Halloween Party Ideas

For most of my life, I’ve lived at least slightly in fear of Halloween, but now I welcome it as a chance to indulge in the non-spooky side of the holiday, meaning candy, fall food, and pumpkins. In preschool I was so terrified of the boys wearing scary masks that my teacher made them remove the plastic disguises to prove their identities. Now I live in fear of a loved one hiring a scary clown to deliver doughnuts to my front door.

Whether you celebrate Halloween as a more sparkly Thanksgiving, like I do, or you look forward to binging on horror movies, the tips on the list will help you entertain the ghosts, vampires, and doughnut-bearing clowns in your life.

Halloween gives you license to decorate in ways you otherwise might not. Translation: It’s perfectly acceptable to sprinkle glitter on decorations and even cookies (as long as the glitter is edible). For the DIY glittery pumpkin shown here, I upped the base color by painting it a deep rust. Then I applied a second coat with black paint, letting some of the base color still show. Once it was dry, I used glue and gold glitter to give it a drip like effect that’s heavier on the top. Multiple pumpkins and some black tulle make a fun centerpiece that will catch the light all evening. You can also give the edges of flower petals the same treatment.

Orange and black decorations give a traditional feel to a Halloween party, but a neutral palette or alternate color can be used, particularly if you view the holiday as more of a whimsical celebration of the season. Following tip #1 above, consider painting pumpkins and gourds in your color of choice and selecting branches and blooms to match. If you do stick with orange and black, incorporate a range of shades from pinky coral to charcoal gray.

Little ones at your party will be focused mainly on their treat bags, and even adults tend to indulge in more sweets on Halloween, so balance this out by serving protein and non-starchy vegetable dishes. A cocktail style party allows guests to indulge in as much or as little as they’d like based on how many caramel, chocolate, and gummy treats they’ve enjoyed by the time they arrive.

It’s quite possible that your guests may have had one of every name brand candy bar before they arrive, so serve them a new treat. Pumpkin seed brittle satisfies the urge for some crunch, while chocolate squares with honeyed apricots and coconut invoke the Mediterranean and the tropics. If you have leftovers, package them up for guests to take home.

Put your stash of candles and candleholders to good use by lighting them for your party. When overhead lighting is dim and candles illuminate your home, it’s even easier to fall into the magical feeling of Halloween. A combination of tapers and tealights keeps the party lit at different levels, facilitating conversation and dining.

For a bubbly treat, serve a sparkling cider that’s crisp and dry. No matter what dishes you decide to serve, it will go nicely. For those who don’t imbibe, serve a cider-based mocktail, using lemon and a bit of thyme or another woodsy herb to keep things on the crisp side.

Fall produce lends itself to being used in multiple ways. Roasted pumpkin soup can be served as an appetizer or in small portions for a cocktail style party. Remember to keep the seeds, which can be roasted for snacks.

With these Halloween party tips, you’re ready to throw a sparkly soiree with lots of delicious treats.