A chill is in the air, and not just because autumn has arrived. Halloween is right around the corner! It’s time to start planning your Halloween party, and we have some great ideas to help you get started. Whether your Halloween party is kid-friendly or adults-only, you can throw the party of the year!
Set up your decorations
Halloween is one of the easiest and most fun holidays to decorate for. You can turn your humble abode into a haunted house, creepy laboratory, or witch’s lair with just the right color schemes and accent decor. You can also choose a more specific theme like Beetlejuice, Nightmare Before Christmas, or Hocus Pocus!
🎨 Classic Colors
Depending on the look you’re going for, there are a couple of different color options you can choose from for your Halloween party decor. Black and orange are perfect for a traditional Halloween bash, whereas black and white would create a more sophisticated atmosphere. For a witchy vibe, go with bright green and deep purple.
🎃 Spooky Accents
Keep the decor simple with all of your standard Halloween staples like plastic spiders, fake cobwebs, black cats, jack-o-lanterns, and witch hats. A few well-placed accents that match your color scheme or theme will go a long way in setting the perfect stage for your party.
Or, if you’re feeling creative, you can take it up a notch with these creepy DIY Halloween Decor ideas. Some unique and spooky setups will surely give your party guests (and the local kids who are trick-or-treating) a ghostly experience!
👻 Get more Halloween party ideas! Having trouble choosing a direction? Check out these 6 Hair-Raising Halloween Party Themes.
Plan the menu
Halloween parties are all about finger foods. It’s kind of tough to sit and eat dinner when you’re wearing a costume. These recipes are quick and easy, so you can spend more time perfecting your Vampira makeup instead of slaving away over the stove.
🥐 Quick and Savory Appetizers
Your guests will be looking for some Halloween snacks when they arrive, so be ready with some themed appetizers that are both filling and tasty.
Add a little savory spice to your Halloween party menu with jalapeno popper mummies! With only a few ingredients, like crescent roll dough and cream cheese, you can whip up these fun appetizers in only 30 minutes.
Everyone loves pizza! You can make ghost pizza bagels with fresh mozzarella and sliced bagels. Or, for a more adult crowd, try spider cheese balls for an eye-catching and on-theme app.
🍬 Simple Sweet Treats
Halloween candy isn’t the only sweet thing you can serve at your party! These easy recipes for Halloween treats have just a few ingredients and won’t take long to make. We guarantee these simple desserts will make their way into your favorite Halloween party ideas.
Make witch-finger pretzel rods for a sweet and salty treat. They look amazing—and almost a little too real—but only need four ingredients and 15 minutes to put together!
Who needs caramel? Add a scream factor to your party with bloody, chocolate-covered candy apples instead! They only take a few minutes to assemble and are the perfect sweet snack for both kids and adults.
Get in touch with your dark (chocolate) side with festive, dipped Halloween sprinkle cookies! The dough must be chilled for an hour, but the candy melt dip and themed sprinkles make it worth the wait.
🍷 Spooky Boos Brews
No party is complete without a few good Halloween-themed potions to serve your guests! There are tons of devilishly delightful cocktails you can mix up. One of our favorites is the black devil martini, made with dark rum and blackberries. For a kid-friendly option, go with a simple two-ingredient blood vampire drink.
Get into costume
Getting dressed up for your Halloween party is one of the best parts! But it can be tough to think of a look that is both bone-chilling and easy. Here are some last-minute Halloween makeup ideas to ensure you have a fun Halloween!
👧 Creepy Doll
Paint on exaggerated doll features, followed by a simple dress, knee-high socks, and ratty pigtails to complete the unsettling look. For the fellas, lean toward a marionette with a suit or dress shirt and suspenders. This thrifty costume is both unsettling and inexpensive—a Halloween win!
💀 Sophisticated Skeleton
Want to be glamorously frightening? We suggest painting a half-skeleton. And you only need two paint colors! Pair your face paint job with a sleek black outfit for a dark and broody vibe. Or, a red lacy dress and boots could achieve a feminine and dressier look.
🤐 Mums the Word
This look is so simple yet packs a major chill factor! Add some tattered clothing to look like an escaped torture victim. This clever makeup application looks like your mouth is sewn tight while still allowing you to open your mouth to talk, drink, and chew.
💄 Need help? If you’re not the artistic type, leave it to the professionals and hire a makeup artist or face painter to take your Halloween costume to the next level.
Schedule some entertainment
Eating, drinking, and admiring everyone’s costumes can only occupy so much time. For a truly unforgettable Halloween party, you should have a few activities to keep your guests engaged!
🎥 Screens and Scares
One of the best things about the Halloween season is the scary movies. Stream the classics like Scream and Friday the 13th on your TV in the background of your party. Or, take the celebration to the backyard and rent an inflatable movie screen. Being outside after dark will only add to the spooky atmosphere!
🎲 Gourd Games
There are all kinds of fun party games you can play with your guests at your Halloween party. Go with the tried and true activities like bobbing for apples and pumpkin carving contests. Or you can get creative with some of these DIY Halloween party games from Country Living.
Throwing a memorable night is totally possible with these easy Halloween party ideas. The main thing is to enjoy time with friends and family while embracing the spooky season! 👻
Megan is the Director of Customer Experience at GigSalad and has gained 9+ years of insight on what makes a great event on both sides of the booking process. Her favorite things include books, true crime podcasts, coffee, hiking, puns, and making people laugh.
Thank you for the very moving and excitable notes. Halloween is a time for celebration fun and joy and also pranks so we must remind each other always to stay vigilant and to be very safe with everything we do and everywhere we go and everyone we see and still have plenty and plenty of fun