Thread: Outdoor Party

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Hi~ newbie to the forum.

I have three teenagers and we are known for our annual Halloween parties. Each year has to outdo the last. We hold the parties in our front yard which is filled with pine trees. (I will attempt to post pics in the album section after this post.) Last year in addition to all the props, we held an outdoor movie on a 9' x 16' screen. We watched "Dead Silence." My husband and our friends also had a few scare tactics that they used during the movie. It was totally dark out there except for our fire pit. They kids really loved it.

But~ this year I would like to create an even bigger "wow" factor with a scarier mood. Thinking about sectioning off a huge party area with the black plastic and have a maze entrance with scare tactics throughout. That would be the only entrance to the party area. Maybe shrouding the area with tree branches or something. I know the maze is a tried and true event, but I am wondering if anyone has done a very large area like I stated above.

I am up for any other ideas as well. The woods is a great ambience for Halloween by itself. Just wanting a big scare and wow factor....

This year we are thinking of watching "Dead Birds." My husband even got some corn seed. We are going to plant it in the front, hopefully it will grow. We are using the evil scarecrow theme as well.

TIA
Kaye

i don't have any ideas, but i just wanted to say that what you have done already sounds like soooo much fun!

Howdy, Halloween Mom! You've come to the right place. I'd recommend taking a look at the volumes of earlier threads - do a search for maze and you'll probably get hundreds of hits...
Looking forward to seeing your pics!

I don't have any great ideas to add yet, but the movie thing sounds great! I want to do that sometime. Do you use a projector? What type of screen do you use? Our parties are always outdoors & indoors combined but I would like to add the cinema even if it's silent but it would have to be outside. Definitely show us some pics when you can!

I do have a projector. It's an InFocus IN26+. We ended up buying it from Office Depot because they were local. We love it. I must admit that I got my inspiration from Backyard Theater, outdoor movie theater ideas and forums, take your projector outside!. There is a wealth of information on that site about outdoor movies. Our screen is made from PVC piping and a painters canvas tarp. Works great.
Kaye

Hi Halloweenmom and welcome. I like you am a mom of teenagers who also puts on an annual Halloween party. I totally understand wanting to outdo the previous year. I can tell you that ours is a Haunted House party. We have a huge party indoors with all the fixings decorations, great food, we even have a Candy Bar. The teenagers love being able to get thier hands in all those different types of candy. I put them in all sorts of fancy glass jars in different sizes and I put labels on them. Cool ghoulish labels. Its a big hit, we also add a chocolate fountain. This year we are adding the Mr. softie ice cream man. He will be coming to our house just for us for a flat fee all the icecream they want.
Now for the outside we have a big Haunted House. We build a frame all the way around the outside of our house. We close it off so it is one big tunnel and maze if you will. we section off scenes with the black plastic. In there we have all sorts of props and music and fog and lightning. I even have some people in there to jump out every now and then. It is the highlight of the party and the kids cant wait to come. Every year when my son goes to school with the invitations the kids go crazy. Even though they are teenagers I still have parting gifts for them. This year really cool coffins filled with goodies the teenagers will love. I hope you can use some of these ideas. Good luck.

Spooki Mama

That sounds so cool! Do you have pics that I can see?

Do you have a problem with the teens wanting to sneak off to a nice dark quiet area of your maze for some make out time? Our highschoolers we don't have that problem with, yet, but the middleschoolers, boy you have to watch them like a hawk. How many come to yours? Do they stay inside mostly or outside mostly?
TIA
Kaye

Hey Spook
I wanted to ask you about your maze. Do you have issues with killing the grass or anything by doing it? How long is it up?

Oh, and btw, did you get the FL forum straightened out? Ghostess put a slider bar on the left and has also added more options.
;D
Val

Sounds like a really great time. Outdoor movies. Hum? Will have to check into that site you spoke of Halloween Mom. Spookilicious Mama - those candy treat idea was great too. I know a whole lot of adults would be just as crazy about that idea. What a great dessert table.

Originally Posted by Halloween Mom

That sounds so cool! Do you have pics that I can see?

Do you have a problem with the teens wanting to sneak off to a nice dark quiet area of your maze for some make out time? Our highschoolers we don't have that problem with, yet, but the middleschoolers, boy you have to watch them like a hawk. How many come to yours? Do they stay inside mostly or outside mostly?
TIA
Kaye

hey there that is so funny you mentioned that because that is exactly correct, my highschoolers are not a problem but my middle schoolers friends oh boy. I am on contant guard duty with them. I have a few older kids come to help me with that actually. I give them a post I do not have pictues sadly but i will this time. I can give you more detail in a pm if you would like. I have about 22 to 40 kids come. they do both inside and out. Inside in the beginning then once they go throught the haunted house a few times they are back and forth with the inside and out.