subject: How To Plan A Thrilling Halloween Event [print this page] This year, why not do something truly special for Halloween and make it season to remember? Throwing a thrilling Halloween party is easier, more affordable, and more exciting than you may think. Read on for our best tips.
Step 1 - Scare the Date
This year, Halloween falls on a Monday, so you'll most likely want to schedule your Halloween bash for the previous Friday or Saturday night. Once you've selected the date, why not put out a "Scare the Date" invite to friends and neighbors? This is quick and easy to do with a service like evite.com.
Step 2 - Decorate to Impress
No Halloween party is complete with extensive decorations. Fortunately, All Hallow's Eve is one of the easiest and least expensive occasions when it comes to decor. Plan on "spider webs" made from batting, a black light bulb or two, bags of plastic spiders and the like.
Step 3 - Plan the Snacks
This is where the planning really starts to get fun. Now you can certainly keep the cost of your gathering low by inviting your guests to bring a snack or a dish (or beverage, or both) to share, but the refreshments really give you some fun and interesting ways to enhance the theme of your party. Consider the following:
Lady "fingers" with red icing on the tips
"Kitty Litter" cake
Red "blood" punch (with or without "preservative")
"eyeball stew" (meatballs in sauce)
Use your imagination and go crazy!
Step 4 - Add Ambiance
Time to spook-i-fy your gathering with scary sounds and images. Don't settle for one of those hokey sound-effects CDs -- instead, bring Halloween to life in vibrant color with a rental projector and your favorite scary movies. The list is virtually endless, from classics like "The Shining" and "Friday the 13th" to kid-friendly classics like "The Great Pumpkin" and "Garfield's Halloween" to off-beat humor with a dash of the macabre, such as the cult classic "The Rocky Horror Picture Show." Whatever you choose, movie images add a certain flair to your gathering, and help fill any lulls in lively conversation.
Step 5 - Fun Activities
For some groups and gatherings, food and drink and mingling just isn't enough. If your group is on the shy side, or you're including a group of people who don't know each other well, why not add an activity or two to get the party mood going? This might include a costume contest, a Halloween trivia challenge, or a simple test of skill or brain power. Offer prizes to encourage everyone to participate.
Step 6 -Parting Gifts
Everyone appreciates a party favor, as a takeaway memento of the experience. These need not be elaborate or expensive -- remember, it's the thought that counts. It might include goody bags for the kids, or goblets for the adults, or simply a spider ring or a glow-in-the-dark bracelet or two.
No matter how big or small your Halloween party may be, be sure to include an LCD rental projector for that added ambiance.
