Every year we invite the kids classes over for a Halloween party. Now that the kids are getting a litlle older (2nd and 3rd grade), I want to change things up a little bit. Instead of a Saturday afternoon, I am doing it Friday night and we are having a bonfire. I want to make it spooky, so they have to walk past a spooky tree, a headless body, and thru a cemetary to get from the house (where the food will be served) to the fire in the backyard. I want to fill the table with spooky or gross foods (any and all non egg, non peanut, not nut ideas welcome). I also want soem ideas on what we can do while outside. I was planning on telling spooky stories, but am trying to think of what we can do outside...in the dark. So any food, decorations, or entertainment ideas?! And I am doing this on a budget Thanks!!

Bob for apples, roast marshmallows, make S'mores!

I did a Witches cauldron. The kids were older, but you could make it age & diet appropriate. I had a big black cauldron with smoke from dry ice coming out. I had strings coming out and up over a branch where the kids had to pull a string. At the end of the string was a small envelope with an easy puzzle inside. Something like a picture of a pair of sneakers - ea + ic making it Snickers. Then they get a Snickers bar.

Flashlight scavenger hunt? My boys love being out in the backyard with flashlights. You could make it Halloween related, hide whatever Halloween decorations you have all around the yard.

For food, I always think about the presentation...I have put craisins in a bowl and labelled it "scabs" (ewww, I know, but appealing to that age group!) Guacamole served in a black witches cauldron with those blue tostitos looks awesome. Oh, and one year I made worms from a jelly mixture poured into bendable drinking straws to set. They looked so realistic, I couldn't get folks to try them! What else? Kitty littercake is a standard gross-out dish! Or witch finger cookies. OOH, spider weiners for the campfire! (Weiners put on the stick in the middle, then slitted from each end so that when they go into the fire, the "legs" curl up as they cook. Can't get cheaper fun than that!!!

If you want REALLY CREEPY, I won the gross out award last year: lined a plastic skull with plastic wrap, then thinly shaved ham, red pepper jelly and a cheese ball mixture...when unmolded it was disgusting looking. I added two cocktail onions for eyes. It was pretty creepy.

Can you tell I love Halloween? Have a fun party!

Loving the ideas so far!! Thanks so much!! I'll let you all know how it goes...have a few weeks to figuire it all out...

http://familyfun.go.com/halloween/halloween-recipes/

http://www.foodnetwork.com/halloween/package/index.html

http://www.activityvillage.co.uk/halloween_party_food.htm

http://www.bettycrocker.com/menusholidaysparties/all-holidays/halloween


One year I did a little halloween dinner for my family. My nephew loved it. The biggest key with the food is to just give it icky sounding names. If you make it sound gross enough, they will love it.

http://www.spookmaster.com/pumpkin-carving-patterns-partygames.htm

http://www.partygameideas.com/halloween-games/witch_hunt_1.php

http://www.partygameideas.com/halloween-games/build_scarecrow_1.php

http://www.partygameideas.com/halloween-games/tragic_sam_4.php

Bandage the Mummy -In this Halloween party game you use rolls of toilet paper and see which team can wrap up their partner the fastest.