Everyone’s favorite spooky holiday is right around the corner. If you’re planning to throw a Halloween shin-dig, consider spicing up your celebration with some of these ideas.
Dead Man’s Party
Ask your guests to come as their favorite dead celebrity or historical figure. Encourage them to think outside of the box and get as creative as they like. When they arrive, ask them to create a tombstone for their character on a piece of tombstone-shaped cardboard. Display these around the party. Have your guests vote on the best costume and award the winner a door prize, such as a small pumpkin filled with candy or a novelty trophy purchased at a party supply store.
Invasion of the Zombies Party
Tell your guests to wear old clothes they don’t care about, because things could get messy, but don’t give away the surprise. Tell one or two of your guests about your plans ahead of time, and make them up as zombies: First cover the face with white or extremely light pancake makeup. You can also use liquid makeup from a costume store, but cover it with white powder to prevent smearing. Use dark gray or black eyeshadow or Halloween makeup around the eyes to create a sunk-in look. Apply fake blood as desired to the face and clothing. Give them a scissors and encourage them to “zombify” their outfit by creating tears or holes. Used coffee grounds are good for adding a “freshly crawled from the grave look.”
Once they are zombified, encourage them to mingle with the guests. One by one, the zombies will hand each person a slip of paper which reads, “You’ve been bitten. Follow me to complete your zombie transformation.” They will then guide the new zombies into a room set up with makeup supplies, where your guests can zombify themselves. It would be helpful to place a set of written instructions in a prominent place so that each zombie doesn’t have to stay and supervise the next one’s transformation.
By the end of the evening, your entire party will be transformed. Or perhaps two or three guests will find themselves the last surviving humans, surrounded by a throng of zombie hoards.
Haunted House with a Twist
The traditional way to decorate for a party on All Hallow’s Eve is, of course, to create a haunted house. Try these fun alternatives to keep your party interesting.
Haunted Las Vegas
Dim the lights and either use strings of plastic pumpkin lights for lighting or find another safe alternative (avoid candles, since they are easy to knock over accidentally). Cover several tables with green cloth and turn them into gaming tables for Blackjack and Poker. Either ask some friends to serve as dealers or encourage guests to do so themselves. The host or hostess can dress up as an undead casino owner, who will make it clear to guests that they are gambling, not for money, but for their souls!
Haunted Luau
Blend the expected elements for a Halloween and a beach party to produce a hysterical hybrid. Some ideas include using tropical-inspired linens, orchids, and tropical flowers. Offer guests spooky versions of Hawaiian tropical drinks, such as the “Boo Hawaii” (instead of Blue Hawaii). You can find a guide to alcoholic and nonalcoholic drinks, and luau food, in this About.com article. Toss around an inflated beach ball, decorated with a marker to look like a Jack-o-Lantern. Create your own leis from craft store supplies, such as a string of autumn leaves or a chain of skulls. Carve a pumpkin for a centerpiece and place it on a “surf board” made of cardboard (or place it on the floor on a skateboard).
Follow these ideas, and your Halloween party will be the talk of the town.