How to Host a Literature Themed Halloween Party – Online or Offline
Gather your witches' hats and spooky tales because the enchanting season of frights is here!
There's an undeniable thrill in decking the halls with cobwebs and donning eerie ensembles for a night of ghoulish revelry. Today, I have brought together the best bits of the scary season and created a guide to the best Halloween party! Oh, and of course it’s literature themed... Well, we couldn’t have a party without celebrating being bookish could we?! Whether you find yourself navigating the virtual realm or transforming your living room into a haunted haven, this guide is your passport to an unforgettable Halloween bash, where literature takes the spotlight!
The Bookworm's Guide
to a Hauntingly Good Halloween Party
In the first part of this guide, we'll unravel the secrets to crafting a spine-chilling online party that will have your guests shrieking with delight. From the perfect platform to invitations, we've got your online setup covered. But fear not, party enthusiasts! The creativity doesn't end there. The thrilling ideas that follow are tailored for both online and offline celebrations, ensuring that no matter where or how you choose to revel in the Halloween spirit, your party will be one for the books. Now let the spooky festivities commence!
BEFORE YOU BEGIN
1. Find a Platform
Find an online video platform for your party! There are tons of great options out there. Here are some you can try:
Zoom
Facetime
Google Hangout
Skype
Zoom is my personal favourite as you can send an invitation to the event beforehand! There is also a handy waiting room if anyone is early and you can check everyone's details before you let them in the “room”. You can also add funky backgrounds - which could be a pretty fun and scary addition!
2. Decide on a Time
Decide on a time before you invite people. You don’t want people to be waiting around all evening! Or arriving late!
3. Share the Password Details in Advance
Make sure everyone knows all of the login details before you begin the party. This will minimise technical difficulties and latecomers which could add glitches to the start of the party.
You could even post out a scary invitation!
4. Decorate!
Set up your home like you would a normal Halloween party! It will help get you and everyone else in the mood. If you’re looking for some gothic decorations check out On Book Street’s Gothic Literature Wall Art! These prints will be the perfect addition to your party!
THE PARTY
Ok - Let’s get spooky!
Now all of the admin is out of the way, it’s time to start planning your spectacular literature scarefest.
1. Costume Contest
Of course, you have to have a costume competition! It wouldn’t be Halloween without one. Here are some really great literature themed categories you can try to inspire some creative bookish fun!
Famous horror fiction writers (challenge your guests to list 3 fun facts about their chosen author upon arrival!
Scary characters from gothic novels (bagsy Dracula!)
Spooky novel theme (everyone dresses as a character from the same book)
Non-human spooky book characters
Frankenstein (or other creepy characters) challenge. (Give everyone the task of dressing up as the exact same character. Then you will see who has the real dressing up skills!).
Picking the winner is a great way to end the party and wrap things up. As for the voting process, if you're celebrating virtually, ask each participant to message you privately with their vote during the call. Add them all up and voila! You have a champion. For offline parties, provide slips of paper for guests to write down their favourite costume choice. Collect the votes, count them up, and unveil the winner in suspenseful Halloween fashion!
2. Spooky Quiz (Literature Themed)
Now it’s time to get down to business. A light-hearted ghostly quiz should keep people engaged, on their toes and a little spooked out!
Keep it simple and easy to follow. Here are some suggestions for rounds and questions you can include:
PICTURE ROUND
Take pictures of ghostly novels and blur them slightly. Share your images to the “share screen” you can find on zoom. Ask your guests to identify the name and author of the novel. That should get their brains ticking!Here are some horror novel suggestions with great front covers:
QUOTE ROUND
Read out some famous quotes from spooky novels! 1 point for the name of the book and 1 point for the author!
Here are some quote suggestions:
Within, walls continued upright, bricks met neatly, floors were firm, and doors were sensibly shut; silence lay steadily against the wood and stone of *Blank*, and whatever walked there, walked alone.”
Answer- The Haunting of Hill House by Shirely Jackson
“There is something at work in my soul, which I do not understand.”
Answer - Frankenstein by Mary Shelley
Naughty John, Naughty John, does his work with his apron on. Cuts your throat and takes your bones, sells 'em off for a coupla stones.”
Answer - Libba Bray, The Diviners
“We ask only to be reassured about the noises in the cellar, and the windows that should not have been open.”
Answer - The Family Reunion by T.S.Eliot
“Wendy? Darling? Light of my life. I’m not gonna hurt ya. I’m just going to bash your brains in.”
Answer - The Shining by Stephen King
GENERAL KNOWLEDGE ROUND
A quiz wouldn’t be complete without a general knowledge round! Or a literature themed general knowledge round in this case...
Here are 10 spooky questions to add to your quiz:
Who wrote the true-crime book In Cold Blood, often called the first non-fiction novel?
In Bram Stoker's Dracula, Who turned the protagonist Dracula into a Vampire?
Where do the final scenes of Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein take place?
Who is the female protagonist of Shirley Jackson's The Haunting of Hill House?
Richard Matheson's novel I Am Legend features a plague that turns people into what?
Who wrote the novel turned hit horror movie, IT?
Edgar Allen Poe wrote the classic story, The Cask of Amontillado. But what is amontillado?
When was The Werewolf of Paris by Guy Endore written?
In the novel House of Leaves by Mark Danielewski, what did a family find in their house when they returned from their trip?
Who wrote the novel The Road?
Answers:
Truman Capote
Lianda
In the Arctic Circle, where it begins. Aboard Robert Walton's ship.
Eleanor Vance
Bloodsuckers
Stephen King
A medium-dry sherry
1933
A closet that wasn’t there before
Cormac McCarthy
3. Halloween Games
SCAVENGER HUNT
Split your guests into two teams. Make sure they have time to give themselves some spooky names!
Write down a list of iconic items from spooky novels or something that may represent a book.
For example: A Balloon (IT).
Set the timer and challenge your teams to bring back those items as fast as possible! Whichever team makes it back first with the most amount of items that (kind of) represent the object you named gets the point!
PS- make sure you tell everyone to ditch the uncomfy shoes if that is what their costume requires!
CHARADE
We all love charades! It’s always a winner at any party. It’s also a perfect game to play virtually. Again split your guests into 2 teams and ask them one by one to silently describe their favourite spooky novels, movies or characters. Make sure you’re keeping score!
4. Scare-tastic Gifts
Hand out or post out some spooky gifts to your guests before/after the party! It’s super fun to open them on screen all together or take home after a great night!
If you’re looking for some horror gift bag ideas check out On Book Street’s gothic-themed printable bookmarks! They're super handy, beautiful and make a fabulous party favor!
5. Ghost Story Telling
A great way to end the night and feel super spooky! Ask everyone to prepare their favourite (short) ghost story. Guests can read them out one by one to get everyone in a truly frightening mood!
Enjoy!
Thanks for checking out my blog - I hope it helps prepare you for a super fun and super frightening evening!
