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Halloween parties are events to remember! Guests have a chance to play with costumes, make-up, and cultural (sometimes scary!) themes. Hosting a Halloween party is fun because you can express your creativity by setting the stage for a spooky good time.

What makes a Halloween party a success?

1. Fantastic Invitations

Pick the best crowd of people and fearlessly mix up your guest list. Send out invitations that will set the stage. Do you want to have a creepy feel to your party, or a light-hearted playful Halloween spirit? The invitations will convey the tone of your event. Don't forget to mention that there will be prizes for costumes. This will do two things: it will further set the tone, and it will encourage all of your guests to arrive dressed in costume.

2. Decorations

Decorations are by far the most important part of a Halloween party. Many don't cost much at all. In addition to pumpkins, black lights and traditional decorations such as fake cobwebs and orange and black accents, add handmade elements to your house and yard. Try:
Ghosts made from white trash bags
Scarecrow monsters-with mask heads, pumpkin heads or paper mache heads
Tombstones made from cardboard
Pumpkins full of Halloween Candy
Jars containing odd objects and labels ("eye of newt" on jar of grapes"/ "monster brains" on jar of cooked spaghetti / "zombie blood" on jar of mayonnaise with green food coloring with purple colored oil floating on top)

3. Music

Nothing sets the tone more than music. You can buy one of several great compilations of fun Halloween music, including songs such as "Monster Mash." Or pick a DJ from your invite list and bribe him with candy to keep your party rocking. Pick one song to be your costume march, and parade people however they will fit in your house-in a line dance, in a circle with each taking turns to show off in the middle, or whatever works.

4. Food & Drinks
Truly, you don't need "special" food for a theme party. Sometimes when party hosts go overboard with weird theme food, the food is not as appealing. Simply serve whatever you would like, and make funny or spooky signs for the food to incorporate the Halloween theme. Barbecue if you like, calling the ribs "Skeleton Steak." Or order pizza (plan ahead, though, if your party is on October 31st) and make serving signs that say "When Dracula doesn't feel like going out, he orders pizza with extra red sauce." Dessert can be a bit more creative-make a large pan of a concoction similar to a "kitty litter" cake by layering pudding, cut up cheesecake bites, cookies and brownies. Mix into the top gummy worms, pretzel sticks, gummy bugs, raisins. Sprinkle with crushed chocolate cookies, chocolate chips and graham cracker crumbs. Plant a sign attached to a Popsicle stick that says, "What happens in the Graveyard, Stays in the Graveyard (we hope!)" Serve with a new plastic potting shovel.

Halloween can be a very creative time for everyone, and that is one of the reasons it is a favorite holiday. If you create a fun atmosphere that invites play and self-expression, it will automatically be a success, and will live on when guests remember the event. Do your best to get help and get started early so that you can enjoy the party, too!

Learn more about this author, Eva Smart.
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