Host a Howlin' Good Halloween Party

Who doesn't love Halloween? It's the one day of the year you can be anyone—or anything—you want. We love Halloween because the creative potential of the holiday is virtually unlimited. When else do you get to plan a ghoulish get-together with all the gross, goofy, and gory impulses you never imagined you had? All this adds up to the perfect excuse for a party.

There are as many ways to celebrate Halloween. You can do it cute, with lots of pumpkins and a fall or harvest theme for those faint of heart. For some of you, super-scary, is always the way to go. Whichever way you choose to celebrate it, we have you covered with bewitching party ideas to get your ghouls a gobblin'. All you need to worry about are sugar-fueled frenzies and nightmarish dentist bills.

Take the Fright Out of Halloween Entertaining!

Plan Ahead for a Real Treat: Shop 364 days in advance. The best way of doing it efficiently is to shop the sales right after the celebration is over, it is when there are half-price deals on items such as spider webs, rubber rats, cardboard skeletons, plastic witch’s cauldrons and other spooky props to match your theme and decor. Don’t wait until last minute or you’ll pay premium for costumes, décor, baked goods and candy.

Beware of the Budget: Make a budget and stick to it. Be thorough in your planning and account for the smallest details (candy, costumes, outdoor/indoor decorations, and school parties). If your plans exceed your budget, a little ingenuity and effort goes a long way in reducing your expenses and chances are you’ll be happier with the end result.

Get Into the Spirit: Be inspired to create a ghostly atmosphere for your party. Music is now quite inexpensive, and you can download a Halloween album or scary sounds for just a few bucks. Plug in your iPod or MP3 player, hit shuffle and your music is set. You can also position speakers in the windows on the front of your home to set the mood for partygoers as they approach your house. Minimize the lighting to make it scary and more unpredictable. White Christmas lights, lava lamps or eerie black or red light bulbs are sure to cast a ghostly glow.

Now for the Bites:  Plan a Progressive or Potluck Party. Share the expense and stress of hosting a party with friends and family and invite your guests to bring their favorite Halloween party snacks. This will save you a lot of time and money preparing snacks and you’ll get to enjoy all of the creative snacks people bring. Outline the details of the party and decide what type of party works best with your crowd and means (expense, space, time, etc). Send free electronic invitations the beginning of October.

Don't toil and trouble over planning a spook-tacular party. Let SignUpGenius help!

Be Creepy and Creative: While you’re being creative making your Halloween decorations, why not make your own costume. This can be a lot cheaper than buying or renting one. You can also put your own personal touches into your outfit, meaning that no one else will have the same one. Look around your house and dig through closets. Some of the best components of a good Halloween costume are items you never thought you would use again. There are some relatively cheap and easy costumes to make including ghosts, cats and zombies. Do an online search for free Halloween costume patterns and projects.

Whichever type of Halloween bash you decide to throw, be a SignUpGenius and let us help make the planning simple!

Posted by Angel Rutledge