Halloween Party Tips and Tricks
PARTY THEMES
Consider the ages of the kids--one child's thrilling haunted house is another's chilling nightmare. If you will be hosting a mix of ages, be sure to set up the scariest events out of sight of the main party. A mad scientist's lab, for example, can be set up in a spare room so that younger kids can pass on the pleasure of watching others touch "brains" (cold spaghetti).
ACTIVITIES
Plan more events than you think you need (and plan for bad weather, too). Prepare easy activities: bobbing for apples, painting Halloween scenes, or marching in a costume parade.
MENU
If your party is in lieu of trick-or-treating, you can be more liberal with the sweets, but you still want to get something in your guests' stomachs besides candy. Search for Halloween recipes that are sure to "scare" up everyone's appetite.
DECORATIONS
Don't go overboard--mood lighting, creepy music and a few well-placed, homemade decorations will amply set the scene. Pass on anything with a flame, and keep in mind that kids are clumsy in their costumes--anything fragile or sharp should be well out of the way.
