How to Throw a Spooktacular Halloween Party

Posted by Roxanne on Oct 18, 2011 in Art & Craft | 5 comments

As my oldest child was born on 31st October, so I like to think of myself as something of an expert in throwing Halloween parties, and as the spookiest night of the year approaches, here are my top terrible tips for a fang-tastic party:

Go Crazy With Costumes

Obviously everyone has to dress up on Halloween, but you’ll feel much more in the mood if you really go to town. Spooktacular doesn’t need to mean expensive, and with a bit of blood you can make any fancy dress costume into a ‘zombie variety’, however, plonking a witches hat atop your head just won’t do. My favourite costumes this year have been found at Asda, including a super-cute pumpkin lady and the fabulous Jack Skellington for little people.

Set the Spooky Scene

Setting the scene for a Halloween party can be great fun. Carve Jack-O’-Lantern, string up eyeball fairy lights and dot light up pumpkins and ghosts around to create a spooky ambience. Then go wild with the weird and wonderful scene setting accessories that you can get in the shops.

Sainsbury’s has a great range, and my favourites include the gel blood spatters for sticking on your window, and the spooky butler that talks to anyone who passes (great for putting by your front door to create the spooky mood instantly). They also do a colourful tablewear range including gorgeous green and purple goblets for drinking blood (cranberry juice) out of.

Another great idea is to have a spooky film (Corpse Bride, Labyrinth, Nightmare Before Christmas, Scooby Doo, Monsters vs. Aliens, etc.) playing in the background, or a CD of great spooky themed tunes.

Frightfully Good Food

When it comes to food anything that can be given a spooky twist is fair game. The BBC Good Food website has some good ideas including Halloween dips and bites such as creepy bites (tortillas), hellfire spread (spicy dip) and slime sludge (guacamole dip), witches brew (pea and bacon chowder), witches fingers (sausages wrapped in filo pastry) and eye ball pasta. Sweet treats to delight little ghosts and ghouls include chocolate spider cookies, spider web chocolate fudge muffins, warm butterscotch dippers and spooky spider cakes.

The graveyard cake makes a great table centre piece, or pick up a giant Mr Kipling Fiendish Fancy (complete with spider on top) from any supermarket.

Ghoulish Games

Ghoulish games are a big part of Halloween, and it’s possible to find something to appeal to every age group. Apple bobbing is a universal favourite, for kids or adult parties, and wrap the mummy (with toilet paper) is always popular in my house (just not with mummy – me!). I also like to do an alternative pass the parcel, which involves filling either a hollowed out pumpkin, or a pumpkin bucket with cooked spaghetti, jelly or another suitably ‘gross’ feeling filling. Throw in plenty of packets of sweets and a few plastic spiders and worms amongst the goo and party goers can take turns to ‘pass the pumpkin’ and dig out a trick or a treat. For other great party ideas head to Netmums.com.

Grizzly Gifts

I love to send party guests out into the night with an extra special treat that is so simple to make but looks great. Simply fill a plastic pumpkin bucket with shredded black tissue paper and plenty of lovely treats. This year I have bought spooky chocolate coins, Smartie pumpkins, Cadbury’s Dead Heads, Cadbury’s Scream Eggs, mini chocolate pumpkins and eyeballs and super sour haribos, but you can fill your buckets with whatever you like. Thorntons do a nice range of Halloween chocolates. I simply then cellophane wrap the bucket and tie with a giant orange bow, and the effect is quite spooktacular.

Halloween will always be one of my favourite holidays, because my own little monster was born on that night nine years ago. Thankfully though, he doesn’t howl at the moon or shy away from the daylight.

Photography by Brit., I Should Be Folding Laundry, gadgetgirl, natashavora and brina_head