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Candy and Food Safety Tips for Halloween

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[This was written pre-coronavirus a number of years ago, but masks are critical now, and some, such as Mayo, recommend skipping it in 2020 entirely. Just be safe.]

Candy and food safety is a big concern during the Halloween season. Whether it’s from door-to-door trick-or-treating or the goodies collected from a Halloween party, there are some ways to avoid potential problems. Most of all, use common sense. If something alerts you to avoid eating it or letting your child eat it, don’t ignore this. When in doubt, throw it out.

Candy Safety Tips for Halloween 

It should be an understood rule by now, but in case it isn’t, know that your child should not eat a single piece of candy until it has been inspected by you. That means, if your little ghoul is begging for one piece from his collected loot, stop and use a flashlight to inspect the wrapper before handing it over. If you are concerned your child may be too tempted to resist, offer to carry his or her treat bag while going door-to-door.

To avoid temptation there are two other things to try. One is to make sure your child ate well before leaving, so he or she will have a full belly and may not be as likely to want to snack. Also, bring a few of your own candies from home and if your child simply must have a sugary snack, make sure it is one from your own stash from home.

Once home, look at each piece of candy. Any faded wrappers, or those with holes or tears, must be discarded. Goodies without wrappers are not an option. Even if the wrapper fell off at some point during the night while trick-or-treating, it means it could be dirty or that the wrapper was tampered with to begin with.

Also, make sure your child’s candy is not a choking hazard. Avoid gum or jawbreaker type selections that may become a problem. This is especially true for younger children. By the way, also make sure the family pets do not end up chewing down on any chocolates, raisins or macadamia nuts. Dogs and cats can have a severe, and often deadly, reaction to these types of foods.

Food Safety Tips for Halloween 

Some people opt to give out fruit or baked goods during Halloween trick-or-treating, as opposed to candy. These options require just as much consideration before allowing your child to ingest them, though. As a rule, don’t even accept baked goods from someone you do not know. You can decline politely by saying they could become a mess in the bag, or that your child has been known to get ill from that particular type of baked good. If nothing else, set it aside from the rest of the loot to dispose of as soon as possible.

Check fruit for injection or puncture wounds or for the presence of foreign objects. Wash the item, feel and inspect the skin completely and slice it up for save serving. If you can’t be certain, discard the item. There are plenty more choices for your child to choose from, and one or two tossed items won’t put much of a dent in their collected stash.

Some Other Notes about Candy and Food Safety

Avoid offering or baking anything that could be an allergy risk to someone else’s child. Try to locate a recipe that is free from ingredients that could trigger allergic reaction.

Food safety also means limiting candy to prevent a child from getting a tummy ache or being sick. Also, if you are worried about the door-to-door trick-or-treating part of Halloween, make other arrangements. Opt for attending a party hosted by someone you know and trust, put together by a mall or throw your own monster bash for the holiday.

Also, as horrible as it sounds, keep the number for poison control handy just in case. Do not allow your child to ingest anything just before bed, so you can monitor them carefully after eating any treats. Again, this can help prevent a child from being sick in the middle of the night. Keep the candy stash out of a child’s reach so they don’t get tempted to devour a bag of goodies in the middle of the night. This also means keeping any food you have left from the stash you were giving out away from youngsters.

The idea is to be careful, safe and smart, but not paranoid. Do not scare your child, or stress yourself out, by going overboard with the candy collecting and eating process. On the other hand, trust your instincts. Candy and food safety at Halloween is meant to be a guideline system to making the holiday fun but safe for all.

Halloween Party Invitations

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Halloween party invitations are the perfect way to set the tone and ignite excitement about your holiday bash. The trick is to make sure all the information that is crucial to the event is listed, and that guests get an idea of what the party will be like. You also have options when it comes to making, buying or printing your Halloween invites.

What Goes on Your Halloween Party Invitations? 

The first thing that really should be made clear is the type of party you are planning on having. Some of that can be obvious from the type of invitation you send, so make sure it matches. If you are really just doing an autumn get together, don’t use invitations that have skulls and bats all over them. Of course, if you are throwing an all out chilling and spooky monster mash bash, don’t send invitations that just have pumpkins and autumn leaves on them.

Because themes and activities at Halloween parties can be inappropriate for certain ages you should make that clear too, if necessary. In other words, if this is an adults-only sort of event, make sure there isn’t a misunderstanding. Even if you are planning to have scary stories that would not be a good idea for the under 13 age group, specify the party is a “PG-13” type of gathering. In all other cases, maybe just mention “all ages welcome.”

Also Include…

The events you are planning can help entice and inform potential guests, as well. You should certainly include planned activities such as bobbing for apples, a hay ride, ghost stories and a costume contest. In fact, although it should be understood, it can’t hurt to mention that “there will be a costume contest, so wear your best one.”

If you would like people to bring anything, just let them know. It could be food, candy or, for adults, wine or beer. If you’re hosting the event and supplying most of the food or events, there’s nothing wrong with asking for a little help in return. While on the subject, mention if there will be food and say what kind. If it is just snacks, people may want to eat beforehand. If it is a seven course meal, guests might want to know before grabbing a meal on the way.

The general idea is to include all information so that no one would even have to question the details. This includes the address, especially if is somewhere other than your home, phone number for RSVP, phone number for venue if different, email, time, date and anything else you deem necessary.

DIY Invites

If you’re feeling crafty, there are several options you can choose from to make your own Halloween party invitations. You can print your own that you design on your computer and that will save you money compared to buying store bought ones and time by not having to create anything more elaborate than that.

Or, if you would like to get your family involved, get everyone to pitch in and make the invitations. Use markers and stickers and glitter, just get creative. Keep in mind, one person should probably write out the important details of the party. Having your five year old try to spell out “Halloween party” sounds cute, but the data will be lost in the scribble.

Vintage Invitations

You can find great vintage Halloween invitations from online sources such as eBay and Etsy. It adds some flair to use old fashioned, retro invites. There are places online that specialize in this type of thing, and you can find entire packaged Halloween invites, still unopened, this way. You may have to settle for a few different styles if you are inviting a large number of people and cannot find three or more packs of the same kind, but it is worth it, especially if you are planning a vintage Halloween party.

Other Options

There are of course, the traditional store bought ones you can find at party stores and fill in the information yourself. For a few extra dollars you can also have your own printed. This gives you the best choices and saves you the hassle of having to handwrite all the data yourself. Lastly, evites are becoming more popular now. This service is usually free, can still have a picture to express the theme and saves tress by not using paper.

Whatever you decide, just relax and have a good time. Halloween party invitations are just the start of the event that should be the talk of the holiday season.

Super-Scary Halloween Movies for Die Hard Horror Fans

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Super-scary Halloween movies can help get everyone in the holiday spirit throughout the month of October or add appeal to any Halloween party for adults. There have been some classic horror movies over the decades, but horror flick enthusiasts will have only the best this time of year. For some, the gorier the better! Others though, prefer the thrill of the psychological fear. Possibly the best options for super-scary Halloween movies are the ones that manage to combine both.

Bloody Good Super-Scary Halloween Movies

If slasher films are your thing, than the gore factor has to be high. The two that seem to be in an ongoing competition for the best of the slasher flicks are Friday the 13th and The Texas Chainsaw Massacre. This isn’t much of a surprise because the main fear element in both of these is a blood thirsty lead killer, one wielding an ax and the other a chainsaw. While Jason, from the Friday the 13th movies, keeps his identity hidden under a hockey mask, Leatherface from Texas Chainsaw has, well a “mask” made of the flesh of once living creatures.

Of course, almost all half decent zombie flicks are a “must see” among the super-scary Halloween movies. Even the more recent black comedy Zombieland has some truly grotesque scenes involving blood and guts. Possibly the goriest zombie flick to date is Day of the Dead, though Night of the Living Dead or Dawn of the Dead aren’t too far behind.

Though it doesn’t end up in as many of the top horror movie classics, the Hellraiser movies, especially the first one, are scary and have an elevated level of gore. The movie delves into some violent acts involving hooks, nails and flesh. That alone should give one an idea of the amount of blood and gore to expect. If you’re looking for something more recent, the Saw movies series is a gore-fest worthy of an entire evening of back-to-back viewing.

A Mental Scare-Fest

Some movies get more under your skin by getting inside your head. It’s one of the reasons flicks such as Silence of the Lambs remain classic psychological thrillers. For some, just knowing any of the super-scary Halloween movies are supposedly based on a true story is the epitome of fright. Also, movies that have the element of feeling like they could be real because they don’t involve fictional creatures to steal the show can be terrifying.

For that reason, The Blair Witch Project nailed the element of horror by the use of cinematography. Not to mention, the clever attempt to start an urban legend prior to the opening weekend on the film that it was true. Some reports were that the film contained original footage and others claimed that the original film had been studied and reenacted to tell the true tale. Either way, movie goers were curious. This seems to be a flick people either love or hate, but if you can really buy into the fear of these students documenting being tormented in the woods, it can be a great pick for a super-scary Halloween movie.

No information about super-scary Halloween movies would be complete without a mention of the 1973 classic The Exorcist. This movie was so horrific during the original theatrical release that a majority of movie goers reportedly left during the movie. Believe it or not, that was the edited version. A more recent re-release of the film included the scenes too disturbing to be left in the 1973 version.

The Best of Both 

Many super-scary Halloween movies include both gore and mental scares to some degree; some just do it better than others. The previously mentioned Texas Chainsaw Massacre is an example of this type of horror film. Many horror movie fanatics also feel Rob Zombie’s 2003 movie House of 1000 Corpses ties with Texas Chainsaw in the top of this category.

There are plenty more, though. The Omen, for instance, is a chilling tale of the devil incarnate as a young boy. No one is safe from this child’s evil ways, parents included, and there are some creative ways for people to die in this classic. Often movies that focus on haunted houses fall under this category since a person can relate to what it would be like to live in a spirit filled home. Flicks such as Poltergeist or The Amityville Horror are two examples of this genre of horror film.

While it may not always be agreed upon which horror movie is the best of all times, there are plenty to choose from that are in the running when searching for super-scary Halloween movies.

A Guide to Halloween Movies for “Wimps”

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Halloween movies for “wimps” is the sort of genre for those who want to get in the spirit of the holiday without too much lasting mental trauma. Not everyone likes to watch movies about things that go bump in the night. There are plenty of Halloween fanatics that can’t stomach a slasher flick in which a deranged and masked killer does away with an entire team of camp counselors, in just under two hours. While also opting to consider some of the family friendly Halloween movies, there are some that fall in between the two categories.

Dark Comedy Halloween Movies for Wimps

If you can stomach spoof comedies based on horror movies, the Scary Movie collection is a way to go. The only problem is that you may not get all the references to horror movies they make. Generally, they can be a mildly humorous way to laugh at scary movies without hiding behind your hands the whole time.

While it is hard to determine what category Rocky Horror Picture Show falls under, it does at least promise not to scare. It also is not a family friendly flick. It’s a little bit strange comedy and musical and all cult classic. You either get it or you don’t, and if you are going to give it a try, find a theater that does midnight showings with a live cast acting it out in front. If nothing else, it’s worth seeing for the younger versions of stars Susan Sarandon, Tim Curry and even rocker Meatloaf.

Another of the Halloween movies for wimps that falls into the comedic category is Shaun of the Dead. Again, a spoof of the zombie horror film, Dawn of the Dead, but this one holds its own for those who have not watched the scary movie version. Simon Pegg leads the crusade against the undead and that alone, makes this movie a must-see for Halloween or anytime.

Taking it up a Notch

While Tim Burton’s movie Sleepy Hollow does use the tag line “Heads Will Roll,” it just borders on scary. The imagery is beautiful and Johnny Depp plays a great Ichabod Crane – not to mention Christopher Walken’s impressive rendition of the Headless Horseman. If you cover your eyes during the decapitation scenes and side with a wimpy Ichabod, you’ll probably really enjoy this updated version of a holiday classic.

Tim Burton and Johnny Depp also work some cinematic magic perfect for Halloween with Edward Scissorhands. Though also not scary, the dark premise and setting adds a spooky feel. Anytime Vincent Price is playing the role of someone’s “creator” there is bound to be an element of scary, but this one goes in a different direction with it.

File Under Family or Wimps

While on the topic of Tim Burton and Halloween, a great movie for wimps and families at Halloween is the magical Nightmare Before Christmas. This animated classic dabbles in the spooky but sticks closer to the love story and moral journey of the main character, Jack Skellington. The beauty of this one is it can be watched to get in the spirit of Halloween or Christmas, and can be enjoyed all year round.

Another movie that could appeal for families or “scaredy cats” is The Addams Family, either the first one or really any of them. Based on the 1960s TV show, this version from the ‘90s pokes fun at the lives of a family of monsters and freaks. It’s a fun, feel good series that can leave you in the holiday mind frame without keeping you awake at night in terror.

And finally, a great family friendly or good for wimps Halloween movie is the classic It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown. This has practically become a holiday necessity along with carving pumpkins and eating candy. Most adults can recall growing up with this being a TV special at some time during the month of October, and this is a tradition that is sure to last for generations to come.

The End, My Friend

There is no need to be ashamed if gore flicks, slasher films or horror movies in general are not your cup of tea. There also isn’t any reason to subject yourself to scary movies that may be too much to handle. At Halloween, movies are a fine method to use to get in the mood for the holiday and to have as background noise while carving jack-o’-lanterns or having a Halloween party. The idea is to keep it user-friendly for what your limits are. Halloween movies for wimps may not be a genre yet, but there are plenty of suitable ones for the category when it does happen.

Costume ideas for the disabled / Handicap Halloween Costumes

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For people with a handicap or disability, finding a good Halloween Costume can be a challenge. We’ve put together a few ideas below to help you or someone you love out. The costumes range from quite simple to very elaborate depending upon your inclination and time. We also have pages for more handicapped costume ideas, ideas for costumes for people using walkers, costume ideas for people using crutches, and costume ideas for people using wheelchairs. The Halloween.biz Forums also have sections to discuss these type of costume ideas.

  • * Wrap a foot in an ace bandage. Get some mittens or ski hat. Instant injured skier costume!
  • * Drummer Costume. Attach containers (e.g ice-cream containers, empty paint-cans) to a wheelchair with rope, duct-tape or similar material. Use a hoola-hop with card-board for the bass drum (over the front of the chair). Use paint-brushes or large pencils for drum-sticks. Dress in appropriate attair for the music to be played (e.g. rock, 50s etc)
  • * Fred Flintstone and car costume. Obviously dress as Fred with a pre-purchased costume. Create the sides and top of the car from cardboard or light wood. Ditto for the dash. Cover the side-wheels in grey plastic. Voila, Fred Flintstone driving his car.
  • * King or Queen and throne costume. Wrap back and rests with gold or silver paper. Attach garland, plastic jewels and the like to the cart. Dress up regally in velvet or velour. Buy a crown and scepter and even the costume at a costume store.
  • * Pumpkin Costume. Get a big orange leaf bag, cut a hole in the large end and put it over a wheelchair. Instant pumpkin!
  • * For someone on a respirator, you could be a deep sea diver. (Or someone with the bends, decompression sickness).
  • Of course, one could just be a pun “Walker” from The Walking Dead.

If you have more ideas or want to talk more about it, come and see the Halloween.biz Forums costume section.

Some other great inspiration is shown below:
Photos of costumes from the Bridge School: from a fireman in a fire truck (the wheel chair) to an ice cream stand to a flower in a garden to Alladin on his magic carpet to a biker and babe! These are some wonderful costume ideas.The MDA also has some pictures of more costume ideas.And finally, there are more great ideas are on this page.

Costume ideas for wheelchairs

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For people with a condition requiring them to use a wheelchair, finding a good Halloween Costume can be a challenge. We’ve put together a few ideas below to help you or someone you love out. The costumes range from quite simple to very elaborate depending upon your inclination and time. We also have pages for more handicapped costume ideas, ideas for costumes for people using walkersand costume ideas for people using wheelchairs. The Halloween.biz Forums also have sections to discuss these type of costume ideas.

  • * How about going was the painting “Whistler’s Mother”? You would wear a black dress and the white scarf.  See: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Whistler’s_Mother
  • * Wrap a foot in an ace bandage. Get some mittens or ski hat. Instant injured skier costume!
  • * Drummer Costume. Attach containers (e.g ice-cream containers, empty paint-cans) to a wheelchair with rope, duct-tape or similar material. Use a hoola-hop with card-board for the bass drum (over the front of the chair). Use paint-brushes or large pencils for drum-sticks. Dress in appropriate attair for the music to be played (e.g. rock, 50s etc)
  • * Fred Flintstone and car costume. Obviously dress as Fred with a pre-purchased costume. Create the sides and top of the car from cardboard or light wood. Ditto for the dash. Cover the side-wheels in grey plastic. Voila, Fred Flintstone driving his car.
  • * King or Queen and throne costume. Wrap back and rests with gold or silver paper. Attach garland, plastic jewels and the like to the cart. Dress up regally in velvet or velour. Buy a crown and scepter and even the costume at a costume store.
  • * Pumpkin Costume. Get a big orange leaf bag, cut a hole in the large end and put it over a wheelchair. Instant pumpkin!
  • * Robot or evil machine type of a costume. 
  • * Dress up as an astronaut, and make the wheel chair up to look like the moon rover.

If you have more ideas or want to talk more about it, come and see the Halloween.biz Forums costume section.

Some other great inspiration is shown below:
Photos of costumes from the Bridge School: from a fireman in a fire truck (the wheel chair) to an ice cream stand to a flower in a garden to Alladin on his magic carpet to a biker and babe! These are some wonderful costume ideas.The MDA also has some pictures of more costume ideas.And finally, there are more great ideas are on this page.

Halloween Makeup Ideas

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Halloween Makeup Ideas

A lot of the theatrical makeup used for Halloween dress-up can cause reactions in sensitive people, so always test it first. Or, read the ingredients before purchasing.  You don’t want to look like  a leopard with spots, if your goal was to be an Egyptian queen!  If you’ve purchased your costume then it will usually have a few make-up ideas in the package.  If you are lost and don’t know what you’d like to do, then  look at some books or designs on the Internet and they will inspire you.

If you sweat a lot, then chose a light makeup up look.  The more “greasepaint” you put on your body, the bigger the likelihood that you will sweat.  There are natural mineral makeups out there plus specially designed ones used in show business, that won’t cause reactions.  They can be more expensive but it’s worth it if you’ll feel more comfortable.  Some costume designs require a lot of makeup to create the look, while a few hardly need any.  A lot of costumes use masks and if you aren’t allergic to latex then this is an almost instant way to glam up your outfit.

Makeup for animal costumes is more complex than a lot of others  This is like those face paintings that the kids get done at county fairs.  One accidental wipe at your cheek and the look may be ruined.  Even little babies can have a few dots or noses or whiskers on their faces.  Of course, any makeup for babies should be hypoallergenic from the get go.  Watch out for glitter.  It’s usually applied by a spray and it can cause reactions, besides the fact that it tastes funny if you get some in your mouth.  Use a well-lit makeup mirror for your makeup if it’s complex.  Try and get a photo of the look you’re aiming for and tape it up on the mirror at eye level so you can refer to it.

One thing to be careful of is makeup staining either your skin or an area of your home where you don’t want it.  You have to get it off you before you go to bed, and sometimes it does take special removers.  Test first, well before you’ll be needing it, and also test how to get it off.  Remember — read about both the makeup and the way to get it off, because you don’t want your skin being removed along with it.

Theatrical makeup artists study for a long time because they often have to age or “young” an actor up for a role, or create a monster or disfigured person (such as in Phantom of the Opera) and these become an integral part of an actor’s costume.  Once they start to act, then the two often meld together to form the character.  We’ve gotten a few tips together for specific looks.

Monster

This is not just throwing a bunch of makeup on your face and mixing it up together like a bread pudding.  At the base of every monster is the person or being which existed before they became a monster.  Somehow, you have to transcend the bridge and make your monster real.  If it’s an “affliction” then make it as simple, and as real as you can.  Sometimes a perfectly simple Mardi Gras-like mask can help, as in Phantom of the Opera.  There needn’t be anything behind a mask, but we can always wonder.

Swashbuckler/Daredevil

For men, there’s a certain swagger to an explorer or adventurer or pirate.  This can mean beard stubble, which is easy for men as they have their own.  Just don’t shave for a few days.  You can always stipple on some black makeup as well, unless you are a red head of course.  An old sword wound can be created as long as it doesn’t curl up on  your face like a mini-venetian blind because of sweat.  One director made himself up as Nanki-Poo in Gilbert and Sullivan’s The Mikado, and he was so active that his eyebrows started to peel off.  I couldn’t look at him without choking up.  You can buy wounds in either a magic shop or makeup store or off the Internet.

Women’s Makeup

Most women use makeup every day, but some do not.   Most women leave the superhero and heavy makeup look to the men and opt for a more natural makeup job.  Most women know when they look silly so most women will do alright at Halloween.  Have a friend help you if need be.  Help the men in your family with their makeup, because they are no doubt quite inexperienced at it.  Have a happy and safe Halloween.

Halloween Costumes for Pets

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Pets today are often considered part of the family, and are treated as such most of the time.  Halloween costumes for pets are commonplace, but they need not be common.  If the pet is dressing solo or part of a group, then the size, temperament of the pet and wishes of the owners have to be taken into consideration. There should be no restriction on movement for the pet and it should be able to see and walk normally.  Safety should be first and foremost on Halloween, for children, adults and pets.  A few pets have no tolerance for wearing anything, especially hats, so if this is the case, then you must costume your pet simply.

There are hundreds of pet costumes to be found on the web, but many you can make or adapt yourself.  If you are in a patriotic mood or perchance marching in a 4th of July parade, then an Uncle Sam costume for your dog would be a wonderful way to show your pride in the US.  These are usually made of a simple bodysuit in red, white and blue, with a matching hat.  The latter should be lightweight or your dog will think a bird has landed on his or her head and they’ll try and shake it off.

Another funky outfit is called a dog riders cowboy and it has a miniature cowboy riding your dog like a bronco.  Test your dog first as it’s the same as  a hat — your dog may simply want to shake the cowboy off.  A cute outfit for a pug is a bumblebee. Everything is flexible and comfortable so the likelihood is your dog won’t try and shake it off.   There’s a bee-striped shirt (leaving your dog in a natural state in the rear), an antenna headband with a set of black pompoms for antennae, and mesh wings.

If you’re into gardening then dressing your dog up as a flower could work.  For this ensemble the manufacturer has made a light green cape, bright pink flower petals, and a set of antennae to match of pink and green.  Are you from the islands — Hawaii, that is?  Perhaps you’re just a fan of that nostalgic cop show set in Hawaii.  It’s a comfortable and simple outfit, with a lei and a Hawaiian shirt.  Perhaps this would suit that surfboarding/skateboarding bulldog they have in Southern California.

A butterfly ensemble from Animal Planet has printed foam wings that look like a bright Monarch, plus an antennae headband.  Another one from the same company and TV channel is a cowboy dog costume.  This can make your little dude into a regular cowpoke  It’s made from a character jumpsuit, has stuffed arms, a vest with a fringe, a rope, and a cowboy hat with string to hold it under your dog’s chin.  Another costume suitable for a pug, is Yoda from Star Wars.  It has Yoda’s big green ears sticking out from the headpiece and a jumpsuit with attached arms.  If you love Star Wars then let your dog be the Jedi master for a change.

Zelda the rock star could make your dog over into a punk musician, with its zip-up black jacket, red spikey wig, pants, and a studded dog collar.  By far and away the most unusual new costume for this year is a hammerhead shark one.  This is another Animal Planet outfit, as is the raptor (dinosaur variety).  Both the shark and raptor have nice teeth, but they are harmless.  Kids love these types of costumes and they could be used as puppets throughout the year.

If you’re into The Flintstones, then Zelda the cave dog is the perfect outfit for your dog.  It’s a stone age riot with its animal print wrap-around shirt, and a black spiked wig.  This particular outfit would be perfect for a trick or treating stone age party, including the dog of course.  There are classic dog dress up outfits such as a foam bun which fits around your Dachshund making him or her into a real “hot dog”, or a pink tutu for your poodle.  Pet stores have regular clothes for all sizes of dogs and these can be used or adapted towards Halloween costumes for pets.

Cats were never mentioned I regards to dress-up, because we all know how cats feel about any kind of costume: “What — you want me to wear that?”   Perhaps  a cat who’s eaten a whole can of tuna might be inclined to wear a headband for a few second.  Just maybe…

Halloween Food for Children

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Halloween food for children is about more than the sweets they pick up while trick-or-treating. Many parents host Halloween parties during this time of year, and the food can add to the overall holiday appeal of the party. The key is to keep it spooky without going overboard. Keep in mind the fear factor should be well below the planning involved for an adult Halloween party. Get the children to have fun, not need therapy afterwards.

Spooky and Sweet

You know you can’t go wrong with Halloween foods for children when there are sweets involved. Though they may round up plenty of goodies during their trick-or-treating, make some home baked treats. The easiest option is to decorate cupcakes in a clever manner, and there are plenty of alternative ways to do this. You can use icing on a plate to give the appearance of spider legs with the cupcake being the spider body and maybe a little red hourglass on the cupcake for a black widow. Icing can make spider webs, ghosts or use stencils to get into more intricate designs.

If you want to do an entire cake instead, there are also several options. The two most popular are the “graveyard cake” and the “worms in dirt.” Worms in dirt may not be spooky, but it is gross and a great choice of Halloween foods for children. The first layer is Jell-O with gummy worms, topped with crumbled cookies for dirt. Add a few gummy worms protruding from the “dirt” for extra fun.

The graveyard cake is however you would like to interpret it, but the general idea is to create a cemetery. Use cookie crumbles for dirt or green icing for grass, and whichever type of cookie you would like to create tombstones. Marshmallows or whipped cream make great ghosts. Just remember, using extra touches such as plastic spiders, may not be a good idea for younger children. Make sure to keep choking hazards out of the food planning.

Frightening Foods

A fairly easy but delicious treat is a variation of pigs in a blanket. Instead of wrapping the dough around the entire hot dog, wrap it like a strip of cloth winding around to create a mummy effect. Leave a slit of dog exposed and use two mustard or ketchup dots for eyes. This same idea can be applied to mini pizzas, too. Arrange the shredded cheese to look like strips of bandages with an “opening” at the eyes. Once the pizzas are cooked, or before they are done, use olive slivers for eyeballs.

For ghostly snacks as part of Halloween foods for kids, consider using potato skins. Use a thin layer of sour cream like “icing” to paint the potatoes white and then use scallions to add eyes and a mouth to individual ghosties. Slice hot dogs length ways in slivers to create a “worm” effect. Mix the cooked hot dog slices with ketchup and add to a hoagie roll or bun for a tapeworm sandwich.

Edible Scares with a Healthy Twist 

For the ultimate in “finger foods”, create a look that resembles real fingers. Carrots or string cheese sticks make a great looking finger, especially if you have the extra time to carve some lines to make “knuckles.” Get creative with fingernails. For example use red or green bell pepper slivers for a monster hand look. Optional tip: create a dip to go with the snacks and arrange the “fingers” to look like a real hand reaching back from inside the bowl.

Of course any variation of a deviled egg with an olive twist can create the look of an eyeball. Using olives in halves or slices and with or without the pimento can actually turn a variety of foods into eyeball looking treats.

Get the Party Started

In the end, it is really more about the overall party than just the snacks. Keep in mind ways to add games, a costume contest and some ghost story telling for a holiday event that will be unforgettable. Consider the ages of the children who will be attending and make sure the scare factor and food items are age appropriate.

Decorating is also another detail not to overlook. Add some fake spider webs and jack-o’-lanterns to the room and help create a real mood for the party. Download some spooky but fun holiday tunes or find a CD with creepy noises or songs to get all the kids in the Halloween party mind frame. While Halloween foods for kids can help add to a holiday party, the other details help truly make it one.

Halloween Games for Adults

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Halloween games for adults are the best way to add some entertainment to your holiday soiree. While it seems only the costumed kids get to have fun during trick-or-treat this time of year, parties are the perfect celebration for adults. The costumes might get a bit more risqué and the mood a little bit more frightening, but it can be a good way for adults to enjoy the holiday. If you are planning a Halloween party you’ll need to do a little planning to make it memorable.

Bobbing for Apples

A classic game for all ages, really. This Halloween favorite may not be adored by anyone with excess Halloween face makeup, but everyone else should have a blast. Using a large metal basin tub or a plastic kiddie pool, you’ll want to play either outdoors or somewhere you don’t mind the floor getting wet. Add your water and your apples and then let everyone take a turn at dunking their heads in the water and trying to retrieve an apple. Players are not permitted to use their hands. Usually, a small group competes and whoever gets the first apple or the most apples, wins.

“Witch Hunt” Scavenger Hunt

This is generally more enjoyable if you can use more than one room and possibly even the outdoors. Make a list of five to ten things guests are supposed to find and try to weave in the Halloween theme. So, for instance, if you have “something you might find in a graveyard” guests can do their own interpretation by bringing back a rock, a worm or a handful of dirt.

This can also be played more like a version of an Easter egg hunt. Hide clues in plastic pumpkins and plan out where guests should go during the hunt. Each team starts with a clue that is meant to lead them to the next hidden clue. The first team to get all of their items or clues wins.

Mummy Wrap

In this game, couples work together to beat out all the other couples playing. Using toilet paper, one person wraps and the other person is the mummy. The first team to wrap their mummy completely from head to toe is declared the winning team. Other variations of this game include having more than one person wrapping or using a blindfold on the wrapper so the mummy has to verbally lead the couple to victory.

Pin the Tail on the Devil

As one of the Halloween games for adults, this can be changed to anything Halloween related. There’s pin the nose on the jack-o’-lantern or witch, for example. You can use any decoration from a Halloween store and either cut a section off, or trace and make your own body part to get pinned. Blindfold the guests, spin them a few times to disorient them and let them take off in the direction of the wall. Whoever gets closest, wins the game.

Pass the Organ

Using a good sized sponge or partly peeled orange, the object is to pass the item down the line without using your hands. The party gets divided up into two teams and blindfolds are an option. If the guests are blindfolded then they aren’t expecting the damp, squishy object that feels like a heart being passed to them. The first player starts with the object grasped between his chin and neck and works with the next person to pass it to the same spot. Whoever gets the “organ” to the end of the line first, without using their hands, wins.

Name that Yuck

Before the party, plan to have a row of bowls, usually five or six is fine, and fill them with something that feels yucky to the touch and have guests guess what is in the bowls. Peeled grapes can feel like eyeballs or make a gelatin brain mold, for example. Allowing things to be at room temperature for a while can add to the grossness factor. The guests waiting to play are in another room, and the guest taking his turn to guess is blindfolded. Whoever gets the most right answers wins. If some people tie, then decide who guessed their items the quickest.

In addition to these Halloween games for adults, there are also other well-known classics such as using an Ouija board or simply having a costume contest with different categories such as most original and sexiest. With the right décor, some scary movies or music in the background and everyone in great spirits, these Halloween games for adults will be the highlight of your holiday party.