parties and entertainment.

Ghosting

Learn all you need to know about ghosting, instructions, and a cute little poem to spread the Halloween spirit.

Halloween Party Activities and Games

It's a mixed  bag on this page. Here, you'll find entertainment ideas for guests of every age for indoor and outdoor parties.

Halloween Party Planning

Not sure where to start? Don't miss this easy guide that's filled with tips for a safe and successful Halloween party.

Halloween Trivia and Fun Facts

You don't have to know it but it's fascinating, nonetheless. This page is packed with information about Halloween and lots of creepy tidbits you never knew.

Jack 'O Lanterns

Carving Jack 'O Lanterns not only adds to the decor, it's a great party activity that will keep guests busy and give them something to take home after the festivities.

Outdoor Entertaining this Autumn

Create an ideal autumn atmosphere with these tips for lighting, heating, color, and texture.

Party Themes

Besides a general "spooky" theme, you can narrow it down to a specific era or topic. We've got plenty of ideas for children, adults, and couples parties.

Scavenger Hunt

How about a little competitive fun? Get your game going with these simple rules for an outdoor scavenger hunt.

Scavenger Hunt List

A list is essential for a scavenger hunt. This list consists of Halloween and autumn related items that you can customize to fit your theme or party.

Halloween Party Planning Ideas

Are you trying to organize the best Halloween party that will be talked about for weeks after your special event? Don't fret... Here you'll find fresh tips from party planning to Halloween ideas that will guarantee your guests have fun.

Depending on how much money you want to spend on supplies and how much effort you're willing to put into it, the more of these ideas used -- the scarier your party will be.

Mix and match tips to fit your preference and check your haunted house or party setting over for any hazards your guests may run into. For a safe Halloween party, plan ahead and remove any possible dangers.

Party Tips

Halloween parties make a great alternative to trick-or treating. For an incredible, well-put together Halloween party, it's best to make arrangements well in advance. Here's some party planning tips for a terrifying good time.

Send out Invitations

Get your party invitations out 1-2 weeks before the party. To avoid any confusion, clearly state instructions about themes, costumes, and when the party ends.

Have Adult Supervision

For children, adult supervision is necessary for safety reasons as well as preventing any property damage. Adults can help with the party and enforce rules, while the guests have fun.

Have a Camera Ready

Take pictures and arrange them in a photo album to show your guests after the party. Better yet, Buy a huge photo album and add pictures every year, after your annual Halloween Party. It's hilarious to watch how the costumes evolve over the years.

Another idea is to have someone take Polaroid pictures of each guest as they arrive. Give everyone their pic as they leave your party in remembrance of the occasion.

Have a Backup Plan

If you're planning your party outdoors, be prepared for inclement weather. Have other arrangements ready at a moments notice.

Get Help in Decorating

Allow some guests to arrive early and help with the Halloween decorations. This will ease your workload and add some creative minds.

Supply Food and Candy

And plenty of it. What's a party without goodies? Try dressing up your food to look like gross things such as eyeballs, body parts, etc. Make the punch look like blood.

Hand out Party Favors

Don't let the kids leave empty handed. Hand out gifts to game contest winners and make up some party favor bags with Halloween candy.

Halloween Party Decorating Tips

 Halloween Party Decorating Ideas

There's no lack of resources in October for Halloween party decorations, props and accessories! Look around the discount and novelty stores for all kinds of traditional spooky items for your party that will scare your guests silly.

Keep your eye peeled at Haunted Houses and around your city for new ideas. Someone always has a unique Halloween display that catches your eye and you can use those ideas for your own indoor or outdoor party. From traditional to new-age, here's some inexpensive decorating tips and ideas to set the creepiest mood possible:


Jack-O-Lanterns

What's Halloween without a jack-o-lantern? Find some stencils to carve or paint scary faces on your pumpkins to add the traditional touch to your party.

Candles

Use candles inside your carved jack-o-lanterns to make the faces glow. Put some dark colored candles in creepy candleholders around your snack table for a gothic touch. Use caution with open flames and make sure no costumes will come near them.

Crepe Paper

Use traditional crepe paper decoration to add Halloween colors to your party table and anywhere else you see fit.

Spider Webs

Buying fake spider webs is one of the most cost-effective decorations. They're cheap and can be found at your local discount store. You can make your own with cotton batting found in the crafts department. Then, you're going to need spiders. Pick up some creepy, fake spiders to add to the webs. Better yet, add some fake bugs too for your spider's victims.

Fake Blood

What's creepier than blood? You can find fake blood in the stores or make your own blood cheap! Using fake blood is better left for outdoor parties if you're concerned about any messes or staining. If you use it indoors, make sure it's contained. Click here for some realistic fake blood recipes.

Shadows

Cut out spooky shapes such as a bat, ghost or cat in some heavy construction paper. Tape it to a flashlight and place it in a strategic position to make your guests look twice.

Sound Effects

There's plenty of tapes and CDs available with creepy sounds such as lightning, screams, banging and creaking. Use these outside or in an entryway for the element of surprise.

Lighting Effects

Use special lighting to compliment your sounds. Dim lighting is always preferable to set the spooky setting and a strobe light adds a special touch to simulate lightening. A black light sets an unsettling atmosphere and can be found in most party supply stores.

Coffins

Use your imagination! You can build your own coffin with 6-8 wood pieces and place a dummy in it. Or consider having it closed and place one of those fake arms coming out of it. Add some fake blood to the side for a downright gross affect.

Scarecrows

Perfect for the Autumn season, scarecrows are fascinating to look at and add mystery to your yard. Set the atmosphere for your scarecrow by adding bales of hay, cornstalks, and Indian corn -- and he'll definitely get attention. Use our scarecrow instructions for easy homemade scarecrows.

Tombstones

Perhaps one of the creepiest things is a tombstone with the inscription R.I.P. which is reminiscent of old-time graveyards believed to be haunted according to old myths and urban legends. You can find tombstones in the holiday section of most stores around Halloween, or make your own and add some originality!

Fog Machine

There's nothing like fog around to send chills up your spine. Fog machines are easier to find these days around Halloween and aren't near as expensive as they used to be. Most fog machines are water based and are simple to use.

Paint it Black

Go gothic with a black party scheme. Choose all black decorations and tableware. Buy some flat black spray paint for items such as vases, napkin holders, pumpkins -- anything you can think of. Don't want black? Try purple, orange, or midnight blue.

Ravens

Create chills with ghastly grim, black ravens, sparrows, or crows placed on shelves, tables, and unexpected places like on the serving table or in the bathroom. Your guests will get goosebumps at the ominous implications of seeing these mysterious birds indoors.

Backdrop

If you've got some background to hide, you can make a backdrop with the largest black trash bags that you can find. Cut at the seams and attach together with black duct tape. After they're hung, spread fake spider webs in the front and then add the plastic bugs and spiders.

Costume Ideas for Halloween

Costume Ideas for Halloween

 The tradition of children wearing Halloween costumes originated from when the Celts lit bonfires and dressed up during ceremonies celebrating Samhain. Decked out in animal heads and full animal skin costumes, they proceeded to read each other's fortunes and tell stories.

The costume tradition made it's way to America and took on another form. On Halloween, it was believed that the spirits and ghosts of the dead came back to roam the earth. People then wore masks and "dressed up" in an outfit to look like one of the spirits to avoid being recognized as one of the living.

Finding that perfect Halloween costume can be a challenging task and is best planned well in advance. While there are easy costumes available in stores, it may be more practical and even realistic to try a homemade one. From adults to teens to kids, funny to scary, below are some cool Halloween costume ideas (some naughty, some nice, some unique) to get you started.

Costumes & Characters

A-C

Action Hero (Superman, Spiderman, etc.) Adams Family Character, Airplane Pilot, Alien, American Idol, Angel, Animal, Arabian, Army Medic, Artist, Astronaut, Baby, Bag Lady, Ballerina, Bandit, Bank Robber, Bandito, Banshee, Barbie, Bartender, Bar Maid, Baseball Player, Basketball Player, Bat, Beach Bum, Beggar, Belly Dancer, Big Foot, Biker, Bird-Watcher, Black Cat, Bloody Mary, Boy Scout, Bride, Bullfighter, Bull rider, Bum, Burglar, Butcher, Butler, Caesar, Carpenter, Carrie, Cartoon Character, Cat, Catwoman, Caveman, Cereal Killer, Celebrity, Charles Manson, Cheerleader, Chef, Cigar Girl, Clown, Coach, Colonial Man or Woman, Convict, Cop, Corpse, Country Girl, Cowboy, Cross-dresser.

D-F

Dead Prom Queen, Demon, Detective, Devil, Diver, Doctor, Dog, Dorothy (from the Wizard of Oz,) Dracula, Drag, Dragon, Drama Queen, Egyptian, Elf, Elvira, Equestrian, Egyptian, Elvis, Exorcist, Fairy, Farmer, Fireman, Flapper, Fonzie, Football Player, Fortune Teller, Frankenstein, Freddy Krueger, French Maid, Funeral Director.

G-I

Gangster, Gargoyle, Geisha, Genie, Ghost, GI Joe, Girl Scout, Goblin, Godzilla, Go-Go Girl, Goldilocks, Golfer, Gorilla, Gothic, Grandma, Gravedigger, Grim Reaper, Groom, Guitarist, Gymnast, Gypsy, Harajuku Girl, Harem, Harry Houdini, Harry Potter, Headless Horseman, Highlander, Hillbilly, Hippie, Hobo, Hockey Player, Hula Girl, Hunchback, Hunter, Imp, Indian, Insect.

J-L

Jack-o-Lantern, Jack the Ripper, Jailer, Janitor, Jason, Jester, Joker, Judge, King, Knight, Kung Fu, Lady, Leatherface, Leprechaun, Lifeguard, Limo Driver, Lion Tamer, Lizzie Borden, Lumberjack.

M-P

M&M, Mad Scientist, Magician, Maid, Mailman, Mannequin, Marilyn Monroe, Marine, Martian, Matador, Medium, Medusa, Mental Patient, Mermaid, Michael Myers, Mime, Miss America, Monster, Mortician, Movie Character, Movie Director, Mummy, Muscle Man, Music Conductor, Nerd, Ninja, Nomad, Nun, Nurse, Nymph, Old Man/Woman, Pat (from Saturday Night Live,) Peasant, Pilot, Pioneer, Pirate, Pixie, Playboy Bunny, Policeman, Political Candidate, The Pope, Postman, Pregnant Wife, President, Priest, Princess, Prisoner, Prom Queen, Pumpkin, Punk Rocker.

Q-S

Queen, Race Car Driver, Rabbi, Rancher, Raven, Rebel, Redneck, Referee, Reporter, Ringmaster, Robber, Robin Hood, Robot, Rock Star, Rodeo Clown, Rumpelstiltskin, Sailor, Samurai, Scarecrow, School Girl, School Mascot, Scooby Doo, Security Guard, Seductress, Sheik, Shepherd, Sherlock Holmes, Singer, Skeleton, Sleepwalker, Soldier, Sorcerer, Sorceress, Spider, Spiderman, Squaw, Stalker, Star Wars Character, Statue of Liberty, Straight Jacket, Surgeon, Superman.

T-V

Teacher, Team Mascot, Toddler, Toga, Tourist, Toy Soldier, Tree, Troll, Uncle Sam, Undertaker, Vagrant, Vampire, Ventriloquist (with puppet,) Video Game Character (such as Master Chief from Halo or Sephiroth for Final Fantasy VII,) Viking, Vixen.

W-Z

Waldo, Warrior, Werewolf, Wino, Witch, Wizard, Wolfman, Wrestler, Zeus, Zombie, Zorro.


Couple & Group Ideas

A-M

Adam and Eve, Alice in Wonderland, Anthony and Cleopatra, Batman and Robin, Beauty and the Beast, Bonnie and Clyde, Cast of TV Show or Movie, Celebrity Couple, Desperate Housewives, Dracula and Dracula's Bride, Farm Animals, Flintstones, Harem, Hugh Hefner and Playboy Bunny, Jekyll & Hyde, Little Bo Peep and Sheep, Mario and Luigi, Mickey and Minnie Mouse.

N-Z

Pall Bearers with Coffin, Playing Cards (Jack, Queen, King, Ace, Joker,) Prom King and Queen, Raggedy Ann and Andy, Rock Band/Group, Rock/Paper/Scissors, Romeo and Juliet, Snow White and the Seven Dwarves, Superheroes, The Three Little Pigs, The Three Musketeers, The Three Stooges, Toga Party (generic,) Tom and Jerry, Twins, Wizard of Oz.