36 Hauntingly Good Halloween Party Ideas for Any Budget - STATIONERS (2024)

It used to be that the scariestÂthing about Halloween was the fear of imaginary goblinsÂand ghoulsÂcoming after you. But now you realize the most frightening part about the holiday is planning a Halloween bashÂthat’ll please all your party guests. Fortunately, the task at hand isn’t as monstrous as you might think.

To help you out, we’ve come up with this can’t-miss list of Halloween party ideas— including themes, decor, activities, food, and drinks — that work even if your budget is chillingly low. Once you have your plan, you can send your Halloween partyÂinvitationsÂand get ready for an unforgettable celebration.

8 Halloween Party Themes

Whether you’re going for full-on macabre or just a little creepy, here are some smashing Halloween partyÂthemes that are sure to scare up some fun.

1. Haunted House: You don’t need a lot of money to set a spookyÂscene with easy DIYÂhaunted houseÂideas. From gruesome shower curtainsÂin the bathroom to creepyÂdoll mobilesÂhanging from the ceiling, there are plenty of waysÂto make this party theme pop.
2. Halloween Seance: For a truly supernatural soiree,Âthere’s nothing better thanÂa ghostly seance. Summon spirits, connect with the great beyond, and foretell futures as the host (or hire a real psychic medium.) Light candles, use a fishbowl or cloche to serve as your crystal ball, and get ready for a night to remember.
3. Zombie Prom: Revive your high school heyday with this fun HalloweenÂtheme. Encourage all your party guestsÂto don their most ghoulishly glam gowns and suits.
4. Murder Mystery Dinner:ÂShow your guests a killer time with an interactive murder mystery dinner partyÂbased on the popular board game Clue.
5. Outdoor Movie Night:ÂMore fun and less fright, an outdoor movie nightÂis perfect for the little ones. Set up a DIYÂmovie screenÂwith a white sheet, place some blankets and chairs on the lawn, and provide a table of treats for guests to enjoy while watching the show.
6. Halloween Brunch:ÂWho says you have to wait until dark to celebrate the spookiest season of the year? Gather your friends for an afternoon of spookyÂdelights including pumpkin pie mimosas, homemade coffin-shaped Pop-Tarts, and Halloween deviled eggs.
7. DIY Halloween CraftÂBash: Ideal for keeping kids engaged, a DIYÂcraft-making party is a fun way to get into the Halloween spirit without getting too spooked. For a few craftyÂideas, try a popsicle stick cemetery, paper bag monster puppets, Halloween sugar drawings, eyeballÂmonster lollipops, or cotton ball ghosts.
8. Flight Night: Break out the boos and brewsÂfor a frightfully fun night of beer tasting with pumpkin ales and other seasonal libations. Or host aÂwine tasting partyÂwith flights of red wine and different cheeses for a bloody good time.

7 Halloween Decor Ideas

From DIYÂto low-budget buys, these Halloween decorationsÂare sure to transform any area into a hauntingly good party space.

1. Halloween Mask Wreath: For fun and ultra-affordable door decor, use printable Halloween masksÂto create a colorful wreath. Use a hot glue gun to attach the masks to an 18-inch craft ring and layer them as you go. Boo-tiful!
2. Menacing Candlesticks:ÂFor this DIY Halloween party idea, spray paintÂempty wine bottles in Halloween hues and insert black candlesticks for a creepyÂglow.
3. SpookyÂCenterpiece: DisplayÂbig jack-o-lanternsÂand add plastic skeleton hands, faux cobwebs, and other ominousÂelements for an eye-catching (and affordable) way to get in the spirit. You could also fill vases with black faux roses accented with matching spray-painted branches.
4. ​Halloween Tree:ÂFor a spookyÂspin on a yuletide tradition, give your artificial Christmas tree a makeoverÂwith Halloween-inspired ribbon, skull cut-outs, and ornaments in black, silver, and orange.
5. Floating Witch Hats:ÂWhether indoors or outdoors, DIYÂfloating witch hat luminariesÂare an easy way to enchant guests and light the way for a wickedly fun time.
6. Mummy Pumpkins:ÂNo time for pumpkin carving? No problem. For this simple DIYÂhack, all you need are some pumpkins and gauze. Simply wrap up the gourd, cut out some eyes, and boom. It’s a wrap!
7. Bloodshot EyeballÂDecor:ÂFor a truly eye-catching Halloween party idea, transform old beach balls and play balls into eerie bloodshot eyes to decorate your lawn, porch, or any area that needs a little spectacle.

8 Halloween Party Games and Activities

While a Halloween costumeÂcontest is always a fun activity, these Halloween gamesÂwill help you summon even more festive flair for kids and adults alike.

1. Donuts on a String: You could always bob for apples, but trying to polish off a donut hanging from a string is a lot funnier. Contestants have to keep their hands behind their backs as they race to finish the sweet treat first without letting it fall.
2. Trick or Treat Mystery Box: For thisÂsilly andÂcreepyÂgame, fill different boxes with gooey-textured foods like Jell-O, gummy worms, shirataki noodles (or cold spaghetti), peeled grapes, and smashed avocado, tofu, or bananas. Participants must hold their nose and avert their eyes as they reach into the boxes and guess what’s inside.
3. Skeleton Scavenger Hunt: Show your little goblinsÂa good time with this fun take on an Easter egg hunt. Hide plastic skeleton bones around the house or yard and watch them bones add up!
4. Pumpkin CarvingÂContest:ÂBuy small pie-size pumpkins and have guests carve their own jack-o-lantern. Raise the stakes by adding a timer for 15-20 minutes. For kids, forgo the sharp tools and have a pumpkin decorating contest with markers, stickers, and other craftyÂsupplies.
5. Toilet Paper Mummy:ÂThis budget-friendly game requires nothing more than toilet paper (and just a bit of wrapping dexterity). Break up into teams of two or three — one mummy and either one or two wrappers. The first team to finish using the roll of toilet paper wins!
6. Pin the Spider on the Web: A creepy-crawly twist on Pin the Tail on the Donkey, this fun Halloween party ideaÂrequires nothing more than a blindfold and a free printable version of the game.
7. Horror Movie Trivia:ÂTest your party guests’ knowledge of the scariestÂmovies on the planet with a variety of horror movie trivia gamesÂthat you can print for free!
8. Halloween Charades:ÂYou can always count on a game of charades to liven up a party. Only this time, all the acting is specific to Halloween themes.

7 Tasty Halloween Food Options

No party is complete without plenty of eats. Be sure to check out our complete guide to Halloween party foodÂfeaturing Halloween recipesÂfor appetizers, snacks, and desserts.

1. Mummy Brie: This delicious appetizerÂis an instant crowd-pleaser thanks to the crispy puff pastry and ooey-gooey cheese inside.
2. Halloween Monster Burgers:ÂYour party guestsÂwill squeal with delight when they dig into your homemade monster burgersÂthat are shockingly meat-free.
3. Jack-O-LanternÂStuffed Peppers:ÂNo need to freak out with these nutritious and delicious stuffed peppersÂfilled with shredded chicken, rice, and tasty seasonings.
4. SpookyÂSundae Station:ÂFor an inexpensive sundae-making display, fill a cupcakeÂtray with various toppings like candy corn, chopped nuts, chocolate chips, crushed cookies, sprinkles, and fruit. You can also use ramekins as topping holders.
5. ​Halloween Cupcakes: From easy boxed bat cupcakesÂto candy cornÂcupcakes, you can’t go wrong with serving these sweet treats. You can also buy store-bought cupcakesÂand add a DIYÂmarshmallowÂcobwebÂtopping.
6. Bag o’ Goodies:ÂYour party guestsÂwon’t need to go trick-or-treatingÂwhen you provide fun goodyÂbags filled with classic Halloween candyÂand other snacks.
7. Halloween CandyÂKabobs: Stack skewers of Halloween treatsÂ(think marshmallowÂPeeps and gummy worms) and place them in a glass jar filled with candy cornÂfor a totally sweet spread.

6 Spooktacular Halloween Drinks

For the ultimate sippers for your soiree, you can’t go wrong with this handful of devilishly good drinks.

1. Pumpkin Punch Bowl: Hollow out a real pumpkin and pour in your favorite spiked Halloween punchÂfor the grown-up ghouls. Or fill it with an alcohol-free version for underage goblins.
2. Vampire Killer Martini:ÂThis garlic-spiced vodka co*cktailÂgets its red hue from pickled baby beets. Add a pair of plastic fangs on the glass rim for a visual bite.
3. Caramel Apple Sangria:ÂFor a drinkable twist on caramel apples, try this Halloween recipeÂthat’s ready in 15 minutes.
4. Witch’s Wicked Punch: This eerily delicious non-alcoholic green potionÂrequires just two ingredients — lemon-lime seltzer and green sherbet. For the most visual appeal, serve in a clear bowl with a witch’s faux finger poking out of the side.
5. Skeleton Key:ÂMake no bones about it — this spicy co*cktailÂunlocks a world of flavor thanks to bourbon, ginger beer, and Angostura bitters.
6. Halloween Milkshake: Shake it up with this tasty Halloween milkshake recipeÂthat you can dress up in three different ways.

Fun Halloween Party Ideas Everyone Will Love

Whether you’re hosting a Halloween bashÂfor adults, kids, or both, there are plenty of affordable ways to create a memorable celebration. Now that you’ve had a chance to peruse this list of fantastic Halloween party ideas, party planning no longer has to be a spine-chilling experience.

Even better, when you send online invitations, you can choose from dozens of designs and automatically track RSVPs. For more ways to make the most of your special occasions, don’t miss out on the Stationers blogÂloaded with ideas for crafting the perfect event.