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Vintage Halloween Fun

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Vintage Halloween

Whenever the word vintage or retro is spoken, it evokes memories of the past that are most often, very pleasant.  Baby-boomers especially remember parties at Halloween with old fashioned games that didn’t need blood and gore to give the kids a thrill, and costumes weren’t composed of intestines and worms and zombies and flashing red lights and green eyes.  Sure, there was a bit of that but a lot was left to the imagination, and that’s why vintage Halloween is so popular.  Think The Twilight Zone and Alfred Hitchcock and you’ll get the idea.

An easy fix to your vintage cravings for costumes, at least, is a trip to the local thrift or vintage store.  If you live in the country then the Internet is also a vast resource to partake of.  Here are a few ideas to stir the pot.

Prom & Wedding Dresses or Old Formals

Use these for the Bride of Frankenstein (with gray streak in hair of course), Prom or Beauty Queen (dead, half-dead, or alive), and “ex” wife, or a princess.  The latter can be good or evil or just plain Halloween-style.  This look is good for an ex-silent film star who’s seen better days.  For zombies, don’t get carried away because, after all, this is retro and not Zombieland.

Farmer’s Coveralls or Overalls

These work great for the vintage Halloween look.  The more faded and ragged they are, the better.  You can put these on and be a scarecrow from the Wizard of Oz, or a real hill dweller or country person, even a serial killer from those 70s and 80s cult favorites.  Other characters and real people who would be great dressed in overalls, are farmers, plumbers, Super Mario Brothers, Rosie the Riveter (don’t forget a curly wig and bandanna), and Bob the Builder (use some safe and oversized tools in a belt).

Vintage Uniforms

These may cost a bit more but other than some suitable accessories, they are worth looking after because the look is usually perfect.  Try for any military, nurses, cheerleaders, sports team members, and flight attendants.  They can be sexy or slightly starchy, but don’t get carried away with either look.

Decades Looks

With the 1920s we had flappers and gangsters.  Flappers wore a drop-waisted dress and a headband or cloche hat, and cut their hair short and swingy.  Gangsters need a pin-striped regular suit, a fedora, and a fake machine gun or violin case for pretend.  In the 1930s there were swing kids and jazzmen and they often wore a hat and cane and sported a long pocket watch with chain and a zoot suit.  Bonnie and Clyde wore high trousers, a suit jacket and a fedora (for Clyde) and a depression era dress, beret, and trench coat (for Bonnie).

In the 1940s there was Carmen Miranda with her tropical sarong, swimsuit, halter top and sandals.  Add lots of fake fruit, fringe, pompoms and ruffles to this outfit.  The 1950s produced a lot of icons, such as James Dean and Elvis, and a Greaser girl or Doris Day look.  The basic look for men is easy — dark jeans with rolled cuffs, boots, leather jacket and a white T-shirt with rolled sleeves.  Girls wore tight pants, a scarf and high heels, a leather jacket and a boatneck (curved) shirt.  Doris Day and Sandra Dee loved a cardigan, saddle shoes, circle skirt and petticoat.  You can add appliques to a plain circle skirt if it doesn’t have any.

The 1960s produced Go Go girls such as twiggy (opaque tights, shift dress, heavy eye makeup and patent leather belts etc.), and  Hippies (dig through your old stuff) had bellbottoms, loose and flowery shirts, fringe and headbands).  They still make tie-dye T-shirts and you can purchase these online.  The 1970s meant disco and think of John Travolta dancing…  Anything in glittery lame or platform boots or polyester and big wigs would work.  The 1980s had leather, acid washed denim, studded belts, and on the other end of the spectrum — preppy.

Vintage Halloween Games

You can often find these in antique stores and sometimes thrift stores.  Fortune telling and predicting the future were popular.  Halloween was a time when spirits could communicate with the living.  Harry Houdini followers hold a séance every year per his wishes when he passed on.  Bobbing for apples (either in water or hanging from a string) has been popular for many years and anyone can participate.  It’s cheap to set up as well.

Victorians used to predict when they’d get married by blowing out a candle (they were blindfolded).  The number of puffs it took meant that the time was lengthened and if 3 or more it meant forget about it for the rest of the year!  Another rather quaint game was to put a bunch of colored ribbons in a pile, blindfold a girl, and the ribbons she chose meant her future husband’s college would have that color.  Of course, this works both ways nowadays.

Costume ideas for the disabled / Handicap Halloween Costumes

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For people with a handicap or disability, finding a good Halloween Costume can be a challenge. We’ve put together a few ideas below to help you or someone you love out. The costumes range from quite simple to very elaborate depending upon your inclination and time. We also have pages for more handicapped costume ideas, ideas for costumes for people using walkers, costume ideas for people using crutches, and costume ideas for people using wheelchairs. The Halloween.com Forums also have sections to discuss these type of costume ideas.

  • * Wrap a foot in an ace bandage. Get some mittens or ski hat. Instant injured skier costume!
  • * Drummer Costume. Attach containers (e.g ice-cream containers, empty paint-cans) to a wheelchair with rope, duct-tape or similar material. Use a hoola-hop with card-board for the bass drum (over the front of the chair). Use paint-brushes or large pencils for drum-sticks. Dress in appropriate attair for the music to be played (e.g. rock, 50s etc)
  • * Fred Flintstone and car costume. Obviously dress as Fred with a pre-purchased costume. Create the sides and top of the car from cardboard or light wood. Ditto for the dash. Cover the side-wheels in grey plastic. Voila, Fred Flintstone driving his car.
  • * King or Queen and throne costume. Wrap back and rests with gold or silver paper. Attach garland, plastic jewels and the like to the cart. Dress up regally in velvet or velour. Buy a crown and scepter and even the costume at a costume store.
  • * Pumpkin Costume. Get a big orange leaf bag, cut a hole in the large end and put it over a wheelchair. Instant pumpkin!
  • * For someone on a respirator, you could be a deep sea diver. (Or someone with the bends, decompression sickness).
  • Of course, one could just be a pun “Walker” from The Walking Dead.

If you have more ideas or want to talk more about it, come and see the Halloween.com Forums costume section.

Some other great inspiration is shown below:
Photos of costumes from the Bridge School: from a fireman in a fire truck (the wheel chair) to an ice cream stand to a flower in a garden to Alladin on his magic carpet to a biker and babe! These are some wonderful costume ideas.The MDA also has some pictures of more costume ideas.And finally, there are more great ideas are on this page.

Halloween Makeup Ideas

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Halloween Makeup Ideas

A lot of the theatrical makeup used for Halloween dress-up can cause reactions in sensitive people, so always test it first. Or, read the ingredients before purchasing.  You don’t want to look like  a leopard with spots, if your goal was to be an Egyptian queen!  If you’ve purchased your costume then it will usually have a few make-up ideas in the package.  If you are lost and don’t know what you’d like to do, then  look at some books or designs on the Internet and they will inspire you.

If you sweat a lot, then chose a light makeup up look.  The more “greasepaint” you put on your body, the bigger the likelihood that you will sweat.  There are natural mineral makeups out there plus specially designed ones used in show business, that won’t cause reactions.  They can be more expensive but it’s worth it if you’ll feel more comfortable.  Some costume designs require a lot of makeup to create the look, while a few hardly need any.  A lot of costumes use masks and if you aren’t allergic to latex then this is an almost instant way to glam up your outfit.

Makeup for animal costumes is more complex than a lot of others  This is like those face paintings that the kids get done at county fairs.  One accidental wipe at your cheek and the look may be ruined.  Even little babies can have a few dots or noses or whiskers on their faces.  Of course, any makeup for babies should be hypoallergenic from the get go.  Watch out for glitter.  It’s usually applied by a spray and it can cause reactions, besides the fact that it tastes funny if you get some in your mouth.  Use a well-lit makeup mirror for your makeup if it’s complex.  Try and get a photo of the look you’re aiming for and tape it up on the mirror at eye level so you can refer to it.

One thing to be careful of is makeup staining either your skin or an area of your home where you don’t want it.  You have to get it off you before you go to bed, and sometimes it does take special removers.  Test first, well before you’ll be needing it, and also test how to get it off.  Remember — read about both the makeup and the way to get it off, because you don’t want your skin being removed along with it.

Theatrical makeup artists study for a long time because they often have to age or “young” an actor up for a role, or create a monster or disfigured person (such as in Phantom of the Opera) and these become an integral part of an actor’s costume.  Once they start to act, then the two often meld together to form the character.  We’ve gotten a few tips together for specific looks.

Monster

This is not just throwing a bunch of makeup on your face and mixing it up together like a bread pudding.  At the base of every monster is the person or being which existed before they became a monster.  Somehow, you have to transcend the bridge and make your monster real.  If it’s an “affliction” then make it as simple, and as real as you can.  Sometimes a perfectly simple Mardi Gras-like mask can help, as in Phantom of the Opera.  There needn’t be anything behind a mask, but we can always wonder.

Swashbuckler/Daredevil

For men, there’s a certain swagger to an explorer or adventurer or pirate.  This can mean beard stubble, which is easy for men as they have their own.  Just don’t shave for a few days.  You can always stipple on some black makeup as well, unless you are a red head of course.  An old sword wound can be created as long as it doesn’t curl up on  your face like a mini-venetian blind because of sweat.  One director made himself up as Nanki-Poo in Gilbert and Sullivan’s The Mikado, and he was so active that his eyebrows started to peel off.  I couldn’t look at him without choking up.  You can buy wounds in either a magic shop or makeup store or off the Internet.

Women’s Makeup

Most women use makeup every day, but some do not.   Most women leave the superhero and heavy makeup look to the men and opt for a more natural makeup job.  Most women know when they look silly so most women will do alright at Halloween.  Have a friend help you if need be.  Help the men in your family with their makeup, because they are no doubt quite inexperienced at it.  Have a happy and safe Halloween.

Halloween Costumes for Pets

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Pets today are often considered part of the family, and are treated as such most of the time.  Halloween costumes for pets are commonplace, but they need not be common.  If the pet is dressing solo or part of a group, then the size, temperament of the pet and wishes of the owners have to be taken into consideration. There should be no restriction on movement for the pet and it should be able to see and walk normally.  Safety should be first and foremost on Halloween, for children, adults and pets.  A few pets have no tolerance for wearing anything, especially hats, so if this is the case, then you must costume your pet simply.

There are hundreds of pet costumes to be found on the web, but many you can make or adapt yourself.  If you are in a patriotic mood or perchance marching in a 4th of July parade, then an Uncle Sam costume for your dog would be a wonderful way to show your pride in the US.  These are usually made of a simple bodysuit in red, white and blue, with a matching hat.  The latter should be lightweight or your dog will think a bird has landed on his or her head and they’ll try and shake it off.

Another funky outfit is called a dog riders cowboy and it has a miniature cowboy riding your dog like a bronco.  Test your dog first as it’s the same as  a hat — your dog may simply want to shake the cowboy off.  A cute outfit for a pug is a bumblebee. Everything is flexible and comfortable so the likelihood is your dog won’t try and shake it off.   There’s a bee-striped shirt (leaving your dog in a natural state in the rear), an antenna headband with a set of black pompoms for antennae, and mesh wings.

If you’re into gardening then dressing your dog up as a flower could work.  For this ensemble the manufacturer has made a light green cape, bright pink flower petals, and a set of antennae to match of pink and green.  Are you from the islands — Hawaii, that is?  Perhaps you’re just a fan of that nostalgic cop show set in Hawaii.  It’s a comfortable and simple outfit, with a lei and a Hawaiian shirt.  Perhaps this would suit that surfboarding/skateboarding bulldog they have in Southern California.

A butterfly ensemble from Animal Planet has printed foam wings that look like a bright Monarch, plus an antennae headband.  Another one from the same company and TV channel is a cowboy dog costume.  This can make your little dude into a regular cowpoke  It’s made from a character jumpsuit, has stuffed arms, a vest with a fringe, a rope, and a cowboy hat with string to hold it under your dog’s chin.  Another costume suitable for a pug, is Yoda from Star Wars.  It has Yoda’s big green ears sticking out from the headpiece and a jumpsuit with attached arms.  If you love Star Wars then let your dog be the Jedi master for a change.

Zelda the rock star could make your dog over into a punk musician, with its zip-up black jacket, red spikey wig, pants, and a studded dog collar.  By far and away the most unusual new costume for this year is a hammerhead shark one.  This is another Animal Planet outfit, as is the raptor (dinosaur variety).  Both the shark and raptor have nice teeth, but they are harmless.  Kids love these types of costumes and they could be used as puppets throughout the year.

If you’re into The Flintstones, then Zelda the cave dog is the perfect outfit for your dog.  It’s a stone age riot with its animal print wrap-around shirt, and a black spiked wig.  This particular outfit would be perfect for a trick or treating stone age party, including the dog of course.  There are classic dog dress up outfits such as a foam bun which fits around your Dachshund making him or her into a real “hot dog”, or a pink tutu for your poodle.  Pet stores have regular clothes for all sizes of dogs and these can be used or adapted towards Halloween costumes for pets.

Cats were never mentioned I regards to dress-up, because we all know how cats feel about any kind of costume: “What — you want me to wear that?”   Perhaps  a cat who’s eaten a whole can of tuna might be inclined to wear a headband for a few second.  Just maybe…

Halloween Costume ideas for Crutches

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  • A Giraffe, with the crutches as long front legs
  • A skier that hit a tree: Crutches can look like ski poles, or just crutches.
  • Tiny Tim from a Christmas Carol
  • The Penguin from The Batman Movie, IF you can use a cane instead
  • Big foot after being injured by a hunter
  • Jouster who has been injured. Knights shield that has been damaged etc.
  • Mr Monopoly with a coat, top hat and cane
  • Injured athlete: gymnast, football player etc.
  • Hit and run victim with tire tracks, fake blood etc.

The World of Pirate Halloween Costumes

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It is hard to believe one type of holiday disguise could have its own niche, but pirate Halloween costumes have managed to do just that. While this has always been a popular holiday personal décor choice, the recent love of the Pirates of the Caribbean movies has certainly upped the desire. It can be a fun choice for those who like to go as a character a little bit ruthless, but not in the realm of spooky creatures like devils, ghosts or vampires. So while you may not look like Johnny Depp no matter how great the costume and makeup are, it can still be fun to try.

Pirate Halloween Costumes for Men 

Aside from pasting the Jolly Roger flag of skull and cross bones across your “ship,” in other words car, you’ll be glad to know there are varieties of pirate looks. Of course, the most popular pirate Halloween costume for men right now is the Captain Jack Sparrow. This comes with everything you would envision Johnny Depp’s character wearing and can include optional accessories. If you don’t feel like investing in boots, no worries matey, there are pieces that slip over regular boots to create the same look. The thinly beaded dread wig isn’t optional, though. What would Captain Jack Sparrow be without his lovely locks?

There are other styles of men’s pirate costumes, such as the “cutthroat.” This look usually includes the red and black striped leggings, an eye patch and the curved sword symbolic of this style of pirate. There is the Captain Black Heart look, which comes with the ornate red, velvet ¾ length jacket and matching hat. An optional bottle of booze can be explained to others as simply part of the costume.

Of course for most of these looks an earring, hat, eye patch sword and parrot do so much to complete the look. You will be glad to know there is even a peg leg option. This piece attaches to your pants and hangs down over your camouflaged leg for the appearance of a peg leg.

Pirate Halloween Costumes for Women 

These tend to be much more revealing and appealing, as well as low cut in the top and high slit in the skirt. There is no reason why women can’t also look like they are ready to do some looting and acquire some booty, even if there weren’t typically female pirates sending others off to walk the plank. Same optional accessories apply, though a popular one for just the gals is the thigh-riding garter belt complete with faux saber.

There’s the classy pirate look that comes with a velveteen ¾ coat, and not much underneath. High heel pirate boots and of course a more feminine hat are the finishing touches on this style of pirate. Another look for female pirates is more of the lower class, but still as lovely, working class pirate. Not quite a swabbie, or deck member to mop the deck, but not far above either. So for this, picture a corset top over a tight fitting pirate blouse paired with an jagged cut skirt and there’s the look. Well, that and sexy boots and a sword, of course. Fishnets don’t hurt the look either.

Don’t Forget the Children and Pets

That’s right, the pirate Halloween costumes aren’t just for adults. Plenty of children planning to make their rounds trick-or-treating or to Halloween parties think “it’s the pirate look for me,” although maybe not the life in this case. The same general ideas apply, as it’s all about the ability to not look like a land lubber. Plenty of striped leggings, ornate hats, fake swords and of course, the skull and cross bones symbols. There are even costumes for babies and toddlers. No person is too small or too young to be a Jack Sparrow in his younger days.

To Buy or DIY

The thing is, the price of some of these costumes can really add up. When possible, rent the look and save some cash or borrow from a friend who already hit the Halloween parties. Find anything you have at home to dress it up, such as a scarf, excessive jewelry or large, ornate belt buckle. If possible, too, make items by hand especially for children and pets.

Of course, it is required to learn some cheesy pirate terminology to overdo it in front of your friends. While some costumes don’t really invoke much character to come with it, this is one that requires some proper hamming it up. When opting for pirate Halloween costumes for the holiday, bring some of your personal flair with it.

Halloween Costumes for Infants, Toddlers and Babies

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Some of the best “photo ops” for youngsters are in their Halloween costumes for infants, toddlers and babies. The best part, for some parents, is that at this age, parents still get to select the holiday costumes young children wear. This means selecting adorable costumes that, probably someday, the children wouldn’t select themselves. So, this is a good time to put some thought into the look you want for your children on Halloween.

Ideas for Halloween Costumes for Infants, Toddlers and Babies 

The thing is, really, that the costume ideas are similar to the choices available at any age. There may just be a different approach to the costume, such as the onesie, as opposed to a more complex costume. Also, costumes or accessories will have to be monitored closely for details that could be a choking hazard or otherwise dangerous for infants, toddlers and babies. Most store bought costumes for babies will be free from safety hazards, but it is always a good idea to double check. Also, anything that could potentially become loose and cause a problem, such as a button, should be given a few extra hand stitches, just to be safe.

So now, it is more about finding something that is cute and comfy for your youngster. Animal themes and bugs are popular choices for babies, infants and toddlers. These selections are cute and stick with the idea of having a holiday costume, without being too spooky for Halloween. For this, the sky is the limit. There are choices such as lions, ladybugs, frogs, penguins, tigers and elephants, just to name a few. You can also consider the less obvious choices, that aren’t animals, but are still cute and fun. A Tootsie Roll, for example, or a pine tree shaped air freshener.

Or, maybe you like going the traditional route and want a little ghostly baby or more traditional or Halloween themed costume. Is that case, one easy choice for babies to wear is the jack o’lantern costume. There are also outfits of the more macabre nature, like Dracula, with a headpiece to create the infamous widow’s peak at the forehead. Then check online, or at your local baby clothing store, for the fang pacifiers. These look like a pair of fangs when baby has the pacifier in his or her mouth.

More Basic or DIY Costumes for Infants, Toddlers and Babies

If you would like to keep it more simple, try using less to say more. A headband with little kitten ears, a black onesie and a pinned on tail create an adorable cat look. Or, look for a onesie or bodysuit that simply has a pattern or theme. Examples of this easy costume are a cow print bodysuit or one with a Superman emblem on the front. There are also hooded bodysuits, or standard ones, that come with prints on them to act as a costume. A skeleton, for example, or a bumble bee are just two of the many choices available for this approach.

Or, use a crafty approach and do it yourself. Hooded sweatshirts work great for this approach. A basic orange sweatshirt with some cleverly placed piece of black electrical tape create a jack-o’-lantern costume. Sew together some basic ears and attach them to a “hoodie” for any animal you would like, such as a mouse.

Incorporate Baby into Your Costume Idea

Another great approach to dressing your infant, toddler or baby for Halloween is to coordinate your outfit to work with the youngsters. A popular idea for this method is to have the adult as Dorothy and the baby as Toto from The Wizard of Oz. Or think about other ways to work the costumes as an intertwined theme. Winnie the Pooh and Piglet or dressing as a police officer with a little baby bandit are two other ideas.

To get inspired, think about movies or cartoons you like and imagine how some of the characters could work as costumes. If your toddler, or you, just love the Peanuts Gang, dress as Snoopy with a baby Woodstock. Browse online for other ideas, and surely the perfect Halloween collaboration for you and your baby will become obvious.

The Bottom Line 

The idea of dressing your baby, and possibly yourself, for Halloween is to keep it fun and hassle free. It can be easy to get caught up in stressing over the perfect costume or having costumes with “wardrobe malfunctions” and end up not enjoying the holiday. As soon as your infant is dressed, get your photos done, that way if the costume falls apart or becomes uncomfortable after a bit, you already have the pictures out of the way. Halloween Costumes for infants, toddlers and babies can be a great way to make the most of the holiday.

Halloween Makeup Ideas

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Halloween makeup ideas can be a crucial part of your costume. In fact, in some cases, it may be the most important part of your costume. The outfit is one thing, but makeup can help drive the point home about what your costume is supposed to be. A zombie isn’t really a zombie without makeup to create the full effect.

The Easy Route

Some store bought costumes actually include a small kit of makeup to help with your costume, for example, may include a tube of green face paint. A monster may have already made scars that can be fairly easily applied. If not, there are still ways to create or add to your look with little to no effort.

The simplest approach may be using white face paint and black eyeliner. These two items can help you create multiple looks. Ghosts, skeletons and mimes all utilize these two shades and also don’t require too much skill. That, or don’t overlook the simplicity of creating a simple cat face with whiskers. You can do the nose in black, but pink can add a little more depth to it.

As a Costume

Maybe you want your Halloween makeup ideas to act as your costume, not in addition to it. There are ways to do so, but some can require some intricate work. Shop online or offline for makeup kits that include stencils for this specific purpose. You could also consider using a professional makeup artist, or hitting up a friend who is one for a favor.

So, if you have time, patience and a wide variety of colors to work with, here are a few ideas that act as costumes instead of just makeup. One idea is a deck of cards. You can paint your face white and add either multiple suits, such as hearts or clubs, or a single one. Or, how about a zebra or tiger! While it doesn’t have to be perfect, it will be slightly more time consuming than some other options. Just think of things or animals that could be easily represented by face painting, like fish scales, and give it a go.

You also pick something that is highly recognizable by its face. Think comic books, super heroes or cartoon characters. Anyone would recognize a well painted Spider Man or Joker face. You can also just think back to your childhood when you would get your face painted at the fair. When in doubt, simply painting a swimming fish or mystical unicorn on your face can act as a costume. If nothing else, you can also go really simple and paint puzzle piece sections on your face. At least it is something.

More Elaborate Ideas 

You can get as complicated as you like when it comes to painting up your face for Halloween. It depends on your ability and the amount of time you have. As mentioned before, zombies just aren’t the undead without a full face of makeup. For those who have the skills, create deep cuts, gashes and scars to make a dramatic impact. Keep in mind, there are recipes to be found online to help create 3D effects for some Halloween makeup ideas. For example, corn syrup and red food color can be used to make sticky bloody marks or incisions on your face.

Tips

Decide if you should put the costume on before or after the makeup is applied. If your costume tends to make you heat up and slips on without going over your head, then you will want to wait until after you’ve finished your makeup. Otherwise, especially if the costume slips on overhead, it is generally a good idea to have the costume on. Just be certain to cover up the costume to prevent spilling any makeup on it.

Bring extra makeup with you. There is always a chance of a smudge occurring and having your kit with you enables you to make a quick fix. Of course, it is also a good idea to bring some tissues and facial wipes with you. You may find out an hour into the party your eye makeup is irritating you, and should have a quick easy way to remove some or all of the face paint. At the end of the event, you also may want to remove the makeup immediately to allow your skin to breathe.

The idea is to have fun with it, try not to take it too seriously or get frustrated. Allow yourself some time and, when possible, practice your technique before the holiday party. Halloween makeup ideas can really add some depth to whatever character you decide to portray for the holiday.

Costume Parties

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The majority of Halloween parties and events will be themed ones.  Some groups and families opt for a traditional theme such as vampires or witches or even zombies.  There are also traditional fancy dress events such as for Mardi Gras or a plain, old-fashioned masked ball.  Children usually love costume parties which have been themed around a favorite superhero or princess or cowboy or cartoon character.  If the party is to be held at a home, then there are a few things to keep in mind.

Parties where adults dress up and have a great time have been around for hundreds of years and were popular in Europe amongst the gentry and royalty.  Perhaps even Vlad, who was the inspiration for Count Dracula and vampire folklore, held parties in his castle in Transylvania.  A modern party planner needs to think of a theme first, then plot out accessories and costumes as well as many decorations and even games.  Movies can be rented that are themed, along with the party, although this is usually for a smaller and more intimate group.

Half the fun of a costume party is trying to guess who is under that Luke Skywalker or Mr. Spock or Cinderella or mad monster costume and mask.  If children are present, a party cannot get too wild or gory.  The whole point of a great costume party is having fun and slipping into another character — if only for an evening.  A family meeting is called for in order to settle on a theme and costumes and certain accessories need to be ordered a few weeks ahead of time, so that if there’s a backorder, substitutes can be made.

Food recipes abound for Halloween parties and items such as purple punch with dry ice spilling over, and floating eyeball ice cubes always make an impression.  Kids love Gummy worms anyway and other creatures may be draped over a punch bowl.  Finger sandwiches, literally looking like fingers, can be created and any food served at a party may be laid out on a appropriately-themed buffet table.  It’s best to keep glass away from a party and often, decorated and disposable glasses and cups can be bought, along with other party supplies.

A lot of costumers love to make their own costumes year after year, or enhance and update their outfits annually.  This depends on how much time there is to do all of the sewing and gathering and hot-gluing etc.  A person’s own clothing may be used as a base for the outfit and this can also be time-saving.  One year, a movie theme may be hot, or a group of characters, and another year they are relegated to the dungeon of costume parties and outfits.  A few classic ensembles are vampires, mummies, zombies, animals, celebrities and politicians.  Some of the costumes at any random party defy description.

If there are several messy games that are to be set up then consider using the backyard.  Children should have their games and creative area and the adults may have a few separate ones.  The outside of the house or building can also be well-decorated with cobwebs and jack o’ lanterns and spiders and bats, if the theme is a generic Halloween scary one.  Remember lighting (red or purple or black lights are wonderful and atmospheric) as well as sound FX and motion.  Anytime a skeletal hand emerges from a box or a croaky voice ways “welcome” trick or treaters get a real kick out of it.  Remember to decorate age appropriately.

Costume party planners can put on a fantastic “spread” and themed party. If they use a little creativity and whatever is at hand, supplemented by a few purchased decorations and accessories and supplies.  A good and well-planned party will be long remembered and talked about at the office or at school, the next day.

Costume Parties

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Though costume parties can be held as a festive event during any time of the year, Halloween is often the most popular time for this type of event. Halloween costume parties are a great way to celebrate the holiday for both youngsters and adults. Parents often schedule Halloween costume parties right before Halloween or on the night of as an alternative to trick-or-treating. Adults, on the other hand, have come to enjoy these parties since they generally do not get to celebrate the holiday in any other form or fashion.

Brief History of the Halloween Costume

Most information seems to support the idea that Halloween originated with the Celtic celebration known as Samhain. This event marked the eve of the beginning of another long, hard, cold and cruel winter in which survival alone was a task. During this night it was believed, by the Celts, that the barrier the between spirit and mortal world was open and spirits would return to earth. At this point, restless spirits could destroy crops or cause other forms of damage. So, while the Celts tried to appease spirits and keep them from causing mayhem, they would burn great bonfires and often sacrifice animals and crops, as an offering. Also, during Samhain, the Celts would wear the hides and heads of animals and march the streets in these costumes. Hence, the first Halloween costume was born, as well, in a way, the first Halloween costume parties.

Costume Parties for Children

It begins, of course, with the selection process of a costume. These disguises come in an unimaginable amount of options that can be purchased off the rack at a retails store, or crafted at home for those craft-savvy and budget conscious types. Designing a costume at home can also be a good way to be more original or creative and avoid being a duplicate of too many other children at a party or at school.

Some schools still host costume parties in which children wear their holiday outfits to class and awards and prizes are often given out for different categories of best costumes. For home-based Halloween parties, there are plenty of other activities to include in the itinerary including judging for best costumes. Some popular activities to include are bobbing for apples, pumpkin bowling, Halloween-themed crafts and ghost story telling.

Freeze dancing is another fun way for youngsters to have holiday fun and burn off some energy. Music, often Halloween themed, is played and the party goers dance until the DJ abruptly cuts the tune off. Those who do not immediately freeze are out until only one dancing guest remains to claim his or her place as the winner.

Another fun idea for children’s Halloween costume parties is sectioning off part of the home as a haunted house event kids get to scamper and scream their way through. An increasingly popular activity in the past few years has been the addition of “pumpkin hunt.” Using either mini-pumpkins or small plastic versions of the squash, the kids hunt for hidden pumpkins like during an Easter egg hunt. This can be done outside before dark, outside with the use of flashlights or completely indoors.

Costume Parties for Adults

The beginning of this process isn’t any different than the Halloween party for kids; it begins with a costume selection. Again, costumes can be store bought, handmade but often, in usually just the case for adults, renting a costume is also an option. Adults often get a little more daring with their costume selection, bordering on risqué in some cases, especially women’s options. There are bound to me more scantily clad cats, Playboy bunnies, school girls, French maids and Indian princesses competing for an award, and some attention.

These celebrations are usually hosted at someone’s house or by booking a restaurant, pub, bar, club or other type of venue or hall. Events at adult Halloween costume parties can closely resemble the activities that take place at the kid’s parties. Though the punch may be spiked and there is likely to be a “sexiest” category during the Halloween costume contest. Scavenger hunts can be a great addition to adult Halloween parties, especially when conducted in a public place or outdoor venue.

A Wrap on Halloween Costume Parties

Halloween can be a hauntingly spook-tacular good time for children and adults. The Halloween get up is one of the most important, and fun, elements to celebrating the holiday. Whether trick-or-treating or not, just the fun of a Halloween costume party can be the best part of the season.