Top Tips for Throwing a Halloween Party at the Last Minute

This last week, my 4 year old was invited to a pumpkin painting party with some of her friends and it was the absolute cutest thing ever. It gave me some serious ideas about putting together a fun Halloween party, complete with links and tips! 

I have never considered myself “extra”, but I do love a good theme party. I’m mainly not “extra” due to time constraints and budget restraints. It’s definitely possible to throw a great Halloween party without going to a store or blowing your party budget. 

Decorations

Stores like the Dollar Tree and Walmart definitely make it easy for us to throw parties on a budget. Whether you need tablecloths, plates, napkins, cups, etc, there’s no place that does it better. Their Halloween sections are stocked {yes, even now} with different themed sets. 

Also, don’t under estimate the power of pumpkins in your decoration. Here you see a pumpkin being used as a snack holder, but gives a definite sense of fall and Halloween. 

Also, let’s talk balloon arches :: Did you know that you can make them yourselves? It’s super easy! Grab a balloon arch strip kit, the balloons {Walmart has bags of separate colors for $.97}, and you are a few steps away from building your own balloon arch! Include a few more Halloween balloons and you’re set! 

Food

You can’t underestimate the power of Halloween snacks. Whether you are decorating your own cupcakes or emptying a bag of candy corn in a bowl, your snack game will be on point at your Halloween party.

A few of the easiest ways to Halloween-up your kid’s favorite go to snacks involved a Sharpie and some scary faces. Putting a jack-o-lantern face on clementines {maybe with some celery on top as a stem?} or drawing a ghost face on your cheese stick wrappers gives your kids some creepy flares. Wrap your apple sauce pouches in white streamers and add some glue on eyes for a mummy surprise! 

You can also up your game by decorating popcorn balls, making mummy pizzas, PB&J with pretzels to make it look like a spider, or make candy corn Rice Krispies! 

Game/Activity

My kids LOVE painting pumpkins, so that’s my number one tip. Grab some small/medium pumpkins {Trader Joes and Walmart have the best deals} or have your guests bring their own, some paints/glitter/stickers/anything to make them look cute, and let them go to town. A few grocery stores now have “Decorate your own Cookie” kits that are a great hit with my kids! 

Jazz up your party with some Halloween Bingo {I found some themed boards at the Dollar Tree} or grab a CD for a Halloween dance party! 

No matter what you do or how “extra” you might be, you are bound to have a great time at your party. Costumes or no costumes, pumpkins or no pumpkins, Halloween is a great time to let loose with your friends and eat some candy! 

Happy Halloween!!

Do you have any great party tips? 

Check out these other great Halloween posts to make your holiday great!!