Halloween is right around the corner, so you may be considering throwing a wicked party to celebrate. (I mean, who doesn’t love a night of dressing up, followed by eating, drinking, and dancing?) If you’re still on the fence about it, just know that Halloween parties are always a fun time. I mean, just think about it this way—Heidi Klum throws a Halloween party every year, so, you should too, right?
We believe there is always a reason to celebrate, especially when there are costumes involved. However, throwing a party can definitely seem daunting if you don’t know where to start. Luckily, you’ve come to the right place—we’ve got plenty of experience in the party-planning department.
Of course, any party is bound to be enjoyable, but a theme can make it a night for the books. Nevertheless, thinking of a good theme for a party can be difficult, and you’re likely already consumed by which costumes and makeup you’ll be wearing on the big day. Instead of stressing over party themes, you can leave that to us.
In this list, we’ve included unique theme ideas; some are inspired by pop culture hits like The Great Gatsby, Twilight, and Stranger Things, while others are broader and can be personalized to fit any vibe. So, rummage through your storage bins for your spookiest decorations and loudest speakers, and be prepared to have a blast. No matter which theme you decide on, just make sure to have a camera around, because trust us, you’ll want to capture every moment of the night.
There’s no better time to throw a Gatsby-themed party than during Halloween. It’s the perfect excuse to throw on your favorite pearl necklaces and long, satin opera gloves. As for decor, you’ll want to transform your space into a glitzy mansion complete gold balloons and a champagne tower. Be sure to play lots of jazz music, because what was the roaring 20’s without the sound of a saxophone in the background?
If you’re looking to blast EDM all night long, consider turning your basement (or any space, TBH) into a graveyard, (emphasis on rave). Deck out the walls with fake spider webs, place a skeleton or two on your couch, and invite your guests to come ready to dance in their most ghastly attire.
Every year in Venice, there is a festival called Carnivale where people wear elaborate masks and dance the night away. The festival began in 1162, to celebrate the victory over their enemy the Aquileia, but the tradition continued hundreds of years later because, well, people love an excuse to party. For that reason, it only seems fitting to throw a Carnival-themed party during Halloween. Have your guests wear their best masks, and you could even make a batch of fritelle, the Italian donuts traditionally eaten during the festival.
Stand out from other festivities by throwing a Stranger Things-themed party; it’s still perfectly spooky, but puts a creative twist on classic Halloween themes. For decor, you’ll want to put up a “Welcome to Hawkins” sign on the front door, hang “missing” signs for Will Byers, and dress the walls with Christmas lights and detachable, ouija-esque alphabet letters. Make sure to queue the greatest hits from the 80s and, of course, the Stranger Things theme song.
This Disney classic makes for a brilliant party theme because there are so many ways you can approach it. You could decorate your walls with playing cards and highlight the Queen of Hearts, or you could turn your tablescape into a “tea party” complete with teacups and a kettle. For a true, Alice-themed party, you could even make vials of drinks with labels that read “Drink Me.”
What screams Halloween more than a ghost-themed party? To perfectly execute this theme, make paper mache ghost decorations to hang in your space, display a few tombstones by the entrance, and invite your guests to come as their best ghost-self. Be sure to queue up classic Halloween songs like the Ghostbusters theme and “I Want Candy.”
If ghosts aren’t really your thing, you could throw an epic Zombie-themed party. It would make the most sense to make your entire space a “graveyard” with tombstones galore, but since this is an apocalypse, you could board up your windows to signal a more catastrophic vibe. If you really want to impress your friends, you can can whip up some Zombie-themed cupcakes and the best dip served in a pumpkin.
The aliens are coming—to your party, that is. Have your guests show up in their best extraterrestrial or space-inspired costume for the best night on the planet. For decorations, put up an “Area 51” sign, buy some neon-green food coloring for all your canapes, and hang your brightest LED lights for a true futuristic ambience.
For the most magical night of the year, consider throwing a Harry Potter-themed party. Transform your space into Hogwarts with DIY Griffindor crests, Plaform 9 ¾ signs, and mugshots from the Azkaban Prison. You can even set a Sorting Hat on the table, which will inevitably get passed around throughout the evening. And of course, a party isn’t truly magical without butterbeer, so be sure to make a big batch of it beforehand.
Since it’s been one of the hottest shows on TV in the last few years, it would make for a great Halloween party. There’s great opportunities for decorations and food here—DIY dragon egg cheese balls, a chair transformed into a sword throne, and of course, dragon stuffed animals everywhere. You could even expand the theme to extend into the greater Game of Thrones cinematic universe if you’re feeling it.
What’s spookier than werewolves, vampires, and confusing love triangles? Twilight makes makes for a great themed party, and you can even have your guests decide upon arrival whether they’re Team Edward or Team Jacob. For a true Twilight aesthetic, you’ll want to stick to a black and red tablescape complete with blood-resembling cocktails and cupcakes, but the creative direction can be completely up to you.
