How to Host an Outdoor Halloween Party
Brittany Barber
Contributor
Looking for outdoor Halloween party ideas and tips to set up fun festivities in the backyard or beyond? We're here for it! From functional furnishings and Halloween decorations to Halloween entertainment and rentals, this guide will assist in planning a great Halloween party outside. We've put together 13 things to consider when hosting an outdoor Halloween party in 2024.
Pro Tip: You can also use this simple Halloween party checklist to get started in planning your outdoor Halloween party.
1. Outdoor Halloween Party Location
If you have the room to host a backyard Halloween party, now is the time to utilize the outdoor space! There are also plenty of event venues that will host private parties set in gardens or patios if an outdoor area is needed. Choosing an open space will help to casually limit your guests from being too close to one another.
2. Guest List
When indoors, you may have to keep your Halloween celebrations intimate with a low-key soiree of close friends and family. Having a smaller than usual guest list will help avoid crowding your party space, keep the post-party mess manageable, and decrease the chances of line-ups for the bathroom. When hosting outdoors, it's possible to have more of your friends and family in attendance!
3. Halloween Party Invitations
Once you’ve settled on a guest list, create and send Halloween-themed invitations to your guests so they can RSVP! Knowing who can attend ahead of time will help the party planning go smoothly.
Send digital invitations simply via email, or with spooky templates from websites like Evite. If you’re the DIY type and want to craft homemade invitations, check out an art supply store like Michaels for an assortment of beautiful paper. Be sure to include any extra information in the invites, like what to bring or where to park if necessary.
4. Halloween Party Foods
This Halloween, look for dishes you can portion out to your guests individually instead of providing snacks that require sharing. Classic BBQ appetizers like burgers or skewered veggies and meats can cut back on unnecessary food handling by your guests. If you’re keen on providing a unique dining experience, look to a caterer for professional and safe food handling that will take some of the responsibility off your shoulders so you can enjoy the Halloween festivities too!
5. Halloween Party Drinks
There are plenty of ways you can provide COVID-safe beverages for your outdoor Halloween party this year. One option is to stock your bar with canned beverages for the sake of avoiding mixing up glassware. Another is to pre-batch cocktails in large jars with spouts so people can self-serve without getting messy. You could even hire a professional bartender to provide Halloween-themed cocktails using clean glasses and utensils for each drink.
6. Set Specific Stations
Create clear stations to indicate what goes where. Make sure garbage cans and recycling bins are easy for everyone to access. Lean into the Halloween spirit and make signs with skulls and crossbones to indicate what has been used.
7. Be Prepared for the Weather
Depending on where you live, you may or may not be venturing into that crisp, end-of-fall chill. If you aren't already equipped with a fire pit, you can easily rent or purchase a patio heater, portable fire pit, cozy blankets, or a chimenea for some added warmth.
Along with warmth, make sure to keep your guests dry too! Find an outdoor canopy or tent rental if you don’t have a covered outdoor entertaining space. Otherwise, create an indoor backup plan just in case the clouds roll through.
8. Tables and Seating
Photo: Bierchen/Shutterstock.com
If you’re keeping your guest list small, you shouldn’t have a problem with using what you already have as seating. You can repurpose indoor furniture if you need to, or if you’re more comfortable renting furniture there are plenty of affordable options for that too. Most outdoor venues will already provide seating and tables, but double-check while you’re researching just to make sure (especially if it’s a corporate event).
9. Outdoor Halloween Party Ideas and Entertainment
Here are some of our favorite outdoor Halloween party ideas to keep guests amused:
- Halloween bingo and trivia
- a pumpkin carving contest
- a Monster Mash dance-off
- a murder mystery game
- a Halloween costume contest (Bonus: we have these 13 Scary Halloween Costumes with Masks)
- a photobooth to capture all the costumes on film
- tell ghost stories around a campfire (don't forget the s'mores!)
- outdoor party games (giant Jenga, ring toss and corn hole are easy options)
- a spooky Halloween music playlist
Plus, look into hiring fun Halloween entertainment, like a DJ, fortune teller, costumed character, or even an impersonator! Just be mindful of the age groups that will be attending.
10. Outdoor Halloween Party Ideas for Kids
Make sure the kids get to indulge in Halloween treats with a pinata or scavenger hunt, especially if your outdoor party is an alternative to trick or treating this year. Create Halloween loot bags with party favors like candy corn, mini packs of slime or Play-Doh, chocolate bars, cute hair accessories, bubbles, and mini flashlights. You could even hire a professional face painter or a temporary tattoos artist to help with entertaining activities!
11. Spooky Lighting
Once the sun goes down, you’ll want to make sure your guests can see where they’re going - especially if you’ve got a boozy signature cocktail going around. Repurpose old Christmas lights and make sure narrow walkways and paths are sufficiently lit. If you’re like any sensible parent and are worried about leaving a fire unattended, opt for battery-operated flameless candles for your jack o’ lanterns instead of the usual tealights.
12. Halloween Decorations
Turn your outdoor party space into a haunted house with jack o lanterns, spider webs, spooky skulls, and hanging bats! Choose oranges and blacks for table settings and napkins, and use pumpkins and gourds as table centerpieces. Gauge how spooky you want the ambiance to be based on the age groups that will be attending. Don’t forget tablecloth weights and napkin holders so things don’t blow away!
13. Bathrooms
If you aren’t using portable outdoor bathrooms, your guests will have to venture inside at some point during the party to use the restroom. Make sure to fully stock with the usual toiletries—especially soap, hand sanitizer, and paper towels for drying off. Invest in a large enough garbage container that won’t overflow mid-party. For minimal germ spread on the outer bathroom doorknob, set a table with hand sanitizer and paper towels outside of the bathroom too.
Find more Halloween entertainment and party ideas on The Bash.
About Brittany Barber
Brittany Barber, lover of books, dogs, and romance, graduated from Bishop’s University with a Communications and Theatre degree. After spending some time working abroad in the theatre world, she is now a freelance writer covering a range of lifestyle topics including event planning for The Bash, WeddingWire, 2life and Fluttr, and shopping for BuzzFeed and Narcity.
