FRESH Flower Arrangements for Halloween ON SALE through the end of October!

Lifesize Posable Skeleton

More Halloween Decorations

Ghost Projector Kit VHS or DVD

Use our video projector kit to enlarge ghost-like images from your 13" to 20" portable TV up to a huge 6 ft. by 8 ft. Perfect for filling your front bay window to both frighten and amaze those outside. Used by major haunted houses. Simple-to-assemble kit includes 2 hr. ghost video, lens, screen & complete instructions.

More Halloween Lighting & Special FX

#4 ABOUT THE FOOD

Not sure how much Halloween food or drink to have on hand for your hungry guests? Here are some guidelines I found online (but seem Ok to me) for how much food to prepare (note: portion sizes are for ONE non-dieting ADULT)

Appetizers: 3 pieces (for a cocktail party, allow 8 pieces per hour)
Meats: 1/2 to 3/4 lb.
Vegetables/Sides: 1/2 cup
Salads, Tossed: 1 cup (side), 1.5-2 cups (main dish)
Desserts: 2 portions
Beverages: 12 oz of wine, 24 oz of beer, or 24 oz of non-alcoholic beverages  

Not sure what to make? Check out our Halloween recipes for some gruesomely great Halloween food ideas for kids and adults, as well as some elegant fall suggestions for an autumn dinner party. You can also visit our Halloween Candy store to find some unique Halloween treats.

And here are some useful Rules of Thumb to keep in mind:

Keep It Simple - Elaborate menus don't necessarily make a better party. Halloween party food can be simple and scary!

Think Seasonally - Fruits and vegetables that are in season cost less and taste better.

Special Needs - Keep in mind any guests that might have special dietary needs. For example, if your guest list includes people with food allergies, vegetarians/vegans, diabetics or cardiac patients, or even people who are on a low-carb diet, they will appreciate appropriate meal choices that make them feel included. I always make sure that my vegan friends can eat as well as everyone else does, and they ALWAYS love coming here because they know they aren't going to starve!

EARLY Prep means more Party for YOU! Remember, the more you can prepare ahead of time, the easier it will be on the night of your party. Empty out the fridge to make as much room for party food as possible. Clean the house and begin your Halloween decorating a few days ahead, set the table and make your table arrangements the night before. Prepare food ahead of time, and refrigerate or freeze it. Make extra ice and store it in plastic bags in the freezer. Select your serving dishes in advance , and label them by recipe to save time when you're ready to dish out what you've prepared.
 
Lastly, don't forget to get sturdy paper plates, paper or plastic cups, napkins and utensils! Purchase enough so that you have about three of each on hand for each guest.
 
#5 DECORATIONS & ACTIVITIES

This site has several recommendations for fun Halloween party games and activities that are easy for guests of all ages to enjoy. Be sure to select games that are age-appropriate, and it's a good idea to team adults with children (or slightly more sober, less insane friends with not as sober, slightly more psychotic...um, I mean...adventurous friends) for any activities, such as carving pumpkins, that require the use of sharp objects or things that are on fire.
 
You can find recommendations for the perfect Halloween costume ideas, Halloween decorations, even Halloween Ornaments if you are making a Halloween Spooky Tree in other sections of this site. But one thing I like to do to set the mood for my fall parties, is start the evening as guests arrive by greeting them as they come in the door with a nice, warm cup of cider. Two recipes for cider included on this site can get you started: Tuaca Hot Apple Pie Cider and Perfectly Spiced Cider. I often put an early arriving guest in charge of this task as I go put on my costume's final touches. People love to help--so don't be afraid to ask. And it's totally OK if everything's not done by the time guests arrive. People have met each other at my house over chopping vegetables while I'm busy getting dressed. It gives people a chance to get involved, and guests helping out in the kitchen, or putting up some of the final decorating touches can be a great icebreaker and help someone who may know you, but not many other people at the party feel more comfortable and get in communication with some of the other guests. Remember, it's not about perfection. It's about having fun. So get ready, get set, then let go-- and have the best Halloween ever!