Halloween is just around the corner, and it’s time to throw your own Halloween showdown! After reading this article, you can be the host of the coolest party on the block. Campus Circle has created a party-planning checklist to make sure that this year, your Halloween party will be the talk of the town. This will be a party that will surely make people scream!

DECORATIONS
Create an eerie atmosphere by placing electric candles inside of jack-o-lanterns and setting them up around the room. Cobwebs are also a quick and easy prop to decorate the walls and furniture with. Add a funny door decal, like a tombstone or a BEWARE: HAUNTED HOUSE-ENTER AT YOUR OWN RISK sign as a finishing touch. These decorations will make your pad unrecognizable and will give your party an ambiance that is sure to give your guest the creeps!

FOOD
Some people might argue that food is the most important aspect of a party, and themed foods are always crowd pleasers. Here are some spooky snack ideas that are easy to make and taste devilishly delicious!

Mummy Hot Dogs: Strategically wrap hot dogs or mini hot dogs in pastry dough, bake until ready, and then poke two holes at the top of the dog. Your guests will drool over this tasty treat.

Monster Munch: This is a very simple snack that can be eaten from a communal bowl or handed out in individual cups for party guests. Mix up popped popcorn, M&M’s and candy corn. It takes seconds to make and is guaranteed to be a hit.

Witch’s Hat: Make the cutest dessert ever with just three ingredients! Squeeze a little bit of icing to the bottom of a Hershey’s Kiss, stick the Kiss on the fudge side of a round fudge-striped shortbread cookie and voila! You’ve made a witch’s hat in your own kitchen!

DRINKS
Get creative making “concoctions” for your party! If you are serving punch, serve it from a large bowl or a plastic cauldron, and label it “witches brew” or “magic potion.” To make your drinks more holiday appropriate, you can place fake eyeballs or plastic spiders in the punch bowl as well. And of course, make sure to serve apple cider, this season’s most timeless beverage.

Worm Jell-O Shots: Take your party to the next level with this slimy spin on the traditional recipe for Jell-O shots. Boil water and mix in Jell-O powder. Stir in chilled liquor and water mix. Instead of pouring the Jell-O mixture into Dixie cups, pour it into straws, and after they have chilled in the refrigerator, they will slide out of the straws and look just like worms!

ENTERTAINMENT

Music: If you want to get people dancing, you’re going to need a top-notch Halloween playlist. What comes out of your speakers can make or break a party, so Campus Circle recommends Halloween classics like “Monster Mash,” “Thriller” and “The Time Warp,” mixed with modern hits like “Heads Will Roll” by A-Trak, “Monster” by Kanye West and “Scary Monsters And Nice Sprites” by Skrillex. Tunes like these will have your guests out on the dance floor, not up against the wall.

Games:
1) Costume Contest: Give guests an incentive to dress up by holding a Halloween costume contest! You can give out prizes for scariest, funniest, most creative and best homemade costumes! You’ll be surprised to see how full-out people will go with their costumes when a little competition is involved. 

2) Mystery Bowls: This classic Halloween game is just as fun for adults as it is for kids! Blindfold a party guest, and have them reach into a bowl of a mystery item. The guest then has to try and guess what they are touching. Is it spaghetti or brains? Eyeballs or peeled grapes? Anything is possible on Halloween!

3) Pumpkin Decorating: Buy miniature pumpkins and a few packs of colorful Sharpies, and let guests show off their inner Picasso! It is the perfect souvenir for your guests to take home with them.

FAVORS
A party isn’t complete without goodie bags, and thankfully, Halloween makes goodie bags as easy as pumpkin pie! Fill up small Zip-Lock Baggies with various Halloween candies, and use a Sharpie to write a thank you message on the bags. Leave the thank-you gifts in a big basket by the door for people to pick up before they leave.

Now that you’ve learned how to throw an epic Halloween party, there’s only one thing left to do…find the perfect costume! Happy Halloween, everyone!