Monster Bash

By Megan Laubershimer

Want to plan a frightfully fun Halloween party but have no idea how?  10 easy steps are all it takes to transform a draining night of handing out candy to mini trick-or-treaters into a wickedly good celebration that even the dead, or the undead, will want to boogie.

    Step one Create a theme.  It will liven up a dead party and brew up some fun.  Themes come in all shapes and sizes from a witches' night full of magic, broomsticks and even a few black cats to a fancy dinner party where someone just might turn up dead.  Whatever the theme may be, make sure everything else centers around it.

    Step two Find a "boo-tastic" setting.  The setting is like the frosting to an almost delicious cake; it sets the mood of an already spooky theme.  Settings like Dracula's lair where everything is dark, old and just a little chilling or maybe just a picnic in a graveyard will spice up the party.

    Step three Choose the perfect bone-chilling music.  Music is what gets the blood pounding and the adrenaline running, a practice every horror movie uses, so crank up the scary music and do the monster mash to the zombie music of "Thriller" by Michael Jackson.

    Step four Mouth-watering food can both excite and terrify when it comes to Halloween treats.  Some advice: first impressions are almost always wrong, so even if it's called toe jam soup or fungus surprise, try it.

     Junior Alex Travis's favorite ghostly treat is kitty litter cake. "It's made of that confetti cake mix with tootsie rolls and cake crumbs.  Then you make the frosting grayish."  Sounds deliciously spooky.

    Step five What's a Halloween party without costumes?  Whether the costumes fit the theme, like a prom night revisited or maybe a '50s flashback with poodle skirts and leather jackets, or they're crazier than a giant sumo wrestler blow-up suit, costumes are tradition.

    Step six If it is going to be a costume party, why not throw in a little competition?  Awards make a great ending to the night, and a best costume prize would be hauntingly festive.  Just be sure the winner really is wearing a costume.

    Step seven There's the setting, music and food, but a party's not complete without decorations.  Anything black, orange or green will give the party some festivity, but try adding a splash of red to create a more haunting atmosphere.  Streamers, black lights, glow-in-the-dark accessories and especially carved pumpkins will bring some spooky cheer into the celebration.

    Step eight Games will bring out the inner witch in all the party guests, especially if there are prizes for the winner.  Pin the tail on the werewolf and bobbing for apples are classics but may seem like dead and boring games, so try playing Ghosts in the Graveyard or Name that Scary Movie.

    Step nine People are an important part of planning.  A party can't be a party without guests.  Decide if the party calls for a small group of ghastly guests, or take the more common route and host the bash of the year.

    Step ten Cost determines everything.  Be prepared to pay anywhere from $50-$200 depending on what kind of party it turns out to be.  Use coupons, shop at the dollar store and make home-made food and decorations.

    Remember, Halloween is a time for thrills, chills, a few good screams, and especially a little boogie to the "Monster Mash".