Halloween Birthday Party Ideas

A birthday close to Halloween is a gift: the decorations are already in stores, kids love dressing up, and a costume party practically plans itself. The trick is keeping it about the birthday child, and keeping it fun rather than scary for little ones.

Spooky or sweet?

Decide on the tone first, based on your child's age:

• Little kids (under 6): "spooky cute". Friendly pumpkins, smiling ghosts, black cats and candy corn colors. Skip anything gory or jump-scary.
• Older kids: they may love a bit more spook: a haunted hallway, glow-in-the-dark skeletons or a mystery to solve.

Invitation ideas

Boo! It's Ella's birthday! Come in costume for a spooktacular party.

Something wicked fun this way comes: join us for Ben's Halloween birthday bash.

Costumes required, candy guaranteed. You're invited to Mia's 6th birthday!

Say clearly that costumes are welcome (or required), and give the end time so families can plan around trick-or-treating.

Timing

• Avoid Halloween night itself, unless the party is a trick-or-treat outing together. Most families have their own plans.
• The weekend before is usually the sweet spot: decorations are up and everyone is in the mood.

Decorations

• Pumpkins: carved, painted or stacked by the door.
• Orange and black balloons and streamers, or purple and lime green for a "monster" look.
• Friendly ghosts: white balloons or tissue-paper ghosts hanging from the ceiling.
• Spider webs stretched across corners (keep the fake spiders small for little ones).
• Glow sticks and string lights in jars for a cozy, spooky glow.

Activities

• Costume parade: everyone walks the "runway", and everyone gets a fun award (Funniest, Spookiest, Most Creative).
• Pumpkin decorating: mini pumpkins with paint, stickers and markers (no carving for young kids).
• Mummy wrap: teams race to wrap one teammate in toilet paper.
• Monster freeze dance to Halloween songs.
• Candy hunt: like an egg hunt, with wrapped treats hidden around the yard.
• Spider web walk: weave yarn across a hallway for kids to climb through.
• Older kids: a mini haunted house in the garage, or a Halloween mystery game.

Food

• Mummy hot dogs: hot dogs wrapped in strips of crescent dough.
• Monster mouths: apple slices with peanut butter and mini marshmallow "teeth" (or a nut-free spread).
• Ghost bananas: banana halves with chocolate chip eyes.
• Witches' brew: green punch with gummy worms.
• Pumpkin cupcakes or a cake decorated like a jack-o'-lantern.

Party favors

Since kids are about to get plenty of candy, consider non-candy favors: glow sticks, Halloween stickers, a small book, a mini pumpkin, or a trick-or-treat bag to use on Halloween night.

Keep the birthday in it

With so much Halloween going on, make sure the birthday child still feels celebrated: a special costume, a "birthday" crown on top of it, and singing with the cake.

When you're ready to invite everyone, Birfy gives you one link with the invitation, RSVPs and a gift wishlist. Add a note that costumes are welcome, and every guest sees it on the invitation.