As the moon rises and shadows grow, the air begins to thicken with an eerie chill that creeps down your spine. Picture a night where every creak and whisper that makes the hair on your neck stand up, and where the veil between the dead and the living is at its thinnest. This is the ultimate Halloween party, where making guests terrified is top priority. From haunted decor to gruesome activities, this party guide will ensure that when your guests leave they are both having nightmares but also eager for the next one; your party will be talk of the town. Let’s dive into the magic of hosting a Halloween party that your guests will never forget–if they survive the night.
Before you brew up the plans for your spooktacular Halloween bash, make sure to gather the chilling opinions of all the ghouls, goblins, and witches who plan to haunt your party. This will help you uncover what your guests crave when it comes to spine-tingling music, devilish delights, eerie activities, and the overall vibe they expect from your ghostly gathering. When we asked Marshfield High School students what they thought made a killer party, their answers varied greatly.
“A lot of people, good music, people dancing” says Jonathan Millan, recalling a party he attended. “There were girls.”
Some Halloween parties are simply a provided space to hang out, while others include all-out decor and rented spaces. Garage or barn parties are also a fall hit. Simple backgrounds and strobe lights can sometimes be all it takes to create the ambiance, but sometimes that doesn’t fit the bill.
“My own 15 was the best party I went to,” said sophomore Lesley Castillo-Rodriguez. “We had what we call a banda playing and I had decor all over the place we rented. There were more than literally like 300 people. If anything, more, since they [the parties] get big. I had a chef cook my food and I did dances”
Once you’ve summoned enough feedback from your possible guests, you’ll likely conclude that the perfect monster mash includes a mix of ghastly guests, a variety of terrifying treats and drinks, a playlist that sends shivers down your spine from every genre of music, and a designated dance floor for ghouls who would like to dance.
Your guests need a way to find out about your party other than word-of-mouth, so creating invitations online and posted on social media or creating physical copies of invitations is a great way to ensure your party is known. Add a date and time and an intended location, and add any party themes, games, or other enticing details. Don’t forget to make it aesthetically pleasing.
Transform your chosen location to evoke the eerie atmosphere of a haunted house. The style will vary depending on the host’s preferences. You might go for creepy and gory decor, like fake blood and body parts, or opt for a more lighthearted approach with pumpkins, candy corn, and playful touches. Whatever direction you take, keep your guests’ comfort and preferences in mind. Consider adding a fun theme and encouraging everyone to come in costume, with a designated photo area where they can snap pictures of their spooky outfits. Creating a playlist that combines popular hits with Halloween-themed tracks will help maintain the spooky vibe while keeping the energy high and your guests dancing.
Food and drinks at a Halloween party can range from simple bowls of chips and soda to more creative, spooky options. You can serve eerie finger foods, some of which may even look like actual fingers, and themed drinks for your vampire guests. The key is to mix fun and creepy to enhance the Halloween atmosphere!
“Soda, because you can’t go wrong with soda and food,” said MHS student Sarah Daboling. “Everyone likes pizza.”