Halloween is a night we all look forward to and if we are not having a party at home, one of our friends will be. If this year is your turn to host the bash, you have come to the right place, as we present a few great tips to ensure the night is one to be remembered for all the right reasons.
- Prepare a plan – Decide how many people to invite then work out a few activities to keep everyone engaged; fancy dress is a great idea and you could even have prizes for the best dressed attendees. If you know a local magician and comedian, ask them to perform; plan the menu, drinks and make a timeline of the show. You can buy Halloween decorations online and use them every year; or you can hire stuff, the choice is yours.
- Invite participation – You could ask your guests to each bring a dish and that should give you a diverse menu; bringing a bottle also helps spread the cost, while giving guests information, they can prepare accordingly. People love to get involved and delegating makes the work a lot easier. You might have guests that have special talents, so keep a few spaces in the program in case people wish to sing, dance or perform magic.
- Set a budget – If you don’t set a budget, you’ll keep spending and the final bill might come as a shock. Sit down and crunch the numbers to give you an accurate idea of the cost. By preparing the food yourself, you have no need for outdoor catering and that will save you a chunk of money.
- Check with the local authorities – The last thing you need to do is break local laws so find out about loud music and parking; make sure you invite your neighbours to avoid conflict. Make sure to keep the music volume at an acceptable, especially after 11pm and everything should be fine. If you do need a special licence, it wouldn’t cost much and you can relax and not worry about a visit from the local police.
- Choosing music – If you create a few playlists; mainstream pop, rock, blues, country & western and any other genre that you think your guests might like. Store them on a memory stick and you can play them through those Bluetooth speakers placed in the garden. You could ask guests to bring their own playlists, then you have a wider choice of music.
Halloween is a time for letting your hair down and everyone loves to dress up and tour the neighbourhood for trick and treat, which for the children, is a highlight of the festival. Planning is the key to a successful Halloween party and making a list of everything you need, including costume and decorations ensures that the event will be a big hit!