31 Best Halloween Party Ideas - Themes, Decoration, Games, and More!

Halloween party is one of the most exciting events of the year, with people lighting bonfires, preparing creepy snacks, decorating their homes in eerie colors, and dressing up in costumes to ward off ghosts and goblins. It’s a great time to gather with friends and neighbors for a spine chilling experience. 

Halloween is only a few weeks away. So start your planning right away. At first, pick out your theme and select decorations accordingly. Plan activities and games for the entire family. Consider a murder mystery or a mad scientist guessing as Halloween party games for kids. If your guests are more mature, a Masquerade Ball and plenty of booze and drinks will suffice for a solid Halloween night. There are so muucch to do! Use this detailed to-do list for keeping track of the tasks.

Even though Halloween is full of treats and horrors, organizing some on-theme Halloween games, props, and fare to keep everyone entertained doesn’t have to be a nightmare. Plan Halloween-themed activities that can be done both inside and outside, so that you can celebrate no matter the weather.

To lessen some of the stress, I’ve put together a list of 31 quick and easy Halloween Party Ideas. We start with party themes, then decorating ideas, costume, party ideas, then games and finish it off with food ideas!

Halloween Party Themes

Want to have a full-fledged celebration? Chalk out your game plan, starting with a theme.

1. Fall-themed brunch

Photo by Marry Kotter

This is a fun Halloween theme for kids, complete with a brunch table and hay bale seating. Along with a candy corn garland, pumpkin soup, pumpkin bread, and smokey pumpkin. Deviled eggs are the perfect way to mix a fall and Halloween brunch. Don’t forget to bring out the quilt in case it gets cold.

2. Disney 

Photo by @etsy on Instagram

Host a Disney-themed night in which everyone dresses up as their favorite Disney characters.

Kids are always excited about an Alice in Wonderland themed party. But characters from any Disney film, such as Beauty and the Beast, Aladdin, Cinderella, Frozen, etc can serve as an inspiration even for the decors. Mary Poppins and Bert are great options for couples’ Halloween costume.

3. Disco party

Photo by @catchmyparty on Instagram

Disco night is among the popular Halloween party themes. It is all about bright colors and laser lights. Decorate with mirror balls and listen to music on vinyl records. The illuminated dance floor filled with smoke can be the centerpiece of the party.

4. The day of the dead

Photo by @catchmyparty on Instagram

The colorful celebration of honored spirits is known as the Day of the Dead. It takes place after the day following Halloween. However, you can easily combine Halloween with the traditional holiday spirit of honoring ancestors’ visiting souls with a graveyard celebration. You can incorporate the rich and colorful culture of Mexico into your Halloween decorating ideas. Use sugar skulls, floral paint, glow lanterns, and serve the guests traditional Mexican cuisine.

5. Era themed bash

Photo by Poppy and Grace

Not every Halloween has to be scary. Dress up in period-appropriate clothing, listen to music such as Led Zeppelin songs, and instead of burgers and fries, serve beef short ribs simmered in red wine as Halloween party foods. In this case, you can choose a specific era from the 20s, 30s, 40s and so on or it can be open. So the party guests can select their favorite era and dress accordingly. 

6. Halloween mad scientist

Photo by @jordan1288 on Instagram

Host a mad scientist-themed party and dress in a lab coat, glasses, and a wacky hairstyle. This can be equally enjoyable for kids and adults. For Halloween, make your place look like a laboratory and add some educational games or experiments, like beakers and test tubes filled with neon green slime or liquid dyed with food coloring. This will help to further the theme.

7. Fall carnival

Photo by Texas Sumo

Another one based on the fall. If you live in an area where the leaves change colors, an outdoor fall carnival is a great way to kick-start the Halloween season. Make a corn and hay bale maze, costumes, apple “orchards,” pumpkin “patches,” and other games such as scarecrow-making contests for your visitors to participate in. This is an excellent opportunity to organize a community event during the Halloween season. You can also turn your garage into a haunted house for a spooky Halloween.

Decorating Ideas

A fully themed party can be hard to pull off. If you are looking for spooky Halloween decoration ideas, here you go.

8. The garden glow

Photo by Steven Van Elk on Pexels

For this Halloween, morph your backyard into a spooky, illuminated landscape. To get into the Halloween spirit, carve a dense display of jack-o’-lanterns with grins and grimaces. When done with real pumpkins, it becomes even more spooky.

9. Glow-in-the-dark synced with music

It’s time to get creative with your Halloween decorating ideas! Play with your lighting. Purchase neon lights to decorate the house, trees, and garden gate. Sync the lighting with the beat of your favorite music. Set it up in a way that just before the beat drops, the area goes dark. Check out this video by DIY adventures.

10. Haunted house and hallways

Photo by Yura Forrat on Pexels

It’s the all time fan favorite. Fashion your home into a haunted one with spooky DIY crafts for scary Halloween decor. Decorate your house with skull lanterns, corpse statues, pumpkin heads, zombie figures, and so on. These creepy figures are enough to frighten both children and adults. Don’t forget to cover the ceiling with cobwebs.

11. Spooky lighting and smoke

Photo by Karolina Grabowska on Pexels

Get into the Halloween spirit by using eerie lighting and smoke. With neon wristbands and headpieces, you can see faces light up. Be sure to make the place Smokey enough for the thrills. You can also set up a Halloween dinner table with pumpkin lanterns, dark flatware, and dripped candles with a faux crow on the centerpiece to add to the dramatics.

Costume Ideas

Well, you know costume is a must for the party - doesn’t matter if you are hosting it or attending it. Here are a few Halloween costume ideas.

12. Costume contest

Photo by Mikhail Nilov on Pexels

This is the most obvious idea because there is no Halloween without a costume. Create a costume contest for your party, with prizes such as “Best DIY Costume” and “Scariest Costume.” You or your friends and children may be too old to go trick-or-treating, but no one is too old to dress up in a scary costume.

13. Library-themed costume

Photo by Mikhail Nilov on Pexels

A library-themed party may appear less spooky but more creative. Everyone should be dressed as their favorite book or a character from that book. As the host, you can join in the fun as the librarian. If you are a book lover, you will surely love this one more than all other Halloween party ideas. The costumes are also suitable for both children and adults. 

14. Mad masquerade Halloween ball

Photo by Andrea Piacquadio on Pexels

Does this sound familiar? Yes, because everyone has watched Hocus Pocus. Attending a masquerade ball on Halloween just adds to the spookiness. Invite your guests to show up dressed in their best masquerade attire and wearing their spookiest masks. For a perfect backdrop, use faux branches with cobwebs and purple lights. Add creepy candles and a Medusa head as a centerpiece to your Halloween decor.

This theme works great for couples Halloween, as they can easily dress up in coordinated masquerade masks and costumes.

15. Be your spirit animal

Photo by Liliana Drew on Pexels

Discover the little monster that lives inside of you and is dying to get out to the world. Dress as your inner spirit animal, whether it’s a black cat, a wolf, or another creepy ghost or goblin. 

You CANNOT have a Halloween without a costume. Here are a few more Halloween costume ideas.

Party Ideas

Keeping guests thrilled throughout your party is one of the toughest jobs. Besides games, you can try any from here.

16. Karaoke night

Photo by Eduardo López on Pexels

Nothing beats singing karaoke unless you do it in a Halloween costume. Dress up as your favorite artist or a 60s band or even a mummy and sing a song with invited ghosts, pals and party guests.

17. Ghost stories by the campfire

Photo by RVC Outdoors

Everyone enjoys a good ghost story, but they are even scarier when told around a campfire. This outdoor event is extremely popular among people of all ages. So start a campfire and invite guests to share their ghost stories. Keep marshmallows and s’mores as your Halloween snack.

18. Hire a professional entertainer

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You can go one step further and hire an entertainer to perform for your guests to ensure a fun Halloween party. Famous celebrity impersonators, clowns, jugglers, and other performers can be a fantastic addition to the night. You can also hire a magician to keep the kids and kids-at-heart entertained.

Games and What Nots!

Bring on the games and get everyone hooked on the fun.

19. Retro video game night

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Arrange a retro video game night with your friends for a fun Halloween party. Popular games include Zombies ate my neighbors, Night Slashers for MAME, Splatterhouse, Nightmare In The Dark, and others.

20. Murder mystery game

Photo by Amazon

Who doesn’t enjoy a “no body, no crime” story? This year, sharpen your detective skills with a “Whodunnit” setup. Depending on the size and budget of your Halloween bash, you can turn it into a murder mystery game. Hire a professional to set up a mystery at your home, or you can buy party kits to keep your guests entertained.

21. The scavenger hunt

Photo by Happiness Is Homemade

It is one of the most popular Halloween party games among the kids. Turn your backyard into a graveyard for a haunting outdoor game night. Take your monsters and skeletons out and place them in the graveyard for the scavenger hunt. Of course, I’m referring to faux bones, skulls, pumpkin heads, witch hats, etc. Set up a hunting contest, some riddles and a cauldron for the children.

22. Halloween charades

Photo by Happiness Is Homemade

We love playing dumb charades. This is a great activity to do with your friends and family. You can get printable Halloween Charades and words to add a little fun to your party. You can also get them in both kids and adult versions.

23. Pumpkin carving contest

Photo by Daisy Anderson on Pexels

With this classic Halloween contest, you can spend a fun-filled day with friends and family. Keep the carving tools for the competition. Guests can vote for the best pumpkin, and the prize can be a pumpkin pie! 

Snacks and Drinks

Your party will be incomplete without some interesting and theme-based Halloween party food.

24. Halloween appetizer

Photo by Miss Palvi

On a gorgeously decorated charcuterie board, prepare an appetizer to get in the mood. From vegetarian snacks to tasty but eerie treats, there’s something for everyone. When guests arrive, you can greet them with appetizer cups.

25. Dessert made with candy corn 

Photo by Easy Dessert Recipes

The traditional way of hosting a fun Halloween party is to keep wrapped candy corn for trick-or-treaters. As much as everyone enjoys all the scary and spooky desserts, candy corn remains a favorite. A little twist makes it even more delicious. Brownies, magic bars, chocolate chip cookie cakes, and donuts made with candy corn are some of the most delicious desserts of the occasion.

26. Candy eyeballs and cupcakes

Photo by Hello Yummy

Serve eyeballs to your guests! Don’t be scared. I am not talking about real eyes here. Candy eyeballs and blood-drip cupcakes may be the most delicious Halloween treats. Sugar, vanilla extract, and white chocolate are enough to make some chocolate bark. These are very easy to make and taste great.

27. Frightening foods

Photo by Girl and World

Serve your invited undead skeletons with some zombie foods. You can make a large batch of brain-shaped jello shots, and blueberry cheesecake with jello on top is already creepy. You can also make hot dog mummies and cookies shaped in witch hats as a Halloween snack.

28. Cocktails with a twist

Photo by Recipes Just 4 U

It only takes one drink to get the party started. Create a cocktail menu, but make it Halloween-themed. Set up a self-bar with cocktails, beers, and wines labeled Halloween punch, vampire blood, witch’s heart, and so on.

29. The spooky brunch

Photo by The Pioneer Woman

This is more of an adult Halloween party idea. Consider making a spooky brunch. Mini Jack-o'-lantern Pies are a cute and kitschy option, or you can go upscale with a pumpkin trifle, a spooky charcuterie board, a sequin spider runner tabletop, and skeleton bowls!

Add some drinks, like colorful Apple Cider Mimosas, Pumpkin Spice Latte or Witch’s Brew, Grilled orange Old Fashioned, or Pumpkin Spice White Russian in case you want something stronger and you’ve got fantastic spooky brunch planned.

30. Caramel apples dip-athon

Photo by Henry Becerra on Pexels

Dipped caramel apples are one of the classics for Halloween. Both children and adults are in for a great Halloween treat if you are making this. Additionally, host a bobbing apple contest, with the winner receiving an apple pie.

31. Pumpkin risotto in witch’s cauldron

Photo by Heather Christo

If you’re having a “Day of the Dead” themed Halloween, why not serve some terrifyingly delicious pumpkin risotto? Only oozy risotto rice, hearty squash, and Parmesan cheese can make this bowl of creamy, warm goodness. Make sure to serve it in a witch’s cauldron or a pumpkin to fit the spooky theme.

Now it’s time for you to select one or more from these Halloween party ideas. Play a game or apply one of the decorating ideas. Whichever you decide to go with, don’t forget to send happy Halloween to your friends and family. Enjoy your Halloween to the fullest!