Host a Neighborhood Halloween Party
Plan a Get-Together for Neighbors to Celebrate The Spookiest Holiday
Sep 26, 2009
Hosting a Halloween party for the neighbors doesn't need to be a lot of work. Send out invitations, plan food and games, then sit back and watch the fun unfold.
Invitations for a Halloween Party
For a neighborhood party, keep invitations friendly with clip art or pictures depicting jack-o-lanterns, smiling ghosts and friendly witches. Stationary stores sell Halloween themed printer paper for computer generated invitations. Title the invitation (ex.: "Neighborhood Halloween Celebration) and give details of date, time and location.
This is the time to consider any special requests:
- Is an RSVP date necessary?
- Should children dress in costume? How about adults?
- Will guests be asked to bring food to share?
- Are there food or pet allergies to consider?
- Will there be any family contests, such as a pumpkin carving contest, that require advance planning?
To save on postage, invitations could be delivered directly to neighbors' homes.
Halloween Party Food
The time of the party may dictate the type of food served. If the party is being held during a traditional lunch or dinner time, guests will likely expect a meal. Simple foods such as a crock-pot filled with chili or deli platters and rolls will meet the meal requirements. If the party is before or after a meal time, appetizers and/or desserts would be fine.
Guests can be invited to bring food. Those with last names beginning with the letters "A-L" could bring an appetizer to share and "M-Z" could bring desserts. As host, prepare a few special party foods such as "Give me a Hand Punch" and put out a variety of beverages and paper products for all guests.
Games for Halloween Parties
To get the fun started, plan out several party games in advance:
- Make a "Pin the Nose on the Jack-o-Lantern" game. Cut a pumpkin shape out of a piece of posterboard. Draw two triangles for eyes and a goofy shape for a mouth. Cut a triangle out of the posterboard scrap for a nose. Cover with clear contact paper to make it sturdy. Place double stick tape (or roll a piece of one-sided tape) on the back. Blindfold each player one at a time. Spin the blindfolded player several times and then allow them to pin the nose on the jack-o-lantern. With a pencil, put player initials where the nose was taped. At the end of the game, see which player was closest to the nose.
- Play "Hot Gourd" with the same rules as "Hot Potato". Players sit in a circle and pass a gourd or small pumpkin around the circle while Halloween music is played in the background. When the music stops, the one holding the gourd is out of the game. Continue play until only one player is left.
- Get a clear jar and fill with candy corn. Count the candy corn in one bag and multiply by the number of bags used. Guests should try to guess the number of candy pieces. The closest guess wins the filled jar.
- Hold a family pumpkin carving contest. Ask each family to bring a carved pumpkin to the party. Display for all guests to judge by secret ballot. The pumpkin with the most votes wins a small prize.
- Halloween Bingo cards are available for purchase. Use candy corn as markers.
A Halloween party brings families together with food, fun and games. Plan to start a new tradition in the neighborhood this year.
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