Thread: When do I postpone?

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Here it is: My haunt is about 500 feet away from my house and in the woods. My party is in the yard between my house and haunt and is usually 100 guests. There is a 60% chance of rain and the weather guy says it will pretty much have to be time for trick or treating before they know how it's gonna be on Sat. night. I can get in touch with my guests so here's my question.
Should I:

1. cancel everything (my haunt is up 365 days in a barn. I would be WAY ahead for next year but I have alot of new things this year)

2. Postpone it to Sat. the 7th of Nov. (one positive is I am done and I would be able to relax next week and it will be dark earlier)

3. Postpone it and have a Friday the 13th/Halloween party (which will be /birthday party cause it's my birthday)

And if I postpone it how soon in advance should I call everyone. Luckily they are pretty much up for anything and I figure they will start calling me soon. We all have basically a phone tree thing going on. I haven't had to send invitations in years. Everyone knows it just happens. Please help, I am sure some of you are dealing with this too

First of all....lucky you to be able to have your haunt set up year round!!
Second, I would say if the party is indoors then I wouldn't worry about the weather. If it's in and out (like mine) then I think a friday the 13th party would be awesome!!

Can you move the party from the yard to the house?

Can you move the party from the yard to the barn? Or is the barn full of storage and animals?

Can you move the party anywhere else indoors?

I only ask because we tried to postpone a Halloween party once til the second weekend in Novemeber. However our friends were already focued on Thanksgiving and Christmas and most of our guests were not able to attend. Or were already burnt out on Halloween.

However having a creepy early Thanksgiving dinner might work. Texasjanedoe even gives advice about how to use your existing Halloween decorations to decorate for thanksgiving.

My Awesome Cricut Machine Halloween Vinyl Garage Door Cutouts!

Originally Posted by propmistress

Can you move the party from the yard to the house?

No, 100 people will not fit in my house comfortably. Especially with muddy feet.

Originally Posted by propmistress

Can you move the party from the yard to the barn? Or is the barn full of storage and animals?

No, the barn is 2700 sq. ft. and it ALL is my haunt. Literally it was never used as a barn. It actually was built to be a haunt, I just call it that cause that's what it looks like. It is mostly halls and rooms but they are all finished rooms with props.

Originally Posted by propmistress

Can you move the party anywhere else indoors?

I wish. If it rains I can't have it. That's all. What you said about postponing it is kinda what I thought may happen. For some reason when you get to Nov. It's officially Christmas time. Halloween at our house is always a huge deal. Sometimes more to others than myself. This is my sons senior year and I wanted him to have a good time with his friends this year. My daughter graduated last year and now they have all scattered. College, etc. I will never not be able to have this party cause come Sept. 1 everybody starts calling to see if I'm having it. I always have plenty of volunteers and such so I'm not sure my bunch will be burnt out. But for some reason it just doesn't feel right to have the party AFTER Halloween. I am so tempted to not have it and be well prepared for next year but my sons friends have came every year since forever and I feel as though this year is important.

Oh well, I am off to make a sacrifice to the weather gods.

This year is really important.

Don't give up on your party. If you have been having a haunt for years and you even have a permanent haunt in your barn, people will attend the party in November. Heck, people will attend the party in the rain.

Plus, you have a teenager and a college student. Teenagers and college students are always looking for a reason to party and a party to attend.

I hope your sacrifice to the weather gods works out.... I hear they like fresh baked cookies.

Originally Posted by propmistress

This year is really important.

Don't give up on your party. If you have been having a haunt for years and you even have a permanent haunt in your barn, people will attend the party in November. Heck, people will attend the party in the rain.

Plus, you have a teenager and a college student. Teenagers and college students are always looking for a reason to party and a party to attend.

I hope your sacrifice to the weather gods works out.... I hear they like fresh baked cookies.

Mmmm cookies sound good right now Thank you for your encouraging words. It will probably work itself out, most things do

I always have plenty of volunteers and such so I'm not sure my bunch will be burnt out. But for some reason it just doesn't feel right to have the party AFTER Halloween. I am so tempted to not have it and be well prepared for next year but my sons friends have came every year since forever and I feel as though this year is important.

What about renting a tent or borrowing a couple from your volunteers? Not sure how much wind is forecast for your area, but if that's not a problem then I could see this being an option.

I would probably postpone it this way:

Start a phone tree notice that IF there is NO RAIN, the party will go ahead as scheduled.

BUT if it rains, then the party will be held on "rain date" (love the idea of a Friday the 13 party... )

Would you be comfortable (if it just sprinkles) postponing?

Good luck - hope things work out how you want them.

I would try to have it or have it as close to halloween as possible. I know even as the middle of the month people are having their t-day parties. If you are going to cancel start calling tonigt! People like advance notice and especially on Halloween where they can go to another party instead. I would try for a tent or put up black plastic tied to branches of a tree if that is possible. Also a couple bonfires would be good if it's going to rain so people can dry out or get warm. Nobody is going to like being cold and wet.

Good luck

100+ people would never fit in a tent. My house isn't small and I can't stand that many in there. I am not a neat freak by any stretch of the imagination but the thoughts of that many muddy feet in my house scares the H*LL out of me. And even if the tent did work (it wouldn't) they would still use the bathroom. Usually the party is half in half out people here and there mingling, just doing their thing. That's the way I like it So......
.... I just postponed my party to the Sat. after Halloween. Got the phone tree going and the reports are no one cares they said they would come if I had it in February. I seriously have some of the most loyal guests one can have. No one is ever really invited they just show up. I got this new date covered however, I told them if it rains this one out it's on Friday the 13th after that it's Halloween 2010! or maybe Fabruary