Party Tips & Tricks

It's Party Time! Halloween isn’t just for kids anymore. In fact it seems that more and more adults - young and old - are celebrating this holiday. Whether you're planning a large party or just out trick-or-treating, here's some information and ideas you may find helpful. Just follow the below links to learn more.

• Selecting the Perfect Pumpkin
• Pumpkin Carving Tips
• The Great Pumpkin Party Carving Fest
• Keeping Your "Jack-O-Lantern" Fresh
• Halloween Rules?
• Tips for a Successful Halloween Party
• Preschool Halloween Party Tips
• Successful Halloween Slumber Parties

Pumpkin Carving Tips

Make a Pattern
To design your own jack-o'-lantern, take a cue from your pumpkin--is it tall, squat or blessed with a curly stem or irregularity you can incorporate into the design? What's the mood going to be-- scary, goofy, artistic, just plain weird? Once you have a plan, sketch your pattern with pencil and paper. If drawing freehand doesn't appeal, or if you're aiming for a complex pattern, use a stencil or template. You can use the templates offered here or those available on the Web and in carving kits.

Cut Out the Top (or Bottom)
To make a lid, draw a circle or a hexagon at least 5 inches in diameter around the pumpkin's stem. Cut out the lid at an angle (so that the outside edge is larger than the inside) to keep it from slipping inside. For a carving tool, we recommend a pumpkin saw. Those using knives should carve gently and steadily. (Tip: Don't slide the knife all the way out of the pumpkin.) When the lid is free, scrape it clean of seeds and pulp. Instead of removing the top, you may choose to remove a section from the bottom or side of the pumpkin. (This works well for an unstable or small pumpkin, or for certain designs, such as The Goodnight Moon pumpkin.)

Scrape out the Inside
This delightfully slimy job calls for a large metal spoon or an ice-cream scoop. Little kids can easily remove all the seeds and mushy stuff. Then a stronger pair of hands can take over scraping. The thinner the wall, the easier it is to carve and the brighter your lantern will be. Scrape until you've had enough or until the wall is 1 to 1 1/2 inches thick (stop before you compromise the strength of the walls). At the base, flatten a spot for the candle (again, don't make it too thin, or the bottom will rot).

Transfer the Pattern
There are two ways to transfer your design onto the pumpkin. One is to copy it freehand onto a clean, dry pumpkin with a water-based marker (mistakes can be easily corrected with a paper towel). The other is to tape your pattern or template to the pumpkin, then score the design into the skin by poking holes through the pattern with a nail or plastic poking tool (available in some pumpkin-carving kits).

Carve!
Okay, now you're ready to sculpt. Start at the center of your design and work outward (this avoids putting pressure on areas already carved). Begin with the innermost and smallest features--eyes before eyebrows, for instance--and try to carve the inside lines of each feature before the outside lines. Be gentle: If you're using a knife, run it over each line a few times, rather than pushing all the way through. Don't cut all the way to the end of a line on the first cut. As each shape loosens up, gently push it out of the pumpkin with a finger or a dull pencil point (a good job for small kids). Larger shapes, such as gap-toothed grins, may have to be removed in pieces. Tip: If you cut something you didn't intend to, perform an ad hoc pumpkin surgery: Stick a toothpick through the flesh side of the piece and fit it back into place.

Experiment with Shading
You can create dramatic effects by letting candlelight through the pumpkin in varying intensity. For a shaded effect, don't cut all the way through the pumpkin. Instead, make a shallow, angled (or V-shaped) cut (1/8 to 1/2 inch, depending on the thickness of the pumpkin wall), then peel away the outer flesh with a knife tip, spoon or vegetable peeler. You also can use deep, angled cuts to remove larger pieces, so that the light reflects off the walls of the hole.

Test-Drive Your Pumpkin
Now is the moment of truth. Place a candle inside your pumpkin (votives are more stable than tapers). Light the candle, put on the lid and turn out the lights. If the candle doesn't stay lit, increase the air supply either by enlarging some of the features or by carving a vent on the back of the lid. Lastly, put your jack-o'-lantern in a place of honor (away from flammables) and remember to blow out all candles before you go to sleep.

More Carving Tips

• Draw your design on the pumpkin with a water-based marker beforehand. Mistakes are erased easily with a damp sponge.

• Cut the top and any large areas with a sharp, straight-edged knife. A dull blade is not a safer alternative.

• Serrated metal saws, now widely available in carving kits, are a safer alternative to knives and allow younger children to get in on the action.

• Carve away from yourself; kids should carve only under adult supervision.

• Never hold the knife in a stabbing position.

• When carving, keep a portion of the knife blade in the pumpkin and use slow, steady saw strokes.

• Cut the lid at an angle so the outside diameter is larger than the inside.This prevents the top from falling into the pumpkin when it shrinks.

• Scoop out seeds and stringy flesh with a large spoon or ice cream scooper.

• Carve the facial features closest to the center first and work outward. Cut out the larger features in sections.

• Use an X-Acto knife for details and the tip of a potato peeler to make small circles and curves.

• Remove carved portions by gently pushing them into or out of the pumpkin.

• Reattach a section that is accidentally removed by using a toothpick to pin it back in place.

• Make design holes large enough to provide adequate ventilation for the candle.

• Flatten a spot in the base of the pumpkin for the candle but avoid digging too deep because the pumpkin becomes prone to rot.

• Make sure the flame is not too close to the top of the pumpkin.

• To prolong the life of the jack-o'-lantern, seal in moisture by coating all cut surfaces with petroleum jelly or vegetable oil, or cover it with a damp towel when not on display.

• Consider giving smaller children stickers, tempera paint, or markers to decorate their own pumpkins.

Selecting the Perfect Pumpkin

If you're looking for a great pumpkin to carve this Halloween season, take a cue from Linus and head directly to the patch. To locate a commercial grower in your area, contact your state agriculture department. Then you can call the farm directly to inquire about hours, prices and available varieties (Connecticut Field, Howden and Baby Bear are good bets for carving; Small Sugar, Golden Cushaw and White pumpkins are choice for pie making). Ask if the pumpkins are displayed at a stand or if you can harvest your own from the field. Do they charge by the pumpkin or the pound?

Once there, after your family has surveyed the lot, you're probably in for a patch-side debate over the perfect specimen. Whether you plan to decorate with a row of small and medium-size globes or a single huge one (the largest one on record was grown in Washington state and weighed a whopping 827 pounds), be sure the pumpkin you choose is symmetrical enough to rest squarely on a flat surface. Pass over any with bruises, cracks or broken stems, because they tend to deteriorate quickly.

Plan on carving no earlier than a day or two before Halloween--jack-o'-lanterns have short "step" lives. And remember to bring your porch pumpkin indoors on nights when the temperature is expected to drop below freezing.

The Great Pumpkin Party

Halloween parties for families must strike a delicate balance: exciting enough for older kids but not too scary for the little ones. Here's a party format that works well which will become a much-anticipated October tradition - a pumpkin decorating party! Each year, usually the weekend before Halloween, invite your friends over and ask them to bring their own pumpkin. Set out tools, supplies, and some easy-to-eat fare, put on spooky music, and let everyone get to work. From toddlers to teens, have your guests carve, paint, and decorate their masterpieces, hoping to take home the coveted grand prize . Even though the party format is straightforward, here are a few ways to make the event stand out.

1) SPREAD THE WORD WITH FUN AND SIMPLE INVITATIONS
Set the mood for your carving fest with an easily mass-produced invitation that doubles as an award tag. Fold in half a rectangle of orange construction paper -- roughly 5 1/2 by 6 1/2 inches -- and cut a half pumpkin on the fold, as you would a valentine heart. Unfold it and write out the details using a marker. Make your event BYOP (Bring Your Own Pumpkin) and hold it the Saturday or Sunday afternoon before Halloween.

2) THINK "PUMPKIN GOO" WHEN SETTING UP
Outside among the changing leaves on an Indian summer afternoon is the best spot for a carving party (both for the atmosphere and the mess). But be ready to move to a garage, basement, or covered porch if the weather turns lousy. Your artists need space to work, so set up picnic or folding tables in the backyard and cover each with a plastic tablecloth or newspaper. Not only does it protect the table, it also rolls up the spilled pumpkin goo for easy cleanup when the party's over. And speaking of goo, be sure to set a roll of paper towels on each table for messy hands.

3) PUT ON SPOOK-TACULAR MUSIC
The right party music will help your carvers get in the mood. Pick up a CD of scary sounds or a fun Halloween song mix . Here are some ideas:

• Halloween Hits (Rhino Records)"
  
• The Nightmare Before Christmas: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack (Disney) We've been using this one for years for the eerie yet melodic music.
  
• Very Scary Music: Classic Horror Themes (Delta) You name the spooky TV or movie music, it's here.
  
• Boo, Cackle, Trick or Treat (Wee Bee Music) A great selection of not-so-often-heard Halloween songs with a folky, sing-along sound.

4) MAKE THE SCENE FESTIVE FOR LITTLE GOBLINS
Decorating for this affair can be as easy as pulling out all your Halloween decor. For extra credit, make a pumpkin-head scarecrow to greet guests as they arrive or set jack-o'-lanterns aglow for an evening party. Let the kids become pumpkin art themselves with the help of a pumpkin face-paint stamp. You can buy these at craft stores or make your own by cutting a small pumpkin out of craft foam, then gluing it to a piece of cardboard. Cover with orange face paint, dab off any excess, and decorate the carvers.

5) CREATE STATIONS FOR CARVING, SCULPTING, AND PAINTING
Traditional carving is always fun, but we've found that offering other decorating options too makes for more creative results and allows younger kids to participate. Set up stations that let your guests experiment:

• Carving: Stock this table with serrated kid-friendly pumpkin saws, as well as kitchen tools, such as ice-cream scoops, for scraping. Put out bowls for discarded pumpkin goo with one labeled "Seeds Only" for those precious roasting seeds.
  
• Sculpting: Set out a mixture of precut veggies and toothpicks for fasteners. Carrots make great noses, and the lacy green tops become hair. Big chunks of broccoli and funky-shaped gourds become anything from eyes to antennae. Keep a glue gun hot and handy for more difficult attachments.
  
• Painting: Lay out nontoxic craft paints, a few brushes, and water for those who want to add a little more color.

6) MAKE JUDGING FUN -- AND FASHIONABLE
Judging shines a spotlight of appreciation on all the artists' hard work. Let your guests know when judging will take place, so they'll have a deadline for finishing. To give your judges (we recommend having at least three) the ceremonial seriousness their position requires, make a "Pumpkin Judge" hat for each.

7) AWARD PLENTY OF PRIZES
When your judges are suitably attired, explain to them how the judging is done. Before the party, you'll have put a handful of candy, stickers, or trinkets in brown paper lunch bags, one for each carver. After reviewing the entries, the judges declare each one "best" at something -- Best Eyes, Most Artistic, Scariest, and so on. They then write the award on a pumpkin cutout (see invitation directions for how-tos), tape the cutout to a goody bag, and award the prize to the artist. For the judges' best-in-show grand prize, pick up something a little more special. We usually award a fall decoration such as a front yard scarecrow or some other seasonal novelty that will remind the winner of the party each time he or she sets it out in years to come.

8) SERVE WARM AND PORTABLE FOOD
Brisk fall weather can bring out hearty appetites, but gooey fingers demand that eating be easy. Serve chili in paper cups, set out a platter of hot dogs, and offer finger foods. For dessert, try Pumpkin Bread Pudding with chocolate chips. Or, check out some of the recipes here on our site.

Keeping Your Pumpkin Fresh

Regardless of where you live, every pupkin will start to deteriorate after they have been cut. There is nothing worse than a wilted pumpin on Halloween! So, how do you keep your Jack-O-Lantern fresh? It's easy! You can either use a commercially available fruit and vegetable anti-browning solution (they can be purchased at any supermarket) OR, you can prepare your own. Here's a list:

• 2 Table Spoons of Vinegar
• 1 Teaspoon of Lemon Juice
• 1 Quart of Water

Thoroughly mix the above ingredients in a bowl. Then, brush the mixture over the carved surfaces of your pumpkin. Your Jack-O-Lantern will last longer.

There are rules of the road and rules of conduct, but did you know there are rules of Halloween?  If you follow these rules, chances are you will survive to your next Halloween.  But if you don’t, be sure that you will be the one doing the haunting next year!

• Avoid trick or treating to any house that is sinking into a hole in the ground.
• Do not go down into a basement or cellar when the lights go out to find out what caused it.
• If appliances start operating by themselves, move out immediately.
• Avoid trick or treating at a house that is made of gingerbread.
• Don’t go into the yard of a house that has a bloody wood chipper by the sidewalk.
• When it seems as if you have killed a monster, do not check to see if it is really dead.
• Beware of strangers carrying chainsaws and hiding in the bushes.
• Take the hint if you come upon a deserted town.  It is that way for a reason.
• Stay away from locations such as Amityville, Elm Street or any small town in Maine.
• If a monster is chasing you, don’t go into an abandoned building up to the highest floor. There is no way to escape except to jump.
• Don’t steal anything from the dead.
• If your friends start to show uncharacteristic behavior such as glowing eyes, fascination with blood and increasing hairiness, kill them.
• Dress appropriately.  When investigating a sound that goes bump in the night, don’t wear a short flimsy nightgown.  Always carry a flashlight, not a candle.
• Expect to fall twice while running from a monster.
• On a dark stormy night and your car runs out of gas, do not go to the nearest deserted house with eerie green light coming through the windows and gargoyles in the front steps.
• Never summon a demon out loud, even s a joke.
• Do not stand in, around or anywhere near a grave, crypt or any other home of the dead.
• Do not go looking for witches in the Maryland countryside.
• If your children’s head start spinning and they speak in a deep, unknown voice in another language, GET OUT!
• If you find out your house is built on an ancient burial ground-move immediately.
• If a house growls, don’t go any closer.
• The number one house to avoid-any house that wasn’t there a few seconds ago.
• Do not mention demons names around an open flame.  This includes fireplaces.
• Do not mess around with combining DNA technology unless you are absolutely sure what you are doing.  Don’t be surprised with what creature comes from your chemical combination skills.
• If you find yourself alone on a rowboat in the middle of a foggy lake in the middle of the night and you see bubbles coming up from the water-ROW ANAD ROW FAST!!!!

Planning for a Halloween party doesn’t have to be a stressful job.  With time set aside for detailed planning, the plans for a successful party will come together and be an enjoyable event.  Follow the guidelines below and have fun with family and friends for the Halloween celebration!

Choose a Fun Party Theme

Rather than hosting a traditional Halloween party, pick a fun theme such as an all Monster costume party or a favorite scary movie villain party.

Invitations

Allow three to four weeks advance time when sending out invitations.  The information on the invitation should include the theme of the party and whether costumes are mandatory, arrival time, directions to the party and R.S.V.P. number.  If it is a children’s party, include pick-up times.

Food and Drinks

Make a list of appropriate food for the party according to your chosen theme and guest list.  Make an effort to choose fun food that goes with the theme, is easy to eat and can be made to feed many people throughout the night.  If children are also invited, choose food that they will like along with the adults.  Spread the food stations around the designated party area to prevent guests from congregating in one area around the food.

Decorations

Choose appropriate decorations to add to the theme of your party.  Take time to plan what type of decorations you want, how much you want to spend and how creative you want to be.  Making a list of ideas will help you keep the creativity to the max and the expense to a minimum.

Proper Supervision

If you are planning a party for kids or teens, be sure there is enough adult supervision. Have adults enforce the rules while the guests have the fun.

Plan B

If your party is planned for outdoors, have a back up plan for inclement weather that will allow your guests to still have fun and not put a damper on the evening.

Preschoolers like to party like the rest of us, but their parties have to be streamlined to take into consideration their age and attention span.  Whether it is for a classroom party, Halloween or a birthday party, there are special needs to make a party for preschooler a success.  The following tip s will help in making it fun for not only the kids, but for the adult planners as well.

Kid Planners

Since the party is for kids, let it be planned by kids.  With the help and supervision of adults, let the kids help plan for the festivities.  They will be more apt to behave and be helpful if their ideas are used for the party.  Kids know what they like, so ask them!

Party Players

Make the party manageable.  It is tempting to invite everyone to your child’s birthday party, but keep the party players to a manageable number.  Too many kids attending the party can create chaos very easily.  A reasonable number of kids can ensure a safer and more fun party time.

Busy Bee

One tip to making a kid party successful is to keep them busy at all times.  Offer several activities for the kids to choose from that they would like to do.  Play games at the beginning of the party to let out excess energy and create a calmer cake-eating and gift-opening time.  The kids will be ready to sit and rest after the game-playing activities.

Plan B

Have an alternate plan if the weather does not cooperate with an outdoor party.  Plan for an inside venue to take the party if you start the party outside and it begins to rain.  Include indoor games on your list when planning for the party.

Keep It Short

Small children tire easily so make the party only a couple of hours long.  There is no need for an all day or all afternoon party for preschoolers.  The quicker the pace of the party, the less chance there will be for tantrums and tears to interfere with the festivities.  Plan for extra help with the party and try not to do the whole thing yourself.  Adult supervision can decrease the chance of injury or problems and increase the fun factor for a preschool party.

Slumber parties are great fun for kids of all ages.  Spending time with their friends over night allows for them to bond and create fun memories.  But all that fun and memory making can be stressful for the parents hosting the party.  No matter what age the kids are who are having the sleepover; there are worries for the parents at any age.  Help relieve the parental headache by following the tips for a stress-free slumber party.

Age Appropriate Party

For kids 8-12 years old, provide a theme party such as an Art Party, an Indoor Campout or a Karaoke Party.  This will keep the particular age group busy for most of the night and parents only have to monitor them once in awhile.

How Old is Old Enough?

The ages 8-14 years old are the most popular ages for slumber parties.  If the child is younger than 8, there is a risk that they are not secure enough to spend the night away from home.  If the child is over 14, they have attended many slumber parties in their years and are tired of them.  Most 14 year olds and older prefer an intimate sleepover with a few good friends rather than many acquaintances.

No Mixing

Do not mix boys and girls at a slumber party.  If the child having the party has opposite sex friends, invite them to enjoy the evening and then go home at a designated time.  Keeping the genders separate is more comfortable and relaxing for the kids and the parents.

Older Kids

Slumber parties for kids 12-14 can be fun by having a dance party to dance the night away to their favorite songs or a séance to scare them all night long.  These activities are age appropriate for the older kids only.

Movie Night

Everyone has a favorite movie no matter what age they are.  Have the invited guests bring a movie to watch for the evening or wait and watch the movies when it is time for them to settle down after an evening of active fun.  They will be asleep before you know it!

Food, Food, Food

Do not put out all the food at one time.  Pace the servings so it will last all night.