Did you know that almost a quarter of Americans consider Halloween one of their all-time favorite holidays? That means that if you throw a Halloween party this October, it’s bound to be a resounding success.

To throw a great holiday party, all you really need is great food, fun party decorations, and a stellar theme. Thanks to our indoor and outdoor catering services, we’ve got you covered on the great food. Now, we’re going to help you to come up with a theme, too.

From family-friendly party ideas to scary themes for the perfect adult Halloween events, we’re positive that we can bring the spooky inspiration you need to put together an unforgettable Halloween party.

Read on for twelve Halloween party themes and ideas that you won’t want to miss.

1. The Costume Contest

Nothing says “Halloween” like costumes. Even if your friends or kids are too old for trick-or-treating, no one is too old to put together a great costume and win prizes like “Best DIY Costume” and “Scariest Costume.” Put together cute prize ribbons or give out goody bags packed with candy.

2. The Spooky Arts and Crafts Party

Do you need an activity to keep the kiddos entertained during your Halloween bash? Set up an arts and crafts table packed with Halloween-themed supplies, like purple and orange construction paper and googly eyes. Guide the kids in a specific craft or let their imaginations run wild.

3. The Scary Movie-Themed Party

Spooky season is all about spooky movies. There are tons of Halloween classics to choose from! Craft your theme around a Halloween favorite or set up an outdoor viewing of a family-friendly movie for a neighborhood viewing.

4. The Haunted Spectacular

If your favorite part of Halloween is the scares, turn your home into a Haunted House. Dark lighting, fog machines, haunting sound effects, and some dressed-up volunteers will make your house the talk of the town. Set up a festive backyard atmosphere for anyone who survives your haunted house.

5. The Fall Carnival

Looking to put together a community event? An outdoor fall carnival is the perfect way to kick off the Halloween season. Corn and hay mazes, apple “orchards,” pumpkin “patches,” and other games or stands will provide tons of fun for visitors.

6. The Spooky Brunch

If you want to do something a little more adult for the gals and beaus, consider a spooky Halloween-themed brunch. You can go the cute and kitschy route of ghost-shaped cookies or go upscale with seasonal bites. Add some drinks, like colorful mimosas, and you’ve got a great brunch planned.

7. The Ghostly Scavenger Hunt

We love to throw Easter egg hunts in the spring. Why not bring that same festiveness to the fall? Rather than placing candy in plastic eggs, tuck them into little cloth ghosts and hide them around the house or yard for afternoon ghost hunting fun.

8. The Pumpkin Carving Extravaganza

One of the most beloved Halloween activities is pumpkin carving, and you can host a pumpkin carving extravaganze the weekend before Halloween. (Make sure you don’t plan this party too early, or your jack-o-lanterns may not last until Halloween!) If you don’t want to get into the mess of gutting and carving pumpkins, you can provide paints, brushes, glue, googly eyes, gemstones, and other decorative items to deck out the outside of your pumpkins.

9. The Witchy Ladies Party

If you want to plan a fall holiday party for the girls, why not try a witchy theme? You can encourage everyone to dress up in their witchiest attire, serve up a foggy cauldron of drinks, and celebrate a fun night under the moon. Whether you love the witches of The Craft or Hocus Pocus, you’ll leave all of your guests spell-bound.

10. The Masquerade Event

If you love dressing up in something a little classier than a typical costume, consider throwing a masquerade ball this year. You can make it as formal as you want, just as long as you give everyone a mask to don at the door. A mysterious night of dancing, dining, and drinking awaits you!

11. The Era-Themed Party

Not all Halloween themes have to fall into the “spooky” category. You can also use the holiday season to throw any type of theme party that involves costumes, and era-themed parties are always a huge hit. Throw it back to the 70s, 80s, or 90s with era-appropriate clothes, music, and, of course, great food.

12. The Pre-Trick-or-Treat Party

While some holidays are full-day family celebrations, others don’t get the time they deserve. We often celebrate Halloween with night-time trick-or-treating, but what if you wanted to extend the festivities into the day? Put together a family-friendly Halloween party that starts in the late afternoon, where kids can get ready together and kick off their night of doorbell ringing and treat collecting in style.

Let Us Cover Your Holiday Party Catering Needs

At The Refuge, we can’t get enough of holiday parties. This Halloween, throw an unforgettable holiday party with our help. Take one look at our menu and you’ll see why so many people come to us when they’re putting together their latest party or event.

Use this guide to inspire your Halloween themes and ideas and use our catering to turn your party into an unforgettable event. What are you waiting for? Contact us today, let us know what kind of party you have in mind, and we’ll be in touch about how we can be of service.