Tips on how to host a Halloween Party for your friends
Hosting a Halloween Party
Hosting a Halloween party, or any party for that matter, can be an overwhelming task. There is just so much to do. For example, who are you going to invite? What activities should you have? Guests like to be entertained, so you need to have something up your sleeve. Another equally important thing is food and music. People usually remember two things: what they ate, and what music was playing. But don't worry, this blog is here to help you out! If you want to keep everything organized, consider having a party planner like this printable Halloween Party Planner.
- Where will the party be held?
The first thing to decide is the location of the party. You can always host it at your home, but sometimes, with a long guest list, there may not be enough space. Another downside of hosting a party at home is the risk of damage. For example, last year when we hosted a Halloween party, one of the guests drank too much and ended up vomiting on the rug. Unfortunately, the rug couldn't be saved and had to be thrown away. Accidents can happen, so it's important to keep in mind when preparing for the party. If you're worried about potential damage or if your place is too small, you should consider other venues. There are various private party facilities that you can always take into consideration.
- Food
Food is crucial for any gathering, as people will definitely get hungry. It's important to consider the menu. Will it be a full dinner with appetizers, or will snacks suffice? Factors to consider include the timing of the party and whether you will be preparing the food yourself or ordering it.
Personally, I usually prepare something for my guests. I often opt for pizza as it's easy to make, but I've also made gyros and langallo, a Hungarian dish similar to pizza. I also love baking desserts, so no party is complete without them. Last year, I made a cemetery chocolate cake. I often bake cookies or cupcakes as well, but I understand that baking isn't everyone's cup of tea. If you don't have time to cook, don't forget that you can always order food. It's important to have snacks like chips available before the main activities begin.
One crucial consideration when planning the menu is food allergies. Many people have allergies such as lactose or gluten intolerance. It's essential to accommodate your guests with allergies.
- Drinks
Don't forget about beverages for your guests. You can opt for a nonalcoholic party and explore various mocktail recipes. If you want a more lively atmosphere, you can also prepare alcoholic drinks to impress your friends. Get creative and consider making spooky decorations for the drinks. At this point, it's a good idea to plan the welcome drinks, select the alcoholic beverages you want to offer, and decide on nonalcoholic options.
- Decorations
To take your Halloween party to the next level, you must decorate the house! I enjoy putting up decorations because they create a spooky and fun atmosphere. Where I live, October is quite chilly, windy, and rainy. The sun sets early, so it's dark during the day. That's why I love decorating with creepy and colorful (purple, orange) items in my home. My friends always compliment the decorations. Sometimes I make something myself, and other times I order decorations, and they all make a difference. So, don't hesitate to use decorations to your advantage. You can choose to make some yourself; there are useful websites and YouTube channels that can help. If you don't have time to DIY, just pick something up from your local store (Walmart, Lidl, Pepco, Teddy) and place it in your home.
- Activities
The guests will love your party if you think about entertainment. Choose some activities, so it's guaranteed, that no one will be bored. We already wrote a post about games, which you can find here. We put together some interesting and easy, but fun game lists. Check them out if you are interested.
- Music
As mentioned earlier, the music played at an event is something that guests will remember. This means that if the music is bad or inappropriate, it will leave a lasting impression. To avoid having guests complain about the music in the future, it's important to create a great playlist in advance. There are plenty of spooky and creepy songs to choose from, including classics like "Thriller" by Michael Jackson and the "Ghostbusters" theme. You can find some good playlists on Spotify - for example, check out this one. If you're interested, take a look at this effects playlist too.
- Party Favors
Remember to consider giving out gifts at the end or during your Halloween party as a nice gesture towards your friends. One idea is to hold a contest where guests are divided into teams to compete, and the winning team receives a small reward from a prepared gift box (this is what we usually do). You can decide what type of party favor to hand out, such as candy, sweets, cookies, recipe cards, bookmarks, or anything else you prefer. You can also choose to give out rewards after playing games, such as giving something to the person with the highest score in a trivia game, or simply giving everyone a small gift to remember the party by. There are many options to choose from.
Hosting a party can always be nerve-wracking. Be prepared and don't forget, that the most important thing is to have fun with your friends!
