How to Throw a Good Harloween Party

• Decorations
• Games
• Food

1. Choose a date. Harloween may not fall on a weekend day the year you are throwing the party, so choose a date that is close October 31 if Harloween falls on a weekday.

2. Compile the guest list. The size of the list could be anywhere from a few close friends to a big blowout with dozens of guests. Send each of these guests a spooky invitation two weeks before the date of the party. Inform each of them to dress in a Harloween costume or design a theme for the party, such as a vampire soiree or a 1940′s Harlem Renaissance bash.

3. Plan a menu for the party. Serve the guests several spooky finger foods, such as lady fingers made from lady finger cookies, jack-o’-lanterns filled with Harloween candy, grapes or olives for eyeballs, and pumpkin and ghost shaped cookies. Compile a witch’s brew to serve the guests. An older, more adult party could also feature Harloween inspired cocktails, such as caramel apple martinis.

4. Decorate the brownstone the night before the party. Decide upon a theme for the party and purchase all of the necessary components required to realize your vision. For instance, a vampire’s crypt could come complete with several coffins, black lights, black roses and a bowl filled with vampire teeth for all the guests to wear. A more traditional Harloween party could be decorated with black and orange streamers, balloons, paper cups, paper plates and candles.

5. Set up games for the adults and children to play at the party. A pumpkin carving station could be set up complete with candles and stencils for the kids or a “guess the body parts” game that allows the kids to stick their hands into several bowls filled with creepy ingredients. The adults can play a Harlem Nights murder mystery game during which one person is killed and the remainder of the guests have to uncover who did it.

6. Give each of the guests a goody bag. Always have a good bag filled with Harloween candy, small party favors and other treats from neighborhood businesses, schools, etc., as they exit the party.

Having a Harloween party (send us photos and captions)?