How to Throw a Halloween Party
How To:

Plan a Halloween Party

It's no wonder kids love fright night. They get to dress up and play make believe, enjoy some good-natured chills and thrills, go to lots of fun parties and parades – and of course, collect goodies. Combine those elements into one spectacular event by planning a Halloween party your kids and their friends will love. With an orange-and-black theme, crafty decorations and a menu of tasty treats, it will be their favorite part of the whole spooky holiday.

Three to Four Weeks Before:

Send invitations. Make and deliver invitations. Try something creative and fun like our custom treat bag invitations. Your kids will love to help with stamping on the pumpkin motifs and filling the bags. Read our step-by-step instructions.

Plan your menu. We have some great Halloween-inspired recipes that kids love and are easy to prepare: popcorn balls, caramel apples, orange-pineapple punch, pumpkin-shaped cheddar balls and cheese crackers.

Plan your decorations. Pumpkins, cats, spiders, ghosts – there are lots of characters that go hand-in-hand with Halloween. A "Halloween tree" makes a great frightfully fun centerpiece and is perfect for hanging papier maché ornaments. Our spooky paper lanterns are easy to make and look great hung around the house. Pumpkin treat pouches are a hit with kids and are a fun addition to the party table.

One to three days before:

Shop. Purchase everything you'll need to prepare your Halloween feast, decorate the house and set up any activities, like our donuts-on-a-string game or pumpkin decorating.

Decorate. Bales of hay, dried cornstalks and a few fresh pumpkins are a great starting point. Add spooky thrills with hanging bats, paper lanterns, oversized

spiders and flickering battery-operated "candles." Set up a table and chairs in the area of your home where most of the activity will take place (indoors or outdoors, if weather permits).

Prep the food. The cheese crackers and popcorn balls can be made and stored in airtight containers. Make and chill the caramel apples.

Day of the Party:

Set the table. Think orange and black – lots of it. Miniature pumpkins, a few real or artificial jack o' lanterns, and even a bowl of oranges will make it feel like the fun of Halloween is here. Place pumpkin favors at each child's place setting.

Finish preparing the food. Make the orange punch. Arrange the cheese pumpkins on a platter with fruit and bread

nearby for spreading, and set out the cheese crackers where kids can see their fun shapes. Bring the caramel apples to room temperature.

Set up for activities. Suspend donuts from a branch or overhang to prep for your donut-on-a-string game. Set up a roomy area for pumpkin decorating, with pens, markers, felt accents and glitter.