Written by Dianna Candido
Photo credits : Cali, SmittenKiss
It’s that time of year again, and if you’re anything like us, you’re getting settled into the fall season. Just like any time of year, we’re busy helping make planned events come to life, but these days events take on a spooky flair.
If you’re planning a Halloween party this season (or thinking about planning one in the future) you might wonder which theme to go with for your Halloween party. You’ve seen the same old bats, spiders, and traditional creepy themes, but this year you want something a little more creative.
We don’t blame you! That’s why we wanted to get intel on the most creative Halloween Parties, so we went straight to someone with experience.
Our exceptional industry partners, SmittenKiss, specializes in creative event planning in particular. They spilled the candy corn on which Halloween themes we should expect to see this year (and likely next year as well) to give you inspiration for your own event.
The Most Creative Halloween Themes
Halloween parties aren’t like other parties. There’s less pressure to be “safe for work” and there’s a little more wiggle room to lean into the dramatic.
But there’s also an expectation to go above and beyond.
So how do you host a Halloween party that lives up to guest expectations, or better yet blows them away? You guessed it! Choose the right theme.
In the past, there have been a slurry of themes that have held up to the hype. These usually include themes centered around hit series or movies from popular culture that lend themselves well to the “darker” themes. For example: Scream, Hocus Pocus, Dracula, The Addams Family, Halloweentown, The Walking Dead, Harry Potter, and many more.
Of course, there are always Halloween classics, like Vampires, Ghosts and Goblins, or Haunted House themes. This year, we expect some of the classics, but with a modern twist, as well as some new players in the Halloween theme game.
9 Creative Halloween themes to get you inspired this season
Beetlejuice
It’s showtime! This year we expect the remake of the 1980s comedy horror to inspire a slew of Halloween parties. Bring on the neon accents and striped costumes, because Beetlejuice is back!
2. Wednesday
Back with a vengeance, season two of Wednesday has fans eagerly awaiting the return of their favorite Addams family characters. We’re of the opinion that The Adams family is a classic at this point, but leaning into the “Wednesday” of it all will give your guests everything they’re hoping for.
3. Dune
Timothée Chalamet and Zendaya aren’t the only attractions for Dune. This sci-fi thriller gives you the mix of epicness and strangeness that can satisfy any Halloween partygoer. Oh, your party has a Dune theme? Get ready for those positive RSVPs.
4. Mad Max Furiosa
Speaking of strange, we love a good Mad Max theme. Back in the day, we would expect to see plenty of trick-or-treaters with Mad Max costumes, but these days the adults are the ones vying for the series to continue. Curious how to lean into the theme? Choose neutrals, metals, and post-apocalyptic vibes with wasteland features (tires, “junk”, ripped sheets, metal sheets, etc.) for the ultimate effect.
5. Murder Mystery
In classic “Clue” ambience, plan a murder mystery whodunit for your guests, complete with characters and clues. Sound like a lot of work? It doesn’t have to be! Online murder mystery kits make it easier for you to plan and execute a whodunit theme, and your creative party planner can help you fill in the gaps. Amp up the drama of the theme with other elements, like “mystery mocktails” or hidden rooms and passages.
6. Escape Room
Murder mystery a little too classic for you? Escape rooms are this generation’s version, and they aren’t going anywhere. Plan your own escape room halloween party, and have guests try their hand in their own little groups to see who can “escape” in the fastest time. Add some sinister single bulb mood lighting, and some eerie sound effects and your guests will be talking about this one for years.
7. The Joker
Every year it seems there’s another comic book-inspired party theme. This year, the Joker takes front and center, and with its October release date, it’s ideal for Halloween-themed parties everywhere. Have your guests dress up as “dark” heroes and villains, or any “Joker” version that crops up in the comics, movies, or animated series. Green and purple cocktails, food, and decor will help complete the look.
8. Dark Circus
For this theme think traditional carnival and circus meets Halloween. Invite guests to play ring toss or get their faces painted with creepy carnival faces. Go dirty or ragged or simply “dark” with decor, with black and red or grungey circus tent colors. For food, try fun finger foods like mini hot dogs, popcorn with dark black chocolate, and black licorice. This is a fantastic option to tweak for family-friendly fun.
9. Stranger Things
Stranger Things may feel like it has run its course in popularity, but we’re still seeing it pop up as a party theme. Maybe it’s the play on the 80s styles mixed with the supernatural, but as a theme, Stranger Things is still one of the most popular Halloween themes. Have fun with your guest by mirroring rooms, making one in “the upside down” and adding Stranger elements like dungeons and dragons and Christmas lights that flicker.
Can’t decide on a theme? Don’t worry — your party planner can help you choose between your top picks, because they’ve got a line on what works best for which type of party and budget.
How to wow your Halloween party guests
One of the surefire ways to throw a Halloween party your guests will enjoy and remember is to choose a unique theme. But it’s leaning into that theme that will make your party stand out. Cali Nguyen, Founder of Smittenkiss told us the secret:
Photo credits : Cali, SmittenKiss
“Focus on statement pieces to wow your crowd. First impressions set the precedence on how the rest of the space and ambiance will be. You must start by designing a space to encapsulate sight, sound and touch that will bring a whole body experience for your guests.”
Making your party a whole body experience is truly how you wow your guests.
Have fun with your theme this Halloween
Regardless of what you choose for your Halloween party, make sure you do one thing: have fun! Planning should be fun, and the day of should be even more so! Lean into your party planner, and when you need support getting your venue ready for your guests, we can help you get the details in place.
Chat with us today, and we’ll help make your Halloween party frighteningly fantastic!
Comments