Two small decorative pumpkins, one black and the other black speckled with white, next to a handful of scattered coffee beans

Host a Classy Halloween Party

Meet the Classy Halloween Party

What makes a Halloween party classy? For one, a classy Halloween party doesn’t feel like a haunted house with drinks and music. Neither does it feel like a kids’ party with juice and cookies. A classy Halloween party feels like an old wine bar or jazz club: upbeat while also tasteful and sophisticated. Its decor incorporates traditional Halloween creepiness without going overboard for true fear or shock value. You wouldn’t feel scared if you walked into an empty house decorated for classy Halloween. But you would definitely know that it’s Halloween. So if this style sounds like your kind of party, let’s make it happen!

How to Throw a Classy Halloween Party

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1. Create the Scene with Classy Halloween decorations

Photo of black string strung across a wood plank wall, with two black and two white small smiling skeleton cutouts hung from it, perfect decor for a classy Halloween party
Photo by Tim Mossholder

To decorate classy Halloween style, incorporate elements like little white paper bag ghosts hanging on a tree, black cat silhouettes, witch hats, jack-o-lanterns. Think of the most basic, simple decor that isn’t super colourful. Go for dramatic touches that are more Martha Stewart than Spencer’s.

Keep in mind that classy doesn’t necessarily mean money. You can go as expensive or as inexpensive as comfortably suits your budget. Always consciously and sustainably spend in accordance with your disposable income. There are plenty of great decorations from which to choose – including inexpensive ones – when you know where to look! Plus, it’s easy to DIY decor for a classy Halloween party. Buy some construction paper, string, and tape to create your own garland with black bat cutouts. (Just try not to make them look too much like the Batman logo or people may confuse your party with a superhero fan fest). Get some orange construction paper and cut out pumpkins to hang with string from the ceilings. Renters, note: paper is light enough to use tape; no holes necessary.

Here are some crafty classy decorations for inspiration:

2. Prepare Classy Food and Beverages

Top-down view of several black and white cupcake toppers: haunted houses, ghosts, and jack-o-lanterns, perfect to accent refreshments at a classy Halloween party
Photo by Monstera Production

You can go pretty liberal with your refreshment choices at a classy Halloween party. You can go all out with fun Halloween-themed foods, or you could just as easily throw together a cheese platter, grab some bottles of wine, and call it a party. People will be just as happy with that, trust me! But always make sure guests understand what to expect regarding food so they know whether to show up hungry or only in need of light snacks.

If you want to minimize the food and beverage expense, invite guests to bring edible items to share. Most people are happy to contribute (see 6. Guest Participation) but, as noted, remember to mention this when you first invite them. And whether you are the sole provider or not, do share at least one or two appealing options for any guests with dietary restrictions.

3. Set a Classy Ambience with the Perfect Playlist or Video

Get your playlist ready! A classy Halloween party calls for anything, well, classy, and preferably also slightly moody like this laid back vintage Halloween jazz playlist. Or maybe you wax lo-fi and prefer a chilled out audio track for background music. Imagine you are visiting that old wine bar or jazz club we discussed above, on Halloween. Your imaginary jazz club will sound unique to your taste, so start there for inspiration and find some gems to queue for your party.

4. Add Evocative Scents

Fun scents are a great way to set a mood. Light thematic candles and to start some sensory magic!

5. Plan Classy Halloween Games or Activities

Image of the phrase 'Trick or Treat' in large, bold font, with several black bats and an orange pumpkin depicted around the words
Photo by Rinck Content Studio

Games and activities provide structured fun. You may prefer instead to let the party run on organic conversation and engagement. It’s best to let everyone enjoy an already good time, but having a few games on hand is smart in case there’s a shift in any dynamics and the party starts to die down! Activities are especially helpful for more introverted guests who might need a little more encouragement to open up and have fun. Most people love a fun game, after all.

A less structured but still somewhat directed activity is storytelling. Storytelling is a compelling activity that’s more like conversation about specific stories/topics. People enjoy this as they get to relax and are captivated in a story. There is no pressure to contribute, yet others may be compelled to share as well. And what better type of stories to share at a classy Halloween party than ghost stories? Make ghost story time a game by having any guest share and then have the rest of the guests go around and guess whether the story was fabricated…or not!

6. Establish Guest Participation

Photo of six candy ghosts, three black and three white, taken from a diagonal birds eye perspective, overtop a background half black and half white for contrast (black ghosts over white background, white ghosts over black background)
Photo by Sarah Pflug

Always choose your guests mindfully, and with their interests in mind (you may want to reserve invites first and foremost for friends who especially enjoy Halloween). As the host, lead your party as the #1 participator. If you encourage everyone to share ghost stories, have one of your own ready! And if you are having others contribute food, make sure you provide at least one large dish that’s both tasty and filling (just in case others end up bringing things that are less tasty or less filling).

Checklist of Things to Gather for Your Classy Halloween Party

This is a list of all of the physical things you need for this party.

  1. Classy Halloween decorations, including DIY materials as needed
  2. Refreshments (food and bevvies)
  3. Music playlist and speakers to amplify
  4. Halloween-themed scented candles
  5. Your favourite classy Halloween party outfit
Close-up photo of a strand of lights with white fabric ghosts strewn across a holly bush
Top-down view of several cookies displayed with black and/or orange icing and piping, in the shape of bats or pumpkins
Photos by Charles Parker and Olia Danilevich

Checklist of Steps to Prepare for Your Classy Halloween Party

1. First, establish that your efforts aren’t in vain by confirming that people can come on any chosen date:
  1. Choose party date/time, and preferably alternative date(s) as well
  2. Choose guest list and establish minimum number of guests you’d like (to make it worth your effort)
  3. Six weeks out, confirm guests’ interest in the party and availability on chosen party date(s)
  4. If your preferred minimum number of guests confirm interest and availability, have them secure the calendar date for the classiest Halloween party of the season!
2. Then, proceed with the fun planning!
  1. Schedule time on your calendar for each step of party prep (securing and/or making food/drinks, etc.)
  2. Create invitations with all of the details and send them out 4 weeks before the party
  3. Order any party supplies and decorations 3 weeks out (so they arrive in time to prepare and set up)
  4. Shop for any party supplies/decorations you don’t order online, as well as non-perishable food/drinks
  5. In your planned time slots, DIY any party supplies and decorations
  6. In your planned time slots, acquire perishable food/drinks early enough in advance to prepare in time
  7. In your planned time slots, set up/decorate with any supplies and decorations
  8. In your planned time slots, prepare food/drinks accordingly (depending on how long anything keeps)
3. Day of Party (in your amply planned time slot):
  1. Complete any last-minute food/drink prep that can’t be done in advance
  2. Set up any quick/easy last-minute supplies and decorations as needed
  3. Prepare ambience (audio/visual, candles/scents)
  4. Get dressed in your favourite party outfit
  5. Meditate or do whatever Zen-like self-care to get in a good head space if you aren’t already: relaxed, energized, and excited. You will be happier, and guests will pick up on your contagiously good vibe and automatically be happier as well – everybody’s best interest!
Perfect cake topper for a classy Halloween party: three wooden sticks holding up two black bat cutouts and, in the center, a black cutout of the phrase 'Happy Halloween' with another black bat next to it
Photo by Mel Poole

If you want to explore more Halloween-themed parties, check out these others:

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