The Ultimate Guide to Choosing Halloween Party Themes for Adults
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Choosing a Halloween party theme for your adult-only party? Hosting a Halloween party for kids is one thing, and I think we have that covered, but adult-only Halloween party themes are a different story altogether, but not to fear! I’ve put together the Ultimate Guide to Choosing Halloween Party Themes for Adults. I’ve got you covered with ideas from costume competitions to horror flicks!
Witches Brew – Beer Tasting Party
The absolute best part of this adult theme for a Halloween party is that we can enjoy an adult Halloween cocktail without the worry of little goblins afoot around us! Combine an Oktoberfest feel with some fabulous fall brews for a Halloween Witches Brew Beer Tasting Party – the perfect Halloween party theme for adults.
Favorite fall beers to try:
- Hard Cider: Downeast Pumpkin Cider
- Stout: Evil Twin Brewing Imperial Doughnut Break
- IPA: Boneyard Beer
- Wet Hop: Troegs Brewing Company Hop Knife Harvest
- Pumpkin: Elysian Brewing Company – The Great Pumpkin
- Oktoberfest: Spaten
Tips for a Witches Brew Beer Tasting Party:
- Use a large, plastic witch’s caldron as a beverage holder
- Faux spider webs make fantastic table additions along with those Dollar Store spiders!
- Black plastic (or cloth if you have them) tablecloths make a fantastic base for the beer-tasting table!
- You can find an entire post on hosting a beer-tasting party at home here.
Clue Murder Mystery Night – One of the easiest Halloween Party Themes for Adults
Who did it? Nobody will know until the game is over! But, you can take your best guess. This easy Halloween party theme for adults can be planned in one of two ways.
- Simply invite friends over for a murder mystery night dinner and game night with a few drinks.
- Invite your friends for Clue Murder Mystery Night and set up the place for some Halloween fun!
If you are just looking to get everyone together, Clue is a great game to play around Halloween. However, if you want to bump up this Halloween party theme for adults – here are a few tips:
- Ask everyone to attend as their favorite character from the game.
- Set up the game board in a room where the lights are off and play by candlelight.
- Have creepy music on in the background.
- Make a Halloween alcoholic punch ready to share and name it after a character or one of the items that is used.
- Request each guest bring a fall/Halloween-themed dessert to share after you’ve solved the mystery!
Halloween party games for adults are always a good idea!
Horror Flick Movie Night
Costumes or sans costumes, you can’t watch horror films with the kiddos around! Invite your besties over, prep some of these super fun party treats, and watch some good old-fashioned horror films! Inside or outside this is a winner of a Halloween party theme for adults!
Halloween Al Fresco
Hosting an outdoor Halloween dinner al fresco for adults only might seem daunting, but fear not! Here’s your step-by-step guide to creating a memorable, enchanting evening that’ll leave both you and your guests spellbound.
Step 1: Set the scene
First things first, let’s make your outdoor space come alive with the spirit of Halloween. It doesn’t take much; a few thoughtfully placed pops of seasonal decor will do the trick. Twinkling string lights overhead, artful cobwebs draped just so, or even a cute little display of pumpkins and gourds can make all the difference in transforming your backyard or patio.
Step 2: Create a warm and welcoming ambiance
Evenings can be a bit chilly in autumn, so plan to keep your guests cozy. Offer a little basket of warm blankets, and maybe even consider bringing out a patio heater or strategically placing a fire pit in the mix. A simple gesture like this goes a long way in making your friends feel like they’re embracing the best of fall.
Step 3: Make your tabletop shine
It’s astonishing how much impact a well-dressed table can have on the overall atmosphere. Combine vintage finds with those thrifty scores you couldn’t resist, and just watch as your table turns into a delightful fusion of old and new. Don’t hesitate to get creative, be it with colored glassware or patterned plate settings – it’s all about making those ordinary objects a conversation piece!
Step 4: Plan a captivating, grown-up menu with this Halloween party theme for adults
An adults-only Halloween soiree calls for a menu that’s both delicious and intriguing. Embrace the flavors of the season, but give them a twist that’s sure to surprise and delight your guests – think comforting dishes with a touch of adventurous spice, or maybe even a delectable dessert that packs an unexpected punch.
Step 5: Set the mood with music
Music has such an incredible ability to bring an event to life. Curate a playlist that aptly reflects the vibe you’re aiming for – songs that are catchy and nostalgic, yet also have a hint of the mysterious or the hauntingly beautiful.
With these steps as your recipe, you’re well on your way to hosting an outdoor Halloween dinner that’ll truly enchant your guests. Enjoy the process of transforming simple objects and ingredients into a magical night under the stars with your adult friends, indulging in the captivating essence that Halloween brings.
Menu suggestions for an al fresco get-together this October:
- Pumpkin soup
- Tossed salad with roasted pumpkin seeds, Honey Crisp apples, and goat cheese topped with a red wine dressing
- Acorn Squash roasted with maple syrup, butter, and cinnamon
- Maple Salmon or Maple Glazed Oven Baked Chicken Thighs
- Easy Angel Food Pumpkin Cakes
- Take some inspiration from some of these fall table settings!
End the evening with a pumpkin decorating contest (adult version), or gather around a fire pit with some amazing Hot Apple Cider Spiked with Rum.
Day of the Dead (Día de Muertos)
When you first hear of the Day of the Dead, or Dia de Muertos as it is called in Spanish, you may have visions of something scary, but honestly, it’s quite the opposite. Traditionally, this celebration began in Mexico, however; many different Latin countries celebrate this holiday. It’s a day when you honor the lives of your loved ones who have passed on. That day, you celebrate what they loved in life. Altars are set up for the loved ones that the family is celebrating and include a photograph of the person.
Family might also decorate their gravesite or make their favorite foods and drinks. The best part about this celebration is that it is believed that loved ones awake and party right along with their family. Regardless, this theme still might be a bit much for the kiddos who haven’t been raised in that culture, so I’ve included it here with the adult-themed Halloween parties.
Day of the Dead Party Tips:
- Create an altar like the one above to honor a loved one who has passed (you can encourage guests to bring a photo of their loved one as well to add it to the altar).
- Provide sweets that are in the form of skulls (this is a tradition that is practiced on this day). You can get some ideas from the website Dia de los Muertos where they have all of the traditional recipes you would need for this event.
- These Halloween party decorations for adults can include painted skulls, dolls, candles, marigold flowers, and more.
Tarot Theme Party
A more uncommon Halloween party theme for adults is a tarot card party! This one may not be for everyone, because there are those of us who don’t want to mess with the unknown, however; it is an easy party theme to pull off!
- Decorate with tarot cards, crystals, and potion bottles (check out this one from Etsy – it’s great)!
- Light the space with only candles
- Use these tarot card toppers for cupcakes, or embellishments for other items such as cheese on a charcuterie board!
- Hang this tarot card bunting for your adult theme Halloween party to set the mood!
Want to bring your party to the next level?? How about a tarot card reading for you and your friends right at home? Now there’s a top party planner idea for Halloween party themes for adults! You can set up your reading for you and your friends with an online reading through an Etsy listing here.
Wicked Wine Party
An uncommon Halloween Party theme for adults would be a wine-tasting party for adults. This party can be an inside or an outside Halloween party depending on where you live and what the weather is like! I’ve got you covered with the steps for how to hold a wine tasting at home, but here are some tips for making this wine party wicked!
Got your wine glasses ready? Here’s a tantalizing Halloween themed party for adults tasting menu to accompany your favorite vintages:
An Autumn Affair
Next, give a taste of the season itself with Roasted Pumpkin and Sage Risotto. This comforting dish cozies up delightfully to a crisp, herbaceous white wine, it’s like a walk through those beautiful, multi-colored leaves in your favorite park.
Nibbles to Start
Open that bottle of bubbly and pair it with bite-sized Caramelized Apple and Brie Crostini. It’s those familiar flavors with a surprising punch, you’re already off to a remarkable start!
Halftime Palette Cleanser
Ever thought of refreshing your palette with a Halloween ‘Candy Corn’ Sorbet? Yep, you heard right! It’s a playful nod to childhood favorites but with an exotic twist of sweet and tart blood orange segments. Now isn’t that extraordinary? Pair it with a semi-dry rosé for a lovely interlude.
Main Course
Make way for something special like a Spiced Wine-Braised Beef on a bed of cloud-like mashed potatoes, a heart-warming plate that’s sure to be a crowd-pleaser. It stands up beautifully to a bold, spiced red.
Sweet Endings
And for a beautifully haunting finish, serve a Dark Chocolate and Cherry Ganache Tart. The rich tartness of the cherries tangles with the dark chocolate, dancing beautifully alongside a sweet, fortified wine. It’s the perfect sweet end to a night celebrating the beauty of everyday moments, transformed into something unforgettable.
- Decant your wine into black bottles and give them “potion labels”
- Use rustic, outdoor elements to set the table (witches never did have the reputation of being too fancy)
- Simple spider webs can help to accent your table.
- Provide the right music in the background, keeping it a bit creepy!
- Stick to red wine. For obvious reasons!
- Provide appetizers for guests to enjoy – and remember, you can rename anything to fit the party!
Horror Film Costume Party
When choosing Halloween party themes for adults, picture an ordinary Halloween transforming into an unforgettable night of thrills and chills with your favorite horror flicks at the heart of it all. That’s right, we’re hosting a horror film Halloween bash that’s sure to get your heart racing!
The living room is suddenly a cozy movie theater, with comfy throw pillows piled high and twinkling fairy lights casting just the right amount of light and shadows (we aren’t trying to make it too scary!). Containers of freshly popped popcorn, mixed with surprising, punchy spices sit on a table adorned with vintage finds that just ooze old Hollywood glamour. In the background, there’s soft laughter and excited chatter as everyone settles in for the evening’s main feature.
And let’s not forget those Halloween-themed cocktails for this Halloween themed party for adults, created with ordinary ingredients you’ve stepped up a notch, for that added dash of Halloween fun. This isn’t simply a gathering, it’s your own little film festival, breaking away from the every day to unite under the collective gasps, jumps, and giggles that only the best horror movies can bring out of us adults. Not too shabby for a makeshift home cinema, don’t you think? Now roll the credits, and let the horror-filled fun begin!
Which Halloween party theme for adults will you choose?
Cheers,
JJ
