Throw a Halloween Party!
by aliciak - October 02, 2008
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Halloween was always my favorite holiday growing up because my birthday is a mere two days after (on Day of the Dead, mind you), which meant I almost always had Halloween-themed parties. Although adulthood unfortunately takes some fun out of the holiday--what do you mean I can't trick-or-treat anymore?!--kiddies shouldn't have all the fun. Organize and throw a Halloween party! That can mean costumes, bobbing for apples, pumpkin carving, or heck, just pumpkin beer-chugging. But do something!
Playing Dress-up
It’s a make or break decision, a life or death situation, a win or lose scenario: choosing a Halloween costume. If you go the easy route (nurse, schoolgirl, zombie), you risk being the uncreative one of the bunch. If you go too complex or ironic, you’ll be that party host. If you depend on your other half or a fellow costumed friend, you have to worry about sticking together in order for your concept to “work.” Am I stressing you out yet? Cool.
Did we angst over Halloween costumes as a kid? I think I did. Some of my childhood favorites were: Catwoman, Snow White, 50’s gal and a “good witch,” but as you can see from this brief list, I didn’t really think outside the box. All I wanted to be was a rad femme of some sort, but maybe it’s time to switch it up!
The Costume Lowdown by David Nelson
This guy is a hilarious writer!
On ironic costumes:
“Since it’s a time to let loose, some people dress up in a manner that really contradicts their character. Nine times out of ten, this boils down to some guy dressing in drag.”
On lazy costumes:
“These people will ransack their closets, looking for any kind of outfit they own which will technically fulfill the definition of a costume. For example, a dark suit and sunglasses will allow you to be an agent from The Matrix or possibly, Men in Black. Or for the really unimaginative, “Executive on a sunny day.””
On “punny” costumes:
“Every party gets someone who shows up in a seemingly inexplicable costume. He’ll be wearing something weird, like a brown sweater with some yellow leaves taped to it. After enduring some good-natured ribbing and some inaccurate guesses (“So, you’re a tree?”) he’ll ultimately reveal the meaning of his pun-based idea: he’s the Fall Guy. Cue groaning.”
Opting for NO Costume
What?!? Read on…
Max Burbank at I-Mockery.com has some suggestions:
“At first this might seem like a bad idea, but ”font-weight: bold;">AU CONTRAIRE! People will invariably ask you what you are dressed as, and the verbal buffet of ice breaking responses is near infinite! “I’m a cynical son of a b——!” Witty! "I’m a serial killer. Can we go somewhere private?" Hilarious! “I only came because of the open bar and your even more open spouse. Did I need a costume for either of those?” Provocative!"
More from Max Burbank
Has he whet your appetite yet? He’s got a costume for “abusive dad” and “suicide”! This guy knows how to party Halloween-style.
Pumpkin Carving
I feel that my pumpkin carving skills are very mediocre, but I really love the idea! I also seem to remember the gooey pumpkin flesh ALWAYS making my hands itchy after plunging them in there. Just because you’re an adult does not mean you have to forego pumpkin carving. Sure, someone will probably bash it in if you set it outside on your stoop, but it’s all about the design process and seed-roasting.
It makes me ridiculously happy to see the first pumpkins being sold every year in New York. They usually reside outside at the corner grocery stores or at the farmer’s market, and that shade of orange is like a beacon of Autumn light to me! But, you can also get the farm feel in the city if you so choose by actually visiting one.
Queens County Farm Museum
7350 Little Neck Pkwy, Floral Park, NY 11004
While you’re sauntering through the faux pumpkin patch, try your hand (and legs) at the Amazing Maize Maze! No one at your party will believe you actually completed a corn maze, or that one even exists here. Wow ’em.
While you’re sauntering through the faux pumpkin patch, try your hand (and legs) at the Amazing Maize Maze! No one at your party will believe you actually completed a corn maze, or that one even exists here. Wow ’em.
Spooooky Decorations!
People may make up a party, but decorations set the scene. It’s not enough to clean up the apartment and arrange some chairs in a circle—you need decorations! First, you need a basic theme:
- Spooky/gory/scary-the kind of party where you put slimy peeled grapes in the sink, hang scary sound-making machines, and dim the lights hardcore.
- Sophisticated and classy-think Martha Stewart, i.e., hand-sewn black and orange coasters, vintage punch bowl, pumpkin ale and dainty votives.
- Reverting back to childhood-bobbing for apples, pin-the-broom-on-the-witch, the candy corn in a jar guessing game, i.e., pick up some of those cheep and cheesy decorations at your local drug store.
Yum yum food time!
It wouldn’t be a party without food. Well, it would be a really lame one if that were the case! There’s no need to make all the food Halloween-themed, but how hard is it to make a cheese ball resemble a pumpkin? Not hard, people—just put some olives in there for yes. Maybe even throw in a few plastic razor blades or fake bugs into the bowl of chips or just serve pumpkin beers when it comes to the libations.
Halloween Food Recipes
Like “boo-scotti,” “slime soup,” pumpkin roll cake, and “blood and guts potatoes.”
*Activity Time*
I’m well aware that grown-up parties only really require food, drink, music and a whole lot of mingling, but I have fond memories of coming up with “activities” for my childhood Halloween partays. Plus, if the party isn’t quite hopping and people aren’t meshing yet, what better way to bring them together than by FORCING them to play a game? Exactly. It’s like college orientation all over again, which yes was painful, but didn’t you meet people?
With all the other last-minute party planning you will have to do, do the prep for games and activities ahead of time. You don’t want to announce it’s bobbing-for-apples time when you realize you don’t have a large enough receptacle.
A SCARY Intro to a Halloween game
A game, mind you, that is basically just searching for a key. But props for a well-made video that sent shivers down my spine.
Bobbing for Apples (and some alternatives)
Yeah, it’s a little gross with all the saliva-mixing that’s going to happen, but it’s a fall tradition! Get over it, okay? One of the alternatives to regular bobbing is to hang up apples from a clothesline, set them in motion, and participants have to catch them with their mouths, hands behind back. This just sounds dangerous.
But another more sanitary alternative? Putting the apples in a big bowl of flour. Snore!
Tons of Game Ideas
…including adult party ideas. No, not that kind of party. Creating short films, scary story time, and a Halloween movie game.
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You can always count on Martha for the best, non-cheesy decorations for any situation. As for costumes, I’m afraid I’m the “pedestrian” (or, serial killer…either/or) of the bunch. I don’t think I’ve dressed up since college!
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I love those pumpkin lights. I totally need some for my front porch.
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