First, what do you want your party to say? Great food, awesome games and prizes, or knock out decorations. Set up categories for food, decorations, games, and prizes when planning your budget. Setting limits on how much you want to spend and sticking to it takes some planning, but makes things much easier in the long run.
Next decide what you want at your party. Like do you want to serve a complete meal or just chips & a drink? When it comes to decorations remember, you can buy things like decorated table clothes, but you will most likely be covering them up with food and drink. Always keep in mind that decorations and food can be bought or made with a little hard work and an imagination. Don’t forget to include products to hang decorations when planning your budget.
When looking for decorations let your creativity run wild look for ideas online, the library, magazines, & even stores specializing in Halloween or party items. You can decorate with general Halloween items, or pick a specific theme such as haunted house, mad doctor’s laboratory, or a mummy’s tomb. Remember there are many ways to carry the theme throughout your party, invitations, food, & even prizes or loot bags.
Try to do as much of your set up and cooking ahead of time as you can. This will allow you time to enjoy your own party when the time comes.
If you plan on using crepe paper or balloons, keep in mind that they can be effected by the weather. So try to hang them only a few hours before your party. Set up games and prizes as much as possible, making sure to leave everyone space to play.
When planning games think about the ages of your guests. Always plan 2 or 3 more games than you think you‘ll actually need. Sometimes a game will sound good great in a book but when you play it, it ends up a flop. Some games have to be played one person at a time and if you have several guests can become boring for some in attendance. Try to use games like these in combination with a walk through activities like haunted rooms. Mixing fast and slow paced games will also cut down on boredom.
When it comes to prizes it depends on the games you’ve picked out. Dollar type stores have lots of variety in toys and candy. Check the birthday section for bulk items, candy bars, or even popcorn balls to be prizes. This is also a great place to look for you treat bag items.
Refreshments can be as simple as fruit punch with food coloring, to a drink out of a punch fountain or cauldron. Plastic gloves with popcorn in them, sand”witches”, a haunted chocolate castle, you menu can be endless. So enjoy being creative with the refreshments for your party. You can have a cute kiddie menu, or go for total gross out foods. The choice is all yours. The whole point of a party is to get friends together, & have lots of fun so get planning.