Ghoulish ghosts are out to play, pumpkins are ready to be carved and costume stores are starting to pop up everywhere. You know what that means? Halloween is officially here! Ever since I was little, Halloween has always been my favorite holiday. I love dressing up, eating way too much candy and throwing themed parties. For everything you need to know about throwing the ultimate Halloween party, check out my tips below.
How To Decorate
When it comes to decorating your house, apartment or dorm, the creepier the better! If you don’t want to spend a ton on decorations, I highly recommend checking out a nearby dollar store for killer deals, or you could even make your own decorations with materials from your local art store. When planning your party, try to stick to a theme like ghosts and skeletons, poppin’ pumpkins or your favorite Halloween movies like Hocus Pocus or Scream. You’re going to need a lot of fake cobwebs, spiders and of course, a bloody backdrop for insta-worthy photos. I can’t forget about all the pumpkins and caution tape to add around your home.
Also, don’t forget about Halloween lights! LED spotlights are not only creepy, but they’re also really cool. If you want to go the extra step, change out the light bulbs all around your house and replace them with red, orange or even black light bulbs. Strobe lights are also a great idea if you really want to creep out your guests. Don’t forget to leave out a bucket full of candy for your guests to snack on and pretend they are “trick or treating.”
What To Wear
It’s a Halloween party, so of course, you have to dress up for the occasion, especially if you want to win the costume contest! The list of costume ideas is endless and the perfect costume is out there, so there’s no need to worry. Just remember to make sure you pick out your costume ahead of time before they go out of stock. You could go the more traditional, basic route and become a slutty animal, or you could go a more unique route and dress up like your favorite food, movie or TV character. I’ve recently hopped on the Stranger Things bandwagon, and my personal favorite costume this year is the Eleven costume. It’s also really easy to create a costume with materials you probably already own. Couple costumes are also great, for example, Flappers and Fellas, Minions, and The Joker and Harley Quinn are overplayed, but still a great idea. We have seen it time after time, but dressing up like a member of The Purge is really simple and is always a fan favorite.
What To Eat
Spooky treats and ghostly drinks are exactly what your guests are looking for at your party. Pinterest is a great place to find the perfect recipes to recreate for your party. Typically, when you’re at a college party you’re not going to want to sit down and eat a huge feast. You are going to need quick finger foods so your guests can mingle and munch. Dips are easy to make and are perfect to snack on. Mummy pizza puffs are creative and so tasty! Cheesy bone breadsticks are great finger foods and delicious. If you are of the drinking age, there are great recipes for alcoholic beverages. If you’re having a large guest list, I recommend making a huge batch of Blood-Bath Punch. The Witch’s Brew Cocktail is spooky and so tasty. Candy Corn Jell-O Shots are a cult favorite because of their unique look, so they’re definitely going to make a smash at your party. Also, if you aren’t of age, you can always make these drinks without the liquor! Of course, you’re going to need some sweet tooth treats for your guests. Luckily there is an abundance of dessert recipes for your Halloween party. A few of my favorite spooky desserts are Chocolate Spider Trifle, Monster Rice Krispies Treats and Graveyard Dirt Cups. Ghostly Pretzel Sticks are simple but very creative!
Games and Activities
Beyond mingling and playing beer pong, there are a bunch of other activities for your party guests. You definitely do not want your guests to be bored at your party so you have to keep them entertained! A costume contest is a great activity and if you want to motivate your friends to dress to impress, just make sure there is a prize for the winner. Gift cards to local restaurants, grocery stores and coffee shops are always great prizes for contests, especially since most college students are broke.
If you love beer pong and must play it at your party, try playing Monster Pong, which is the same as beer pong, but with cooler cups. Bobbing for mini liquor bottles is a fun activity and a great way to have a laugh with your friends. But, if you are underage, bobbing for apples is always fun. Donut bobbing is a classic game that your guests with a sweet tooth are going to love, just make sure the donuts are Halloween themed, and I know Dunkin Donuts has a great selection. Another great game is a Halloween themed scavenger hunt your guests can do around your neighbor and community. If your guests are movie fanatics, you could do horror movie trivia and also give out candy as a prize for the winner.
Whatever you choose to do this Halloween season, I hope you have a spooky time! Happy Halloween, my pumpkins!