We had our party on Halloween this year. This was our second party. We had fun, but last years seemed to be better. One reason being the weather was more cooperative last year. Another reason was (as I mentioned in another thread) the Phillies were playing that night and since I live right outside of Philly, we had quite a few fans.

Last year, we had the fire pit going and everyone hung out outside and really interacted. This year, most of the guests parked themselves infront of the tv to watch the game. It was raining most of the night, so using the fire pit wasn't an option until later. We decorate inside for sure, but a lot of the really cool stuff is outside, so most people didn't really get to see everything, which really bummed me out considering how much time we spent putting it up.

I definitely think that we'll have people over next year as well. But I'm going to cut the list down. We don't invite a lot of peeps to begin with because our house is SO tiny and you never know what the weather will hold. But I think we'll cut it down even more and only invite our very close circle of friends. We'll see.

I also think that I wouldn't have it on Halloween again (when it falls on a Sat. again) I'm thinking a week or two before would be better.

It's funny, you definitely learn from year to year what works, and what doesn't. And of course I'm already thinking about next year and what we could change and add on to. I think for next year we'll try making some more of our decorations instead of buying them. We made a scarecrow this year and was awesome and so much fun to make. We did a papermache type pumpkinrot head (loosley based) and it was just so much fun to create that we'd love to do more.

So, as a whole it was great! I'm still miffed about the baseball game, because I think without that being on...people would have been up and socializing a lot more. Obviously, I'm not a huge sports fan LOL!

I also had my first party on Halloween and it was a bit much trying to do the two on the same night. We put out our haunt and props on the day of. The weather was not that great but you have no control of that. To much to do, I thought I could set up and decorate the tables and put the food on them while I was in between giving out candy.......not. I was running around like a zombie without a head. Hubby was helping but when the TOT's asked where the scary man was he had to go out and scare them as he usually does. My kids were going to help me but we ran late with the outside and they had to get ready with thier costumes and it was just me. There were things I had wanted to do but couldn't due to lack of time. Guests started to arrive at 7:30 on time we had 25 people and although I felt like I rushed with my make-up and set up the party it was a hugh success and we had a great time. After a few drinks I calmed down and enjoyed the rest of the party. Everyone stayed till 1 and really enjoyed the murder winking game and casting votes for best costume and guessing the candy corn jar. We did not get to bed until 4 cause we take down everything that night. All and all in the end everything was great and I guess only I know what did not get done. I also had way to much food and I am taking notes for next year. So It was really awesome to have the party on Halloween night something I have always wanted to do, next year I will separate the two.

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Lion: I do believe in spooks. I do believe in spooks. I do! I do! I do! I do believe in spooks. I do believe in spooks. I do! I do! I do! I do!
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Wow, I can't believe you set everything up that day! I get kind of crazy in that I want to really enjoy my decorations...so I literally start putting stuff up by the end of Sept. LOL! We do a lot of last minute things though the day of and I know I ran around like crazy...I can just imagine how crazy you must have been!

Sounds like you had a great time though!

Trinity1 we had some damage of props and things missing one year when we set things up early and you never forget that. So now I only set up the day of for fear of things getting ruined or stolen. I have been tempted to do the set up early but then I chicken out lol!

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Lion: I do believe in spooks. I do believe in spooks. I do! I do! I do! I do believe in spooks. I do believe in spooks. I do! I do! I do! I do!
Witch: You'll believe in more than that before I'm finished with you.

You're so lovely! I just might!

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Ow, I thought of something positive!

- We got all the decorations and the haunt through the forest set up between 01.00 p.m. and 16.00 p.m.

- We took all the decorations and most of the haunt down in under an hour (bands were still packing their gear), boxes filled and closed, ready to pick up the next day (I drank, so couldn't drive it home) at 03.00 a.m.

- We went to the forest with the leftover friends/crew (about 5 people) planning on finally getting really drunk...when we figured out no one had brought any beer! Hahaha! But we had great fun telling ghost stories and knowing that we didn't have to take care of or worry about our guests anymore.

- Even sleeping in my mom's very little car with my best friend was really funny!

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Blood...is very precious these days...the warlike days are over.

www.kanslos.nl

I hear ya! We put our best stuff in the backyard so I don't worry too much about anyone stealing that. We do put lights and some props outfront...but it's mostly tombstones...and with Walgreens selling them 3 for $10...I'm not too worried about them LOL!

It sucks that there are people out there that do that though. To what end? Just to say they did it probably.

Hi,
reflection from 2009 Halloween party from the Netherlands. In the Netherlands we don't have a Halloween tradition like in the US. It just started to kick off and some shops sell halloween articles and their are some amusement parks that have a party.
A few years ago we started to trick or treat with a few kids and parents, but most people in the neighberhood didn't understand the concept and were a bit upset.
So this year we organised a halloweenparty in a small forest for the kids (about 20). We made up a local halloween myth with of course a curse. The kids were divided in small groups and had to fullfill some tasks and puzzels to stop the curse. The parents were actors in the myth.
After the curse was ended we had a party to celebrate the happy end.
Everything went well. Even the weather was good. During this time of year it usually rains in Holland. But this year dry with a bit of fog, so it added a special touch.
But still people in the Netherlands stare at you when passing the street in a dracula costume.
Thank you all for the hints in your forum and hope you understand my english.

Welcome to the forum Epi! Nice having another dutchie around!
Glad to hear the kids had a good time in the forest and that your halloween activities were successful

MsM

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My reflections:
It was a great party: the food was loved by everyone, drinks were flowing and everyone had fun with the games.
Bad parts: I drank WAY too many rum shots and was throwing up and passed out by the end so forgot parts of the late night and wasn't as good of a hostess because of it (thank god for my sober husband!) I never did that before at any of our parties. I will definitely not drink that much next year, I missed a lot of the party from too much drink!! I hate when people keep saying "did you know you did or said this?"
Everyone devoured our corpse food buffet so I wonder if we need more food next year, its hard to tell- we have had mountains of food left over before and this year, nothing left over except TONS of beer!!