The nights are darker, the air is colder, and there may or may not be something creepy lurking in the shadows…sounds like a great time to host an adult Halloween party.
Spooky season is upon us, and if you want to get into the spirit of one of the most entertaining months of the year, there are a ton of fun ways to make your party a ghoulish delight.
From ideas for Halloween cocktails and food to games and decorations, we’ve rounded up recommendations that will make you the toast of the night. Here’s our guide to how to throw a Halloween party for adults.
- Invites & Decorations
- Halloween Party Cocktails
- Halloween-Themed Food
- Adult Halloween Party Games
- Halloween Party Boxes
Invites & Decorations
For any party, you want to let your guests know what to expect right away. Sending Halloween party invitations sets the tone and gives them key information. Will they need to wear a costume? Will there be a specific spooky theme — or are all creatures allowed?
Communicating this early makes sure everyone is on the same page and helps get people excited for the big night. You can print invites at home or a shop to mail out, send them over email or share them via social media.
For your Halloween party decorations, be bold. Set the scene of your party with props and eye-catching hanging decorations. Hosting on a budget? You don’t necessarily have to spend money on elaborate decor. Some of our favorite Halloween party ideas for adults include getting crafty with cardboard to make ghost shapes, turning a big black trash bag into a spider, or simply carving creepy faces into pumpkins!
Halloween Cocktails
Every adult Halloween party needs killer spooky cocktails and mocktails to fire up the celebrations — trust us. Not only do you need spooky drinks that reflect the theme, but given how busy you’ll be organizing and hosting, easy Halloween-themed drinks should also be on the menu. Here are our top three Halloween drink ideas:
Bloody Mary
It’s a no-brainer. Already aptly named, this classic cocktail comes with a gruesome backstory (seriously, look it up!) and is a deep crimson red hue. There are many variations on this Halloween mixed drink, but the best ones are the perfect balance of acidic, tangy and spicy. You can customize the tomato-rich drink with different garnish options. How about a mozzarella ball stuffed with a black olive to look like an eyeball? That’s sure to impress guests.
Red Sangria
Another blood-red beverage, this Spanish cocktail is the perfect balance of dry and sweet. Bold, flavorful and fun to make, it might take a little more effort than other cocktails, but we promise it’ll be worth it.
A classic Sangria usually features fruit such as oranges, lemons and green apples soaked in red wine, brandy and orange liqueur. Add a dash of sugar and sparkling water, then refrigerate for a few hours to allow the flavors to develop before serving.
The Boulevardier
If your guest list is filled with more bourbon drinkers than Sangria fans, but you still want your attendees to look as if they’re drinking blood, serve our Boulevardier Cocktail. It features Bulleit bourbon along with bitter Campari, giving it that bold, red hue.
Mulled Apple Juice
This drink is a non-alcoholic Halloween drink alternative to mulled wine, made with apple juice, strips of orange peel, cinnamon, cloves and honey. It’s ideal for any guests who are driving to your party as well as anyone who loves fall flavors!
Those are just a few suggestions, but there are many more cocktails you can add a tortuous twist to. Plus, there’s lots of fun to be had coming up with silly, spooky cocktail names to keep the theme going. Don’t forget to pick up cocktail napkins when you go shopping for decor, and remember, you’ll also need plenty of ice to keep your Halloween drinks nicely chilled. We recommend picking up a sphere ice mold and also considering making Halloween dry ice drinks — this type of ice creates a unique, spooky-looking smoky effect.
Halloween Party Food
When you throw a Halloween party, it's important to keep your guests well fed. Put a spin on some party favorites to really stand out. We’ve selected a range of festive and scary Halloween food, including appetizers, main courses and dessert options, that are sure to be tasty crowd-pleasers.
Pumpkin Tortilla Chips
This Halloween food idea takes no time at all to whip up. Use a pumpkin-shaped cookie cutter to make shapes in flour tortillas. Pop them in the oven, and you’re good to go. Serve with a range of dips like hummus, salsa and sour cream — whatever suits your fancy.
Green Popcorn
Who doesn’t love popcorn? Pop some and then mix it with white chocolate that you’ve dyed green with food coloring. Allow the mixture to sit on parchment paper. Serve it in a bowl, or buy a small cauldron-shaped dish to make it look like a bubbling witch’s brew.
Bite-size Eyeballs
Take cheese pastry puffs and add slices of cucumber, olives and squiggles of spicy Sriracha for an eye-catching Halloween treat.
lood-spattered Cheesecake
Take this popular dessert and dial up the drama. Bake or buy a smooth and creamy white chocolate cheesecake. Liberally ice the top with a tube of red gel frosting or create your own frosting with a mix of water, strawberries and sugar. Not a cheesecake fan? Try red velvet cake instead. Consider pairing with a White Russian — a classic dessert cocktail.
Adult Halloween Games
One of our best tips on how to throw a Halloween party for adults is to get everyone talking and keep up the energy with some party games. There’s a vast range to choose from that’ll keep guests entertained and serve as icebreakers. Check out our top picks:
Murder Mystery
Make your living room a crime scene and transport your guests into a Halloween whodunit. Each attendee will become a character in a story, and it's up to the group to determine which character is the murderer. You can find free murder mystery game scripts online, which provide instructions about the characters and gameplay.
Halloween Feel Box
Gross out your guests with this hands-on Halloween party game. Fill boxes full of items that are cold, slimy or otherwise unpleasant to touch, such as cooked spaghetti and peeled grapes. Take turns sticking your hands in the boxes and try to guess what the items are. Not for the faint of heart!
Eyeball Beer Pong
If you’re looking to turn up the thrills with a Halloween drinking game, put a spin on a party classic. The traditional beer pong rules apply; just replace the ping pong balls with store-bought eyeballs and start practicing your throwing skills. If cocktails are more your thing, feel free to switch out the beer for a slightly fancier version of the game.
Halloween Gift Bags
Wave your guests home with a final treat to remember the night by putting together party favors. Gift popular NIO cocktails, like the Espresso Martini, so guests can enhance their evening in the comfort of their homes. You can also add a selection of trick-or-treat sweets, pumpkin spice cookies and creepy keychains to round out your gift bags.
Following these handy hosting tips means all that’s left is figuring out a show-stopping Halloween costume worthy of a scream queen or king — we’ve got faith in you!
If you love hosting and want to start planning holiday drinks for your neck celebration, check out our Holiday Cocktails Menu.