Plan a Halloween Party for Next to Nothing!

Eeeek! The gang is headed to your place for some post trick-or-treating
refreshment! No need to run screaming from the back door.*You can do this!*


Sharon McRill, president of The Betty Brigade, a concierge and event
planning company in Ann Arbor, has some tips for putting together a
spell-binding Halloween party on the cheap!


- Make a big pot of something they can help themselves to, like chili
or sloppy Joes. Apple cider makes a perfect beverage. Set up a buffet
area with candles, a basket of buns or corn bread and a bowl of popcorn.


- Put a tablecloth or clean flat sheet in fall or neutral color on the
dining table. For your centerpiece, use more candles and a group of
small pumpkins or gourds.


- Gather some colorful leaves from your yard. Dry them off and flatten
them for a couple hours, then scatter them on your buffet and
dining tables.



- To set the mood, play spooky music, or put a scary video on during
your gathering.


- The perfect game for adults or kids is “Halloween Who Am I?” On each
guest’s back, place a sticker with the name of a different famous monster
or scary character. The guest must ask ONLY yes-or-no questions to figure
out who they are.


- For decorations, prizes and party favors, head to the dollar
store. You’ll
be amazed what you can get for less than $20.

Setting the mood: If you want to make it more spooky, and you don’t want to buy all the different colored lightbulbs and change them out, try using colored fabric instead. You can also try using colored saran wrap. Be sure to keep both the fabric and the saran wrap a safe distance from the lightbulb to avoid any spontaneous combustion.

CLEANUP: Keep it simple. Use paper plates & napkins with plastic silverware and cups so that all you have to do is toss everything when your guests leave. Again, the dollar store is your friend.

GAMES! They’re not just for kids!  Grown up or not, your guests will delight in these activities.

“THE HANDS-FREE DOUGHNUT DEVOUR” Having purchased a dozen or so doughnuts, you hang one by a string just above mouth-height for each contestant.  Without using their hands, they must eat the entire doughnut.  Sound easy?  Try it!  For more giggles and shrieks, use powdered sugar doughnuts.  (Have clean up supplies at the ready!)  We recommend you do this in a non-carpeted area, or put down a drop cloth to catch the inevitable doughnut detritus.  Depending on your space, you can have all guests do this at once, or one at a time.  For extra fun, time the contestants.

“HALLOWEEN BOCCE BALL” Clear out an area in a room for this one. You play regular bocce ball rules, but in place of bigger bocce balls and a small pallino, use apples (yellow and red) and a pumpkin!

“MUMMY MAKEOVER” Buy the cheapest pack of toilet paper you can find. Divide into groups of 3-5 (depending on how many people you have), give each team a few rolls, and have each team create a “Mummy” outfit ON one of the team members! It’s absolutely hilarious watching your friend get covered in toilet paper, and you can take pictures to show them later. At the end, everyone votes for the person with the best mummified outfit.