Halloween Party Checklist: Ten Must Haves for Your Halloween Party

Hosting a Halloween party? Creating a party checklist saves you from nerve wrecking disasters and helps you coordinate things and celebrate the day in style. After all, Halloween party is considered the traditional beginning of the holiday season. Soon it'll be time for Thanksgiving, New Year and Valentine's Day. So why should anything spoil this event? The following checklist is compiled keeping the ins and outs of a Halloween party in mind.

Halloween Party Checklist: Guest List

Yes, we all need people to party! Themes, menu, decorations, games; a lot depends on the age group of the guests being invited. Compile a guest list keeping in mind your comfort zone. Remember, a big party doesn't always mean more fun.

Halloween Party Checklist: Costumes

Think about the costume choices before you format your invitations. Do you want the guests to come dressed in a specific theme? Should they come masked?

Halloween Party Checklist: Invitations

The Halloween party invitations feature graphics and illustrations of haunted house, pumpkins, ghost, witches, skeletons, jack o' lanterns, black cats, bats, and more. Free printable Halloween invitations accompanied with envelopes can be found at 123Printcards.com. Or for sending Halloween party invitations online, try Evite.com

Halloween Party Checklist: Decorations

Don't leave your decoration purchases for later. Look for deals online or visit your local Dollar Store. Here are some common decoration items you could opt for:

Black balloons
Cobwebs
Window lights
Jack O' lantern
Scary skeleton
Witch Display
Cut Outs
Banners
Centerpiece
Candles/Votives (Avoid if young kids are invited.)

Halloween Party Checklist: Party Supplies

Order your disposable, themed paper party supplies. Most websites ship the same day as ordered. Some supplies you would need are:

Plates
Napkins
Cutleries
Glasses
Cups
Platter
Serving Spoons
Table Cloth

Halloween Party Checklist: Candy

No Halloween is complete without some fun candies. Be prepared to face the tricksters with your treats! They can be delicious and delightful pumpkin suckers, or ghostly gummy candies.

Halloween Party Checklist: Food and Drinks

Along with buying the regular Halloween themed candies, cupcakes and finger food for kids; try these "frighteningly good recipes that will please goblins and ghouls of any age," from FoodNetwork.com

Also stop by webtender.com for fantastic drinks ideas apt for adults and kids. While the Eerie Witches Brew for kids has no alcohol; the Vampire Kiss for adults includes vodka, gin, dry vermouth, tequila and tomato juice. Browse through their collection of interesting Halloween drink ideas.

While it's good to personalize, don't forget the traditional roasted pumpkin seeds, apple cider and the graveyard cake!

Halloween Party Checklist: Spooky Music

Create a spooky ambience by playing some haunting tunes.Eztracks.com provides 40 free Halloween songs for you to download, burn and use.

Halloween Party Checklist: Games and Party Favors

Choose games keeping the age group and area in mind. If having a Halloween party in the backyard, active games like Spooky Walk or Pumpkin Bowling can be included. Wondering how to play those? Check out Party Games Ideas.

Other ideas that don't include a lot of activity are solving puzzle, mazes, bingo and other such printables for kids. Make your Halloween party a memorable event for your guests by giving them a small party favor to take home. It could be a Halloween treat bag, small spiders or personalized gumballs; the choices are endless.

Halloween Party Checklist: Nice to Have

If your budget allows you to indulge; it's nice to give your Halloween haunt a foreboding look. Fog adds a new dimension, an extra scary touch to the whole environment.

Creating a Halloween party checklist would definitely make your life easier as you cruise through your party preparations.

Have a spookily great Halloween.

** For more Halloween ideas from the author, click here **

Sources:
123printcards.com
eztracks.com
Webtender.com
PartyGamesideas.com
FoodNetwork.com