How to Throw the Best Halloween Party Your Guests Will Never Forget

Updated October 2026 by the Party Mart team in Salem, Oregon.

Halloween lands on a Saturday this year, which means a lot of parties on October 24 and 31, and a lot of people shopping the same week. The parties people still talk about in November usually have three things in common: one clear theme, a doorway that sets the mood, and something for guests to do besides stand around the snack table.

We’ve helped Salem families and party hosts get ready for Halloween since 1994. This guide is what we tell people at the counter, with real prices from our store so you can plan a budget.

The short version

• Pick one theme and buy for it. Mixing five styles looks like a clearance aisle.
• Spend most of your decor money on the entrance and the food table. That’s where guests look and where photos get taken.
• Kill the overhead lights. Strobe, string lights and glow sticks do more than any single prop.
• Plan one activity per hour: a game, a costume contest, then photos.
• Shop 2 to 3 weeks out for decor and costumes, and pick up helium balloons the day of the party.

1. Choose a theme first

Everything else gets easier once you know the theme: what plates to buy, what music to play, what to put on the invitation. These are the themes we see most every October, and what tends to work for each.

• Classic horror movie night. Michael Myers, Freddy Krueger, Chucky, Pennywise. Our horror movie decorations include 65″ window silhouettes and scene setters ($10.99 to $12.99) that cover a whole wall or window in minutes.
• Cute and pastel. Popular for kids and for adults who don’t love gore. Pink pumpkin plates, a pastel pumpkin balloon and a pastel banner keep it cohesive.
• Day of the Dead. Papel picado banners, sugar skull table covers and marigold balloons. See our Day of the Dead decor.
• TV and movie fandoms. Wednesday Addams, Stranger Things, Beetlejuice and Rocky Horror kits do most of the decorating for you.
• Haunted house. Gauze, cobwebs, flickering light and sound effects. Cheap to pull off and great for teens and adults.

Put the theme on the invitation along with a costume note (“dress as your favorite horror villain”). Guests who know the theme will dress for it, and that does half your decorating.

2. Planning timeline

3 to 4 weeks before

• Pick the date. With Halloween on a Saturday, Friday October 30 and Saturday October 24 are the less crowded choices.
• Set the guest list and send invites with the theme and any costume rules.
• Choose costumes for your household. Popular sizes sell through first.

2 to 3 weeks before

• Buy decorations, tableware and game supplies.
• Plan the menu and the drink setup.
• Build a playlist about 4 hours long. Start with spooky ambient sounds and build to dance music.

The week of

• Confirm the headcount, then buy food.
• Put up outdoor decorations and test any lights or fog machines.
• Order helium balloons for pickup on party day.

Party day

• Pick up balloons in the afternoon so they’re fresh.
• Decorate the entrance and food table first. If you run out of time, those two still carry the party.
• Get in costume an hour early. The host in costume sets the tone.

3. Decorations that make the biggest difference

You don’t need to decorate every room. Focus on three spots.

The front door

This is the first thing every guest sees and where a lot of photos happen. A 6′ witch door cover ($5.49), a 13′ stretchy spider web ($3.99) across the porch, and a strip of “Caution Haunted” party tape will change the whole entrance for under $15.

Tip: Stretch spider web thinner than you think. Pulled into wispy strands it looks real; in clumps it looks like cotton balls.

The food table

A themed table cover ($4.99 to $9.99) does more for the room than any centerpiece. Add a witch cauldron for candy or chips and a few cake toppers on the dessert. Done.

Lighting

Overhead lights are the fastest way to make a Halloween party feel like a Tuesday. Turn them off and layer smaller light sources instead:

• A mini LED strobe with thunder sound ($19.99) in the main room. Guests always notice it.
• Orange or purple string lights along the ceiling line.
• Glow sticks and glow bracelets for guests. They double as a party favor.
• LED candles instead of real ones, especially near gauze and costumes.

One wall that tells a story

Pick one wall and go all in: bloody gauze drapery ($8.99 for 24′ x 15′), a horror scene setter or window silhouettes. A single dramatic wall photographs better than a few props spread around the house.

Shop all Halloween decorations →

4. Halloween balloons

Balloons are the easiest way to fill a big space fast, and most Halloween parties don’t use them. A few that work:

• A balloon arch at the entrance or food table. Our 40-piece Halloween arch kits are $9.99 and come in black/purple/silver or pastel with bats.
• One big statement balloon, like the 28″ creepy eyeball or 40″ witch hat ($14.99).
• A cluster of 18″ foil balloons ($5.99 each) tied to chair backs or the mailbox.

Timing matters with helium. Regular latex balloons float about 8 to 12 hours (ours are treated to last about 24). Foil balloons last several days. That’s why we suggest picking up latex the day of the party. You can order online for same-day balloon pickup or bring in your own balloons. Inflation starts at $3 each; see helium prices. See all of our Halloween balloons.

5. Food and drinks

Keep the food simple and let the presentation do the work. Three ideas that always get eaten:

• “Dirt” dip: layered bean dip, guacamole and sour cream topped with crushed chocolate cookies and gummy worms.
• Mummy meatballs: wrap frozen meatballs in thin strips of crescent dough, bake, add two candy eyes.
• Spider brownies: round brownies with pretzel-stick legs and candy eyes.

For desserts, a Halloween cupcake kit ($2.78) gives store-bought cupcakes wrappers and toppers in five minutes.

Drinks: a big batch of “witch’s brew” punch (grape juice, ginger ale and lemon-lime soda) in an inflatable cauldron cooler ($32.99) means you’re not refilling cups all night. If you use dry ice for fog, keep it in the outer container only, never in anyone’s cup, and handle it with tongs.

6. Games and the costume contest

Plan one thing to do each hour. Guests relax once they know something is coming.

Easy party games

• Pin-the-tail style games: the 2-in-1 Halloween pin game ($5.99) or pin the eyeball on the zombie ($3.99). Great for kids, and funny with adults after a drink.
• Horror movie trivia: famous lines, villains and “name the movie from the poster.”
• Murder mystery: hand out character cards at the door and hide clues around the house.

The costume contest

Announce it on the invitation so people bring their best. Hold it mid-party when everyone has arrived but before energy drops. Use several categories so more people win: Scariest, Funniest, Best Couple or Group, Most Homemade. Prizes don’t have to be big. Candy, a glow bracelet pack or a gift card is plenty.

A photo spot

Hang a 5′ bat curtain backdrop ($6.99) in a corner with decent light, and leave a basket of masks and props next to it. It’ll be the busiest corner of the house.

7. Kids, mixed ages and trunk-or-treat

When the guest list includes kids and grandparents, plan for both:

• Keep gory decorations in one room and cute ones in the main area.
• Give kids light-up treat buckets ($8.99). They help you keep track of little ones after dark.
• A 72-piece Halloween toy favor assortment ($22.99) covers prizes and goodie bags for a whole class.
• Pumpkin decorating with markers and stickers is safer than carving for younger kids.

Doing a church or school trunk-or-treat? A 4-piece trunk-or-treat car kit ($14.99) plus a spider web and some party tape makes a trunk that kids remember.

8. Small spaces and Salem weather

Apartment or small house? Decorate up, not out. Hang bats, swirls and ghosts from the ceiling, use door covers on every door, and keep the floor clear for people. One themed table and one photo wall are enough.

Hosting outside? Salem Octobers are usually wet and chilly, so plan for rain:

• Use a covered porch, garage or carport as the main space and keep the yard for decorations.
• Choose plastic table covers and plastic yard decor over paper. Ground breakers and staked props hold up well in wet lawns.
• Weigh down anything that can catch wind, and use outdoor-rated extension cords.
• Bring balloons inside between the store and the party. Cold air makes helium balloons shrink and sag until they warm up.

Safety basics: LED candles near fabric, clear walkways with some light for guests in masks, and tape down cords. Label any food with common allergens.

9. Sample budget: decorations and supplies for 20 guests

Here’s a real shopping list using Party Mart prices from October 2026. Oregon has no sales tax, so this is what you’d pay at the register.

Item	Qty	Cost
7″ Pumpkin Glow plates (8ct)	3	$4.50
Pumpkin Glow lunch napkins (16ct)	2	$3.98
Pumpkin Glow 9oz cups (8ct)	3	$5.97
Spider web table covers	2	$9.98
13′ stretchy spider webs	2	$7.98
6′ witch door cover	1	$5.49
40pc Halloween balloon arch kit	1	$9.99
5′ bat photo backdrop	1	$6.99
LED strobe with thunder sound	1	$19.99
2-in-1 Halloween pin game	1	$5.99
Halloween cupcake kit	1	$2.78
Total		$83.64

Prices change and items sell out close to Halloween, so treat this as a guide and check the store for what’s in stock.

Where to buy Halloween party supplies in Salem

Party Mart is a family-owned party store at 2075 Lancaster Dr NE, Salem, OR 97305, between Bi-Mart and Crunch Fitness. We carry Halloween decorations, costumes and accessories, horror movie decor, tableware, balloons and candy, and we inflate helium balloons in the store while you wait.

• Hours: Mon–Fri 10:30am–7pm, Sat 9am–6pm, Sun 10:30am–6pm
• Phone: (503) 362-0941. Call ahead to check stock on a specific item.

Shop all Halloween party supplies →  |  Compare Salem party stores

Halloween party FAQ

How far ahead should I plan a Halloween party?

Send invitations 3 to 4 weeks ahead and buy decorations and costumes 2 to 3 weeks out. Popular costume sizes and decorations sell out the closer you get to October 31.

How much does it cost to throw a Halloween party?

Decorations, tableware and a game for about 20 guests can run under $100 at Party Mart prices (see the sample budget above). Food and drinks are usually the biggest cost after that.

How long do helium balloons last for a party?

Standard latex balloons float about 8 to 12 hours; treated latex can last around 24 hours. Foil balloons last several days, so buy foil ahead and pick up latex the day of the party.

What are good Halloween party themes for adults?

Classic horror movie night, a haunted house, Wednesday Addams, Day of the Dead and Stranger Things are the themes we see most. Choose one and match your plates, banner and music to it.

Where can I buy Halloween party supplies in Salem, Oregon?

Party Mart at 2075 Lancaster Dr NE carries Halloween decorations, costumes, tableware and helium balloons year-round, with same-day balloon pickup. Call (503) 362-0941 for stock questions.

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