Fun Halloween Party Ideas
Halloween comes around every year, that’s no secret. And as great as this is, what it means is that you can quickly run out of themes for your Halloween parties. Here are a few creative and unique Halloween theme ideas you (and your guests) may enjoy:
• Classic Movie Characters Theme – All of us have our favorite movies, and within those movies, we have our favorite characters. Host a party where your guests come dressed-up as that favorite character. Some classic movie examples (choose your favorite character from the movie) might be Lord of the Rings, Star Wars, Casablanca, The Wizard of Oz, or Charlie and The Godfather. For more classic movies, check out the American Film Institute’s Top 100 Movies.
• Halloween Dance-Off – With the recent popularity of talent shows on television, people are itching to show-off their own skills. Well, maybe not, but with dark lights and everybody in costume, it makes everything a lot easier!
All of us can remember Michael Jackson’s music video for Thriller, right? How fun would it be for you and your friends to compete against each other – while in costume? Let your friends know far enough in advance, give them each others contact info so they can form groups, and tell them to start practicing! The evening will either be filled with "Oohs" and "Ahs", or hysterical laughter. Fun either way!
• Homemade Candy Theme – If you’re hosting a party for your little one(s), invite all of their classmates and the neighborhood kids over to learn how to make homemade candy. Find easy recipes at Delish.com. Make copies of these recipes so that the children can take them home to their parents and share. And of course make enough candy for the kids to take home too! For a fun setup, check out this article on a candy theme party.
Check out all Halloween party articles and themes
Creepy and Delicious Halloween Cocktails
Nothing says Halloween like cocktails. Think about it, what does alcohol do?—it lowers your inhibitions. What is Halloween?—the one day each year when you can throw your inhibitions to the wind, let loose, and be somebody else for the night. It’s like Halloween and alcohol were meant to be together!
With this romantic arrangement in mind, here are a few wickedly tasty cocktails you can enjoy this Halloween season:
Creepy Crawler
Ingredients
• 1 Oz Brandy
• 1 Oz Blood Orange Puree
• 2 Oz Triple Orange Liqueur
• 1/2 Oz Simple Syrup
• 1-12 Oz Bag of Dark Chocolate Chips
• 1 Slices Orange Truffle or Chocolate-Dipped Orange Slice
• 1 Decor Plastic Spider (optional)
Directions
• Using 8 to 10 chocolate chips for one drink, heat in the microwave for 20 seconds until almost melted.
• Take chips out of the microwave and stir with a spoon until completely melted (this method creates best chocolate consistency for making the web).
• Place the melted chocolate in a squeeze bottle and ‘draw’ a spider web on the inside of the martini glass (glass can be prepared in advance**).
• In a Boston shaker, add the rest of the ingredients and shake well.
• Pour into the decorated martini glass.
• Garnish with an orange truffle or chocolate dipped orange slice. Plastic spider is optional as an alternative garnish or decoration.
Brain Hemorrhage
Ingredients
• 1 oz. Peach Schnapps
• 1 tsp. Bailey’s Irish Cream®
• 1/2 tsp. Grenadine
Directions
• First, pour the peach schnapps.
• Then, slowly pour the Irish Creme. Do not mix! The Creme will clump together and settle at the bottom of the schnapps. It will have the appearance of an internal organ!!
• Pour the grenadine over the Creme for a completely disgusting looking, yet thoroughly tasty party drink!
Dracula’s Kiss
Ingredients
• 1 oz black cherry vodka
• 1/2 oz grenadine
• cola
• maraschino cherries for garnish
Directions
• Coat the bottom of a highball glass with grenadine.
• Add ice and vodka.
• Fill with cola.
• Garnish with cherries.
DIY Costume Ideas
Many of us are looking forward to dressing up for Halloween. Unfortunately, our wallets might not be as excited as we are. Halloween can be an expensive holiday. Costumes, accessories, make-up, wigs, shoes…it all adds up! So if you’re wallet is feeling a little light this season, here are a handful of homemade costume ideas just for you!
• The 80’s Rocker – I’m sure somewhere in your closet you have an old, beat-up pair of jeans and a ratty, torn tee shirt. Pair them with some black boots, and you’re half-way there! Guys and girls, pile on the make-up! Spike your hair with hairspray, gel, or even Elmer’s Glue (water soluble and washes out with a couple shampoos). Use different colored eyeliners to draw on tattoos and borrow your dog’s collar!
• The Zombie Prom Queen – If you’re like most women, you have a few bride’s maids dresses in your closet that you know you’re never going to wear again but just can’t get rid of. Well, here’s your chance to put one of those dresses to use. Rip it up, stain it, fray it, just make it look a bit, ahem, dead? Do your make-up dark, frizz your hair, and spend a couple bucks to get a tube of fake blood to smear wound your mouth.
• The Modern Day Pirate – You may get this, you may not. If you don’t get it, well, then this costume is not for you. Dress in an everyday outfit, nothing out of the ordinary. Write the words "I download music off the Internet without paying for it" on a piece of white computer paper and tape the paper to your chest. Okay, cheesy. Add a bunch of blank CD’s to your clothing to be a software pirate!
• The Ghost of Kitchen Appliances – This is a funny one. Again, dress in regular, everyday clothing. Raid your kitchen cabinets and drawers for pots and pans and small appliances such as can openers, spatulas, cheese graters, and whisks. Attach these items to your clothing using string and safety pins—the more small appliances, the better! Top it all off with a pot on top of your head as a hat and you’re set to go do some kitchen haunting!
• Pajama Party – A classically inexpensive Halloween costume is to dress in your pajamas! If you have a pair of Captain America or My Little Pony pajamas in your drawer, but you would never, NEVER admit it, Halloween is the perfect opportunity to show them off and not feel silly. Well, maybe a little silly, but that’s what Halloween is all about! (Don’t forget your bunny slippers … and ruffle your hair.)
The Quick & the Dead … Guide to Building a Cemetary Fast
The time and work that goes into building a Halloween graveyard can vary—it really just depends on how elaborate you want it to be. For those of you who may be building one for the first time, here are some tips on how to make the task easier and more affordable. You can always elaborate on the basics each year.
- I would suggest buying pre-made tombstones. You can always make your own, but it takes time, money, and skill (here’s a great tutorial on doing just that!) If going the pre-made route, shop around at Halloween stores, department stores, and online for inexpensive, yet realistic looking tombstones.
- Purchase a black plastic wrought-iron-looking fence to put around your graveyard. This will serve two purposes. 1.) It will make it look that much more spooky, and 2.) It will deter onlookers from traipsing through all of your hard work! You can purchase fences like this, specifically made for Halloween graveyards, online or at your local Halloween store.
- Add small details to the graveyard once you have your tombstones and fence set-up. Details such as cobwebs, jack-o-lanterns, bones sticking out of the ground, and maybe a black cat silhouette. String orange or purple lights over and around the tombstones and along the fence to ensure onlookers can see your graveyard at night (very important!).
- You can purchase a fog machine to add to the ambience of the graveyard. Playing creepy music in the background will also help set the mood.
The next year you set-up your Halloween graveyard, you’ll know exactly what you’re doing and can do it faster. Which means you’ll have time to add something new to the design!
Search for tombstone and cemetary components
Theme Party of the Month: Monster High
So, what would happen if all your favorite monsters had kids? This would be the result. Monster High features the likes of Frankie Stein (daughter of Frankenstein’s Monster), Draculaura (a vegan vampire – really!), Clawdeen Wolf, Lagoona Blue (daughter of the Creature from the Black Lagoon) and Cleo de Nile (daughter of the Mummy.)
These girls are now teenagers at a high school, and can be seen as webisodes at Monsterhigh.com. It’s an online phenomenon that (naturally) has a complete line of dolls, accessories and now costumes and party supplies! It appeals to all children’s age groups, including little girls and extending to teens.
A Monster High party will generally be more girl- than boy-oriented, though for younger age groups, having boys at the party should be fine. (There are male Monster High dolls too.)
Freaky-Fun Foods
Whether this will be a Halloween, birthday or back-to-school party, you’ll want to serve some freaky eats. Try these:
– Macaroni and fleas: Bake macaroni and cheese and add just a sprinkle of pepper on the top, in the center. The pepper represents the “fleas,” but can be eaten around if guests don’t particularly fancy the taste.
– Frankenfurters: Dress up hot dogs with one toothpick through one end of the dog for Frankenstein’s bolts, slivers of olives for eyes and an olive pimiento sliver for the mouth. “Glue” the facial features on with tiny dabs of yellow mustard. Finish with a jagged mustard “scar” across the forehead.
– Fruit and/or veggie plate: In honor of Draculaura, who is vegan, serve fresh, sliced veggies and fresh fruit placed prettily on a tray. Be sure to include grapes, which are Cleo De Nile’s favorites!
Read more ideas for this party …
Sales and Coupon Codes for Online Party Merchants
Birthdayexpress.com – coupon code 10-off50 – Save $10 off any order $50 or more. Or 25-off100 for $25 off any order $100 or more. This coupon is also good for Costumeexpress.com. Discount is applied before taxes, shipping or duties, and can not be combined with any other offer. Use coupon code at checkout. Good through October 24, 2011
Shindigz.com – Coupon codeVSN49Q – Save $15 on orders $59 and over! Order is for ground shipping in the continental US, and can not be combined with any other offer. Expires at the end of October 19, 2011
Thinkgeek.com – for outrageous Halloween gifts, use coupon code GHOSTPOO for $5 off orders of $25 or more or $10 off orders of $50 or more. Good through October 14, 2011 (TOMORROW!)
Next issue in mid November. See you then, and happy Halloween!
