Blog Post

As the frightful night of October 31 creeps closer, there’s only thing on your mind: your upcoming Halloween party! Of course, the first rule of any ghoulish get-together is to make sure everyone has a good time, so with delightfully scary decor and delicious food and drinks, you can successfully pull off the party of the season.

Best of all, your new home in a 55 plus community gives you the perfect space to host any amount of friends — from mingling and sharing apps in your bright, open-concept living area to roaming freely in and out of your private courtyard, your guests and family -  including your grandkids,  will have a shockingly great time enjoying the fun frights of fall’s spookiest holiday! Be sure to check out below our favorite Halloween party recommendations - from decorations to food and drinks to ensure a scary good time. Click on the orange links for more information and pictures!  

Spirited Decor

Pumpkin Cart: Bar carts may be all the rage inside your home, but pumpkin carts are making their way to the outside. Give you guests a delightful piece of decor to look at while they walk in! Get inspired by this porch-front bar cart filled with an autumnal crate and green oak leaves between beautiful white pumpkins.

Deceased Delight: Who says flowers can’t be incorporated into Halloween decor? Combine a skeleton’s skull and hands with an eerie flower arrangement and you’ve got the coolest centerpiece around. Check out how this piece comes together with festive flowers like "Black Beauty" roses, allium, and carnivorous cobra lilies.

Dark Candles: Nothing sets the mood quite like a candle, so try “moody”-toned candles in your open-concept living area to embody a classic Halloween vibe (while staying trendy and stylish). Rich colors like velvet, dark green, and even black add a modern fall glow to your space, especially when paired with other festive decor. 

Bat Frenzy: The unofficial face of Halloween (and general eeriness), black bats add a memorable touch to your home. Using the paper bats found in the template, create a pattern on your wall to delight guests — it can even serve as the perfect photo background! Take a look at how this mantel is transformed into a haunted haven.

Eats and Boos

Apps

Ghost Pizza Bagels: These bite-sized delights are perfect for the little ones! All they require are mini bagels, mozzarella, marinara, and black olives. Watch them disappear in no time…

Halloween Veggie Tray: With all of the sweet treats going around, vegetables provide a delicious change of pace. Put your arrangement skills to the test and turn these veggies into Halloween haunts!

Monster Meatball Sliders: With black olives for eyes and mozzarella cheese for teeth, this “scary” appetizer is actually oh-so cute. Easy to assemble, this savory snack will be a monstrous hit. 

Mummy Brie: Brie cheese is always delicious, but when it’s disguised as a mummy with puff pastry, it tastes even better. This easy-to-make appetizer is sure to wow any crowd. 

Desserts

Pumpkin Cupcakes with Cream Cheese Frosting: ‘Tis the season for pumpkin-spiced desserts! These irresistible cupcakes combine every sweet autumn flavor you love into one. 

Caramel and Candy Apples: A beloved staple of fall, caramel and candy apples will be enjoyed by all. Perfect for anyone who loves a good baking project, these recipes also let you unleash your creativity. 

Monster Brownie Pizza: A brownie shaped and cut like a pizza? Say no more. This fun dessert (with purple icing as the “pizza sauce”) is easy to make and even easier to devour. 

Drinks

Pumpkin Spice Churro Milkshakes: Served in carved-out mini pumpkins, your guests have surely never enjoyed a treat like this! Creamy and delicious, these non-alcoholic delights are perfect for everyone.

Haunted Graveyard: Made with bourbon, maple, bitters, orange, and a smoking rosemary stem for a delightfully creepy effect, this cocktail is sure to warm up even the coldest Halloween hearts. 

Melted Witch Martini: Fun, colorful, and festive, this martini is a bonafide crowd-pleaser. Made with blue curacao, vodka, fruit juices, and a Twizzler broom, no one will want to put theirs down!

Private Haunted Courtyard

Last but not least, the star of the show… your gorgeous private courtyard or porch. Of course, no Halloween party would be complete without a little decor in one of the coziest and most relaxing areas of your living space. 

String Lights With LED Lanterns: Halloween is all about darkness, but that doesn’t mean that a little light can’t make an appearance. Create a gorgeous glow in your courtyard with this charming arrangement. 

DIY Hanging Ghosts: Spooky and fun, ghosts are certainly welcome at any Halloween party… If you love a good DIY project, you’ll love giving your courtyard an edge with this spooktacular decoration.

Stylish Hay Bales: The perfect piece of Halloween decor, festive hay bales are both functional and aesthetic. They can serve as a comfortable seat, or you can use them as an outdoor buffet table for food and drinks. 

From all of us at Cornerstone Homes, happy Halloween and enjoy your party!