Haloween Costume Prizes

mandy0221 · Post by **mandy0221** » Fri Sep 01, 2006 10:10 pm

Ok so this year is my year to have our family's halloween party (YAY YAY) I have waited 5 years for it to be my turn. Anyway in the past I and maybe one other person are the only people to dress up. So this year I am making it a costume mandatory party. To encourage people to go all out I wanted to give away some really good prizes. Problem is I have ages from 70 down to 3. SO I was going to break it up into kids, teens and adult winners.

Any ideas on inexpensive prizes that will really encourage people to go all out? All ideas are VERY MUCH APPRECIATED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Oh and remember they are not all Halloween fanatics like myself so they need some big encouraging

uncletor · Post by **uncletor** » Fri Sep 01, 2006 10:19 pm

gift certificates to their fave restaurants. There's a fish place near by us that does the job nicely..

spookyboo · Post by **spookyboo** » Sat Sep 02, 2006 12:59 am

The last time I had a Party where I gave out prizes I gave the little kids simple halloween games, decorations and the teens I gave a trophy with a gift cert to the local Sam Goody, and the adults got a nice bottle of champagne. It worked out well and everyone seemed to love the prizes...good luck

BlkAsH · Post by **BlkAsH** » Sat Sep 02, 2006 2:40 am

In years past I've given home-made wine or liquor to adult winners or just a very nice bottle of store bought wine. If you have a lot of readers in your guest list perhaps some horror novels or a collection of horror flicks if you have a lot of film lovers. I think the gift card idea is a good one too though. I might try that with my party this year. I usually don't get a lot of people to show up in costume if I don't give something out as incentive.

midnight kitty · Post by **midnight kitty** » Sat Sep 02, 2006 9:48 am

i like to do grab bags according to age.
for kids i do little halloween toys that i get from party city.
teens i'll get some stuff from clare's for the girls and some stuff ffom spencers for the boys
i never did an adult grab bag but restaurant certificates and wines sound great

MHooch · Post by **MHooch** » Sat Sep 02, 2006 8:30 pm

Since my other great hobby besides Halloween is movies in general, I always give a movie as a prize for the best costume. (Of course, with a Halloween/horror theme.) You could gauge the movie to the appropriate age group, and they can be an inexpensive but much appreciated prize. My friends seem to like it.

jekyllandhyde · Post by **jekyllandhyde** » Sun Sep 03, 2006 12:06 am

Our party prizes are usually related to our theme (last year we had a Clue theme and gave out the board game). We've done movies before and I also like Halloween goodie baskets. We just do up some baskets with an assortment of Halloween treats like candy, pumpkin carving kits, Halloween bath towels, candles etc. I usually stock up on that kind of stuff after Halloween for the next year. Even those that aren't Halloween junkies like the baskets.

mandy0221 · Post by **mandy0221** » Sun Sep 03, 2006 3:45 pm

I really like the idea of movies....The classic horror movies are usually only like $5.00 and I can combine that with something else. And our family loves games....so even a scary game should really work.

I don't usually like giving out Halloween gift baskets because then people can really only enjoy it for a day or two until all the decorations come down. Most non-Hallow fanatics could care less about a pumpkin dish towel....know what I mean?

Keep the ideas coming though....Thanks!!!