Halloween falls on a Saturday this year – so take advantage and throw an epic party! Whether it’s a wicked gathering for adults, or something slightly less spooky for the kids, get inspired and create an unforgettable event.

Use a theme. Whether you’re having a traditional pumpkin carving/painting party, or an elaborate fancy dress dinner, embrace a theme for decorating, food and costumes. It gives your guests costume guidelines and helps you plan the menu & décor.

Decorations are key. One of the things everyone loves about Halloween is the decorations. Classic jack-o-lanterns, spider webs and bats. Creepy, spooky haunted houses. Spine-tingling ghosts and witches. Horrifyingly realistic body parts. Suddenly ever-present zombies. Whatever you’re planning, there are plenty of Halloween decorations to suit your taste.

Creative costuming. For people who love Halloween, planning, making and debuting their costumes every year is better than Christmas. Kids – and more than a few adults – love dressing up. And your choices for costumes are endless – pop culture figures, throwbacks to childhood, timeless witches and goblins, visual jokes & puns. Pick something you really like and go for it!

A menu that’s a horror! (Or not.) Are you throwing a kids’ party? In addition to cupcakes with orange icing, try quesadillas “carved” like jack-o-lanterns or “bug” salad!

For an adult party, try “Frankenstein” punch, spider web soup or mummified pigs in blankets.

Whether your Halloween affair is spectral or sparkly, have fun and enjoy yourself!

Evans Coghill Homes is a new home builder in the Charlotte, NC area building new homes in River Run, Springfield, Riverwalk, andCheval.  For more information, visit www.evanscoghill.com.