How to plan a Spooktacular Halloween Party!

It's already that time of year again and with exactly 4 weeks until Halloween, it's the perfect time to plan your Spooktacular Halloween party!  Here are a few tips:

1. Decide if this will be an adults only party, more of a kids party or a kids and adult party.  Hottracxs has great party packages to help you with all of them!
2. Choose a date and time.  Later is perfect for adults only but an early afternoon party might work better for the kids.
3. Get the word out asap!  You don't have a lot of time for mailed invites so word of mouth, e-vites, Facebook invites and a few phone calls might work best.  If you are going with paper invites you'd better take care of that over the weekend.  A lot of on-line invite sites have over night and 2 day delivery.
4.  Plan the theme.  Of course it's Halloween... duh!  But will this be more of a playful  party with pumpkin carving, bobbing for apples and dancing? or is it going to be a terrifying fright fest compete with walk through haunted house and costume contest? 
5. Once you've decided on the theme, it's time to plan the entertainment!  Hottracxs can help with epic party packages including terrifyingly good DJs and MCs, games, glow items and more!  www.epicdjs4u.com.  If you are planning a costume party make sure this is included on the invites.  You'll also want to plan categories and prizes.  Check out our pinterest boards for some great decorating ideas.  If this is a kid's party Hottracxs can also help with magicians and face painters.  Mix in some classic games like eating a donut off a string, bobbing for apples and pumpkin decorating.  If you don't want kids using carving equipment there are a lot of other ways to decorate pumpkins:  you can paint them with chalkboard paint and use glow in the dark chalk, paint eerie faces with glow in the dark paint or decorate them with felt pieces and push pins! And here's one of my favorites, hit your local supermarket up for  a bunch of medium sized pumpkins (not too expensive) then spread them out on your own lawn and let the kids go pumpkin picking!  Heat up your own apple cider, spread some butter and ranch dip sprinkle on the corn and you've got your very own pumpkin picking farm!
6. You're going to need props!  Hottracxs has dozens of light up and glow in the dark items to choose from! You can use glow sticks in bottles and jars with scary or funny faces, hanging paper lanterns, homemade garland (see our pinterest) and of course some traditional pumpkins, gravestones, etc.  You don't need much to make a statement.  In order to save money pick pout one focal spot and rally do it up.  this one great display can set the tone and mood for the entire party.  Then just sprinkle in a few colored decorations or accents here and there.
7. Plan the food.  Are you just doing fun finger foods like mummies in a blanket (simply make pigs in a blanket and add black olive slivers for eyes) with brain dip (any dip in carved out bread bowl with a couple olives under the bread to look like eyes)  Or are you doing a full meal ?  Either way, write up a little menu naming each menu item something festive... ribs could be bat wings, chili could be monster stew, etc.  You can really put anything on the menu and make it fir your theme by naming it something fun!  Make sure you plan plenty of beverages.  If you plan to serve alcohol (adults only of course!)  to keep cost down plan on only a couple of fun alcoholic beverages (like pumkin-tinis and seasonal brews) and ask guests to bring their own.  Make sure you always have plenty of water and non-alcoholic beverages for your party as well. You can set up different areas for adult bars and children's bars so their is no confusion.  kids get a kick out of having their own special area as well.
8. Plan your family's costumes ahead of time so you have plenty of time to get ready.  Costumes that go with your theme can be really fun!  Like a monster mash party with each family dressed up as a unique monster or a pumpkin head party ... anything can work with just a touch of creativity and a lot of fun!
9. Make sure your camera is charged and ready to go so you can take lots of pictures!  Or better yet, call Hottracxs to rent a photo booth for the party.
10. enlist the help of family and friends and make sure every task has been assigned so that you are not running around like a headless horseman the day of the party!
11. Get into the spirit and enjoy your party!  Happy Halloween!