41 Creative Ideas for Halloween Party Themes

Invite your gal pals for a witches night in! Party decorations are as simple as a few carefully placed wooden-and-straw brooms and a bin full of decorated pumpkins. Buffalo check pumpkins in a galvanized bucket such as Galvanized Beverage Tub, ($20, Wayfair) match this theme perfectly (and you can use them to decorate your home when the party is over). After the decor is set, be sure to make a big batch of witches brew. For inspiration, check out some of our favorite Halloween cocktail recipes.

Depending on the climate, Halloween doesn’t necessarily mean falling leaves and a chill in the air. A desert-theme Halloween party features cactus decorations and spider web dream catchers made with string. If you're inviting kids to this party, turn them into an activity station! Big kids can make their own webs, and the little ones can be tasked with making the tassels out of green and orange yarn, such as Calypso Island Yarn, ($6, Etsy). This party has something for everyone!

Black and white with pops of orange make for the perfect Halloween color scheme—and party theme! Drum up some DIY outdoor Halloween decorations for your porch with an easy-to-make wreath, painted pumpkins, and pumpkin topiaries. Black and white cups, napkins and plates are easy to find. Accentuate your black and white Halloween party theme with black bats and white pumpkins.

For the wreath: Wrap a foam wreath form in alternating black and white yarn, then secure the ends with hot glue. Embellish the center of the wreath with purchased decorations, such as a web and glittery spider.

For the topiaries: Gather three pumpkins of descending sizes. Spray paint the middle pumpkin white, then block off stripes with painters tape and paint these sections black. Drill holes through the pumpkins and mount them on a metal stake secured on a foam block.

Adding a DIY photo booth to your kids' Halloween party ensures unforgettable party memories. Frame the setting with orange curtains, a patterned garland, and a few batty party crashers. Keep plenty of playful props-on-a-stick at hand for party posers. Station a grown up in front of the booth with a camera in hand to capture everybody's jack-o-lantern-worthy smiles.

We know trick-or-treating is fun for the kids. but adults need to celebrate too! Throw a trick-or-treat time-out party by inviting your friends and their kids to trick-or-treat in your neighborhood; let a few adults at a time take the kids door-to-door, while the other grownups hang back to enjoy drinks, snacks, and adult conversations at this grown-ups-only Halloween party. The adults can take turns being the supervision until the little ones have hit every house in the area and their pumpkin-baskets are filled to the brim with candy. It’s a win-win for everyone!

Don't limit Halloween celebrations to after dark! Cute and fuzzy spiders, combined with ombre-painted pumpkins are the perfect Halloween elements to add to a delicious brunch spread. Spray paint transforms white faux pumpkins into Halloween brunch party decorations. A coordinating table runner means your tablescape is social media-ready.

For even more Halloween theme ideas, try a backyard get-together that celebrates both Halloween and the fall season. Cozy details, such as pumpkin centerpieces, ciders and delicious autumnal dishes, make this party easy to plan and even easier to enjoy. If you aren't into Halloween costumes, just cozy up in a flannel.

Make unique, eye-catching Halloween party decorations with a grouping of hanging paper lanterns and bats cut out of black vinyl shelf liner. Paint some pumpkins, tie back curtains with orange flagging tape, and arrange faux spiders on a set of throw pillows for extra trimmings. A decked-out porch is a perfect place for adults to observe the kids' Halloween party. Let it be the station for snacks and drinks, as well.

It’s not just a Halloween party—it’s a super-spooky Halloween dinner party. Inviting your guests over for dinner means you only need to decorate a couple of rooms to look like the ultimate Halloween party planner. Flickering candlelight is the key to an elegant table setting and a spooky Halloween vibe, and candlesticks of varying heights mean flickering shadows of different sizes and shapes.

Trick-or-treat, keep it sweet! Why should trick-or-treaters be the only ones indulging their sweet tooth on Halloween? Instead of sneaking candy bars out of the kids' Halloween bags, throw a sweet soiree of your own. Create a DIY display that allows guests to fill up their goody bags with the candy of their choice to take home from the Halloween party.

A backyard party provides a perfect Halloween party theme. Dress up your table with Halloween plaid linens, black-and-white plates, and webby black chargers. Spider and pumpkin decor adds just the right amount of fall feeling, and a witch's hat centerpiece makes the ultimate finishing touch. Predicting the weather around Halloween can be a bit tricky, so a great Halloween party planner should have an indoor plan B. If necessary, bring in blankets for your guests to sit and dine on. An indoor picnic is still a Halloween picnic!

Decorating for your Halloween party doesn’t mean ignoring your year-round taste. Adding a few neutral touches of indoor Halloween decor to what your home generally looks like means your guests will feel comfortable in your home and at your Halloween party. Plus, simply chic decor signals that this event is for adults—time to relax without the kids!

A whimsical buffet is the perfect combination of spooky, warm, and mysterious. Ivory pumpkins and vintage china offset the black gauze window coverings, skeletal hands, and observant ravens that you can use as Halloween party decorations year after year. Lit candles and tiny branches create shadows that will change as the sun goes down.

These family-friendly outdoor Halloween decorations are simple and subtle with just enough spooky. Dress up a skeleton in its Halloween best—a party hat, bow tie, and a coat of shiny copper spray paint. Surround it with pumpkins and creepy crawlers so guests know where the party is at. Set up similar decor inside with pumpkin centerpieces and copper mugs.To add even more shine to your Halloween party theme, try painting a few pumpkins with metallic spray paint.

Sometimes the best Halloween party theme is...Halloween! Here are some Halloween party decorations that are fun for all ages! Bright orange pops against black-and-white decor. Black-and-white striped pumpkins are a fun and graphic accent, while classic silhouettes painted on orange pumpkins give a vintage feel. A DIY man-in-the-moon lantern watches over the food buffet filled with crowd-pleasing eats.

Nothing scary about these friendly monsters! The idea behind this party theme is fun—bright colors, lively Halloween party games, and super cute treats. Our monster Halloween party ideas include plenty of free downloads that kids will love: a coloring-book mural, monster bingo, and a monster eyeball toss.

Round up family and friends for the easiest Halloween theme ever: a pumpkin painting party! You're already putting up decorations; why not spend time together while you make them? Before guests arrive, paint a few pumpkins of your own. They'll serve as artistic inspiration and party decorations! Set out acrylic paints and paper plates and let kids mix to their heart's content. Provide small pumpkins or gourds—or tell guests to BYOP.

Halloween party ideas don't have to be dark or scary! Pick a Halloween party theme with cuteness in mind: a puppies and kitties party! Gather black and orange decor to set the room for Halloween, and use our free downloads to add fun games, posters, and printables. Each guest goes home with a coloring book and treat-filled doggy bag!

Why shouldn't the grownups get in on the Halloween party fun? Choose glam as the Halloween party theme at your adult Halloween party. Spray-paint pumpkins metallic gold, set out light gold taper candles, and use accents of black lace and feathers. Sophisticated appetizers like charcuterie boards and crostini are sure to please guests whose palates stretch beyond chicken nuggets and macaroni.

Try our cute nature-inspired kids' Halloween party decorations, and create a playful forest in your living room. Spray-paint branches and hang paper bats for a look that's slightly spooky without being too scary. Pops of bright green in both decor and food liven things up. We have the downloads to make creating this forest party theme a breeze!

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For many, candy is the most anticipated part of Halloween. Why not celebrate those once-a-year treats by making them the star of the show? Stock up on candy corn, caramel apples, and black and orange goodies to use as edible treats and party decorations. Our free party downloads help you pull the Halloween party theme together with goodie bags, invites, and labels.

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Go for a sophisticated spooky with an Edgar Allan Poe themed Halloween dinner party. Decorative birds (especially ravens), feather decor, and a themed menu make for an impressive evening. We have the recipes, invites, and menu cards to help pull of this literary Halloween party idea.

Bring all the fun of the big top to your kid's Halloween party. Our printable downloads make it simple to set the scene of a circus theme party with colorful cake toppers, animal-adorned invites, kitty cat croquet, and banners galore. Delicious carnival-inspired Halloween treats are the finishing touch.

Let playful vintage decor be the basis for a nostalgic Halloween party theme. Old-timey cutouts of black cats and jack-o'-lanterns transport guests back in time, while fresh pops of white, black, and orange make the scheme timeless. Your next Halloween theme get-together will be the cat's meow!

Grown-up activities and a focus on Halloween's mischevious (not menacing) side make for a fun adult Halloween party. We have dozens of free downloadable patterns to make pulling together the entire Halloween party theme easy: party signs, candy labels, and theme tags.

Set the scene for a spooky soiree in your own backyard with easy outdoor Halloween party decorations. This Halloween theme party uses eye-catching paper fans, a banner spelling "potions," grab-and-go food, and painted pumpkins propped against thrifty tables. Everything you need for a wonderful welcome!

Inquiring minds want to know: How are you celebrating this Halloween? Bring together scientists of all ages for a crime-scene investigator evening. Think of this Halloween party idea as a less scary version of a murder mystery party. This Halloween party theme includes food and drink formulas your guests are sure to love.