A Spooktacular Halloween for the whole family

kIt’s Halloween next week (actually on 31 October - but you probably knew that already) so this weekend or next are perfect times for a fun 'Spooktacular' event.

If you’re hosting a Halloween party but are stuck for some inspiration we’ve got a few creepy ideas that will help to make your event go with a ghostly swing.

Don’t forget that it’s mostly about the kids – going out for some trick or treating can kick off the fun. When you get home for the party remember to keep it kid friendly, at least until they’ve gone to bed. Don’t scare them – too much!

There’s plenty of stuff out there to decorate your home with for Halloween. Use 'spray on' cobwebs. Maybe make a cardboard graveyard for the front lawn out of old cardboard boxes and have a welcoming committee of carved pumpkins at your door.

Have some spooky music or sound effects to welcome your guests. You could use some dry ice to create an eerie mist effect. It might be a bit over the top – but atmospheric!

Hang some bat, witch and funky skeleton silhouette mobiles and banners around the house.

Use themed paper plates, napkins, plastic cups and cutlery. You can get them at supermarkets or one of those seasonal pop-up stores in the local shopping centre. To keep things simple, stick to a two-tone colour theme of orange and black.

The kids will have fun getting creative with pumpkins. You can use templates to create some vivid, eye catching jack ‘o lanterns. There is so much choice out there now that you won’t fail to find something fun and original.

Don't rinse the waste pumpkin material down your drain - it can harden like rock, we're told, and cause blockages that will be expensive to clear. So avoid scary plumbing bills and instead put your carving left-overs into your food waste bin or home compost.

Themed candles and orange painted jars, decorated with spooky silhouettes, with night lights will enhance the Halloween party mood.

Once you have the decoration and the atmosphere taken care you can turn your attention to the food. Serve lots of savouries to balance out all the sugar from the trick or treat swag.

Have fun. Take regular foods and give them spooky names. Bat wing Doritos or squashed beetle Jelly Beans anyone?

There is a whole stack of spooky treats here from ghostly cupcakes to creepy finger hotdogs.

Whatever you do, have fun!