In my last post I wrote a general overview of some of the many different ways you can purchase and make Halloween costumes. Today I want to share some things to do, as well as my favorite ideas for parties and more. When someone says Halloween most of us have very similar images that come to mind.

The most common Halloween images by far are kids crowding the streets at dusk, going from house to house in search of the best candy. I always think of the scenes from “E.T.” and “Mr. Mom”. The second are the parties at restaurants, bars, and neighborhood get togethers. Lastly there are the haunted houses, everything from making your own to going on tours of actual haunted sites.

With all of the different ideas it can almost become overwhelming to decide what to do! Especially if your trying to make the decision for a group of people with a variety of ages and interests. I come from a large crazy family with a ton of cousins and we used to go all out for Halloween. The older kids would set up the haunted house in the basement and we’d have games and activities for the younger ones outside and in the house. Then once the kids were taken care of the adults would have their party. So preparation sometimes began weeks ahead of the big day.

I know that may seem like way to much for some people (and believe me some years it was!), but in smaller doses all can provide a memorable time for everyone. The first thing that you need to decide is what the majority of the group interests are. Once that decision is made then all that’s left is to plan the fun! One of the best sites I’ve found to help in almost any area you can imagine is About.com. Here I’m just going to give you a few of my favorites to get you started.

When planning a Halloween party for little ones there are only a few things to keep in mind to have a successful party. Simple, time-limited and structured activities are best for both the kids and more importantly the parents. Trust me when I say not including those three things can lead to a lot of crying, and I’m talking about the parents not the kids! Seriously though, having as much as possible pre-arranged before hand is the key. Just two or three 15 minute activities are perfect in addition to free time for a party for kids.

One of my favorites it decorating a pumpkin. I put a bit of a twist on it by using orange construction paper instead of an actual pumpkin. Setup several mini stations with all the different tools the kids will use keeps the mayhem at a minimum. Crayons, sequins, glitter, paint, markers, buttons, pre-cut faces, and more allow for creative work. Glue sticks are great for gluing items to the paper and something I used were paintbrushes and common bowls of glue. Another thing to decorate using the same items listed above is to make masks with a popsicle stick for a handle.

Moving on, an adult Halloween party can be a great way to get together with friends and family you don’t get to see often. I personally think the more elaborate the better! However if you aren’t crafty or just don‘t have a lot of time, the decorations don’t have to be elaborate. Lots of mood lighting, eerie music, Halloween themed food items, and a few strategically placed decorations can be enough, letting guests and their costumes provide the rest. Have a costume contest with different categories with prizes to inspire people to dress up, the more creative the categories and prizes the better!

Another great idea is “theme” parties where the guests wear specific costumes based on a specific theme. A scene from the movie titled, “Never Been Kissed” comes to mind as I am writing this. When they are deciding what their prom theme should be, Drew Barrymore’s character suggested, “Famous couples through the ages” such as Romeo and Juliet. The possibilities are endless!

A delicious Halloween dessert that is easy to make is “dirt cake”, and can be made in advance as well. All you need are pudding, Oreo cookies, gummy worms, spiders, etc. and a little imagination. The recipe is easy: enough chocolate pudding for the amount of guests and crushed up Oreo cookies. Mix the pudding as directed on the box and mix in about ½ if the crushed up cookies. Now here’s where the imagination comes in, place it in any type of container that relates to the theme of your party. Personally I like to use a flower pot (lined with plastic of course!) and a new shovel. Fill the pot half way with the pudding and cookie mix, add a thin layer of crushed cookie, add the rest of the mix, and then top it off with the rest of the crushed cookies. All that’s left is decorate the top with creepy crawly candy you like and you‘re done! It’s amazing how real it looks!

Lastly if you are thinking about haunted houses, hayrides and more the internet is a great source of information on where there are events being held in your area. Other sources of information are your local papers, schools, churches and community centers. There’s a great article on this site titled survivors guide to spooky Halloween hayrides and haunted houses has some awesome tips!

Don’t forget many organizations set up charity events which is a wonderful way to both enjoy Halloween and support important causes at the same time. These events are usually spread out over the month so you can attend them and still enjoy the day with your family. Plus they are another way to show off that Halloween costume you spent so much time and money on!

I hope this gives you a great start into planning what to do for Halloween for you and your family and friends and until next time…..Peace and Take Care

Try the Halloween Store on Amazon.com for a great variety of Halloween costumes, videos, and designs by clicking here

Check out Celebrate Express for great Halloween party decorations and favors by clicking here

Click here to find the perfect costume at buycostumes.com

For great Halloween costumes check out, CostumeDiscounters.com

For a great variety of Halloween costumes, try Moon Costumes.

Shop Halloween Costumes and Décor at Walmart.com!

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