Trick-or-treating, jack o’ lanterns, haunted houses…the spookiest night of the year is upon us! And what better way to welcome the frightening and exciting holiday than to throw an epic bash?
If you’re thinking of hosting a party this year, read on for our tips on how to prepare for Halloween. Trust us, you’ll want to read this before sending out your Halloween party invitations to make sure your party is an event to remember instead of a nightmare on Elm Street.
“Spook up” your house
Throwing a Halloween party in an undecorated home is like watching a live musical take place on an empty set. You’ve got to set the stage if you want to throw a party your friends won’t forget.
Don’t worry about going overboard on Halloween party decor— preparing for Halloween is all about dressing up and going ALL OUT.
Decorating the inside of your home
You can check seasonal Halloween stores or your local department stores for decorative pumpkins, fake cobwebs and spiders, and any other on-theme trinkets. But, if you really want to get crazy as you prepare for Halloween, you can make your entire home a haunted house. Bonus points if you get a couple of friends to be “actors” in the haunted house as well. Boo!
However you decide to style your home for your party, the most important thing is that it fits with the vibe you want. Whether it’s going to be festive or frightening, the decor should match.
Making the outside of your home just as inviting…or terrifying
Preparing for your Halloween party doesn’t stop with the interior decorations. The outside of your home is just as important as it’s the first impression your guests will get as they approach your party. Thus, it sets your party goers’ expectations for the night.
There’s no doubt that fog machines are insanely cool. You can’t go wrong with the mysterious fog that creeps through the air as your guests step into your event. Likewise, arranging candles that lead up to your door will give a dramatic, mystical effect; while also providing light so your guests can see at nighttime. But, consider using fake candles, so you don’t have to worry about flames catching on to costumes.
You can also create light by using carved jack-o-lanterns, and if you don’t have time for a DIY project, fear not! You can easily find plastic jack-o-lanterns with fake candles inside of them that look just as cool as the real deal.
Offer drinks from a witchy cauldron
As you prepare for Halloween, think about providing your guests with booze from a creepy cauldron rather than a generic punch bowl. For a fun tip, you can add purple food coloring and dry ice to make it look like a potion is brewing!
Also, instead of serving people with the classic red solo cup, get some Halloween-themed drinking glasses or plastic cups to keep your party on brand. If you want to up your game even more, order prop blood bags on Amazon that are specifically designed for drinking out of.
Set up some freaky games to get your guests socializing
This is especially important if your party guests don’t all know each other. The last thing you want at a Halloween party is the awkward scene of a bunch of people dressed up in costumes standing apart from each other eating candy corn. So, get Count Dracula and the surfer dude to mingle! Who knows, maybe after a few games of flip cup, Batman and the Joker will become friends.
Choosing the best games as you prepare for Halloween is all about knowing your audience. Think about who you’re inviting and what they’re into. Would a drinking game be a good ice-breaker? Or perhaps charades, board games, or an adventurous game of truth or dare would fit your crowd better.
The most popular “game” at Halloween parties is the classic costume contest. This is a smart activity to have because it encourages all of your guests to dress up and commit to a great costume. But, there’s no shame in going for regular ol’ drinking games at your Halloween party, like flip cup or beer pong. As long as the cups you use are on-theme, these count as Halloween games!
If you want to have your guests play a game that’s bigger than a simple round of flip cup or Apples to Apples, a murder mystery party may be the perfect option for you.
Murder mystery
A murder mystery party is a surefire way to get guests mingling, as they’ll have to converse with each other— it’s part of the game! You can find kits online for this interactive game that include descriptions for each player, costume guidelines, and clues to solve the murder.
Create an eerie ambiance
Alright, you’ve got your decorations, you’ve got your drinks, and you’ve got your games. But what about ensuring that the overall atmosphere of your party is set? When you prepare for your Halloween party, you need to make sure you have the right background noise. After all, setting an ambiance is how you influence your guests to feel.
So, do you want them to feel cheerful or spooked? It’s your party— you get to decide!
Music
Make sure you have a playlist all ready to go on the night of the party. Here are a few Halloween favorites you can add to your queue.
• “Monster Mash” by Bobby Pickett
• “Thriller” by Michael Jackson
• “Ghostbusters” by Ray Parker Jr.
• “Psycho Killer” by the Talking Heads
• “Disturbia” by Rihanna
• “Superstition” by Stevie Wonder
• “I Put a Spell On You” by Annie Lennox
Pro-tip! Play the soundtracks to some of your favorite, spine-chilling movies.
Movies
A great idea for enhancing the eerie night is to have classic horror films running in the background. You can always put the movie on mute or turn the volume down to avoid distracting the partiers.
Since people have different levels of tolerance for scary movies, here are some ideas as you prepare for your Halloween party.
For an uber-festive movie that isn’t scary at all, try “It’s The Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown.”
For movies that are downright terrifying, try a couple from this list:
• Rosemary’s Baby
• A Nightmare on Elm Street
• Friday The 13th
• The Shining
• The Conjuring
Want a happy medium between these two categories? You can’t go wrong with the classic Halloween movie, “Hocus Pocus” and its recently debuted sequel, “Hocus Pocus 2” (thanks Disney+)!
What to wear for your spooky night
Whether you’re going out this year or hosting a party, you’ve got to look the part. Will you dress up as something funny? Sexy? Iconic? Try scrolling through Pinterest if you’re stumped for a costume idea.
And, if you don’t want to wear a costume alone…pair up with a buddy and go all out together!
Couples Halloween costumes
If you’re preparing for Halloween and start questioning every costume you come across, maybe it’s time to team up with a mate and put your two minds together as you brainstorm what to wear.
Whether the duo costume is for you and your S.O., friend, or cousin…y’all can be whatever you want! Here are some ideas to get your creative juices flowing.
- Bonnie and Clyde Halloween costume
- Brittney Spears and Justin Timberlake in their classic, matching denim outfits
- Belle and the Beast, Cinderella and Prince Charming, or Pocahontas and John Smith (or even Grandmother Willow!) for a Disney throwback
- Harley Quinn and the Joker
- And lastly, as a nod to one of the greatest movies of 2022, you could opt for a “Top Gun” Halloween costume if you want to match up with a group of friends
Your ultimate guide for how to prepare for Halloween
Now that you’re all prepped for the most epic Halloween of your life yet, what are you going to do for a pre-game?
Don’t worry— we’ve got you covered. Come to the Pourhouse for the Simi Live “To Be Honest” tour on October 28th at 8:00 PM. This event is sure to get you all revved up before you make an entrance at your Halloween party!