Halloween is just around the corner, people. And as someone who is obsessed with party planning, I will always love searching for Halloween party ideas for adults. It comes down to giving this yearly celebration a grown-up spin while enjoying the spirit of the holiday. Besides, who says kids get to have all the fun?
It does not hurt that Halloween goes down during the best season of the year. October is already teeming with amazing fall recipes, activities, and décor. It doubles as the pumpkin’s time to shine, letting us savor everything from pumpkin spice lattes to delicious fall pies. The fact that October ends with a holiday like Halloween makes me swoon.
It is easy to think that this holiday is just for kids, though. After all, Halloween is often associated with trick-or-treating and cutesy costumes. However, as the years have gone by, grown-ups have been finding ways to add a new spin to the conventional Halloween celebration. This holiday embraces creativity while giving adults a well-deserved break from the hustle of life. I mean… sometimes you just have to let loose and dress up as a taco for Halloween.
Throwing a party just for adults is a lot of fun, but requires preparation and thought. This is especially true if it has a specific theme such as Halloween. Get your planning off on the right foot with these eight Halloween party ideas for grown-ups.
1. Serve Halloween cocktails
When you're obsessed with delicious beverages, making boozy Halloween cocktails is one of the best parts of the season. For example, check out this bubbly drink by Climbing Grier Mountain. You don't need alcohol to have a good time, though. Try your hand at a few non-alcoholic Halloween drinks that are just as tasty.
2. Watch gory movies
Growing up, it's likely that the adults in your life didn't allow you to watch certain scary movies. However, now that you're older, the movie world is your oyster. Obviously, take into consideration guests that might be a little sensitive to specific types of films. Otherwise, a Halloween party is the perfect scenario to hold a viewing party or movie marathon.
3. Serve homemade food
Nothing says "adulting" like making a homemade meal. Fortunately, Halloween is also the perfect time to add a little flair to the typical dinner party. It also gives you another opportunity to use your favorite fall ingredients. Pumpkin mac n' cheese, anyone?
4. Make candy from scratch
While store-bought candy is inexpensive and easy to find, nothing beats a batch of homemade sweets. Making Halloween candy from scratch can be surprisingly simple, too. The best part is that you can alter recipes to cater to different diets, allergies, and food preferences. It's definitely a long way from the days of Skittles and Twizzlers. Check out this (amazing) candy corn recipe from The Kitchn.
5. Choose decor wisely
It goes without saying that decorating for Halloween is one of the best parts of the holiday. Make it adult-friendly by straying away from using too many cutesy designs. If you'd like to incorporate some of these elements, style them with classier decor for a quirky grown-up twist. Need some inspiration? Make a set of awesome spiderweb place mats by Delia Creates.
6. Create scary decorations
Part of choosing adult-approved decorations is making scary DIY decorations. One of my favorite ideas includes these bloody hand print window clings by Kylyssa Shay at Felt Magnet. Basically, hosting a Halloween party for grown-ups allows you to fully embrace everything spooky.
7. Schedule it before Halloween
The actual day of Halloween is a big deal for little ones who want to go trick-or-treating. So, if you're throwing a party for adults, keep in mind that many guests may have kids or young relatives. It's likely that those guests will want to supervise their children while trick-or-treating.
8. Specify the guest list
This may be the most important tip on this entire list. If you'd like to throw an adult-only party, be very specific when you send out the invites. If you're letting them know through Facebook, add the specifics in the event's description. Let them know that you want it to be for grown-ups only. This will allow guests to plan accordingly ahead of time.
Images: Delia Creates; Climbing Grier Mountain; The Kitchn; Kylyssa Shay at Felt Magnet; Pexels
