3 Reasons to Make Your Halloween Party a Micro Party

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As a Halloween lover, I've always dreamed of hosting or attending a HUGE Halloween celebration in a gorgeous space full of people and killer costumes and spooktacular treats.

I’m pretty sure we would all accept an invite to that Halloween party in “Hocus Pocus” without thinking twice, right? I love all the costumes, the live band, the high school dance feel to the party space. In my head, that’s THE Halloween party I’ve always wanted to attend.

But sometimes large-scale parties just aren’t feasible for a number of reasons.

Reasons like:

  • I don’t have the budget to host a Halloween party for 50+ people.
  • I don’t have the space to host a huge party.
  • My friends don’t show up. (They’re lame!)
  • I don’t know who to invite.

And you know what? You don’t have to host a large-scale Halloween party to make the most of your spooky season.

This year, why not host a micro party?

 

Um, Miranda? What the heck is a micro party?

I’m so glad you asked. It’s a phrase that popped into my head when trying to figure out how to describe planning a party for a smaller crowd. Funnily enough, it’s a term that already exists in the political world…but not so much in the party planning world.

By my personal definition, a micro party is a gathering for 2-10 people where you’re getting together to hang out with a specific purpose in mind.

Like watching a classic horror movie together.

Or carving jack-o-lanterns the night before Halloween.

Or tasting wines with spooky labels, just for fun.

It’s not as extra as a party with lots of over the top cocktails, food and decor…but it’s a bit more purposeful than just hanging out with your besties.

 

Get a behind the scenes look at the decor for my 2015 Halloween party, the Halloweenie Roast Witches' Ball | spookylittlehalloween.com

3 Reasons to Host a Micro Party

Is my micro party concept making sense? (My Treats Not Tricks subscribers loved it!) Cool – here are three reasons why you should host a micro Halloween party this year…and why I am hosting three micro parties this year instead of Halloweenie Roast!

 

1. Micro parties require a smaller budget

Not having a big enough budget to pull together a large Halloween party is something we talk about frequently in my Killer Halloween Party Facebook group, and I totally get it. That was me in the early years of Halloweenie Roast.

So why not eliminate the need to spend tons of money on your party by making it smaller? Fewer guests + a simplified plan for your party = less money needed to put together a memorable event.

 

2. Micro parties are perfect for smaller spaces

This is why I’m giving micro parties a try this year. I’ve always hosted Halloweenie Roast at my parent’s house simply for space, but moving a party of 30-40 people from a house + backyard to a second-floor apartment in a four-plex with no outdoor space? Eek. Unless I get brave or want my neighbors to hate me, that’s just NOT happening.

If you also have a small living space, you might consider hosting a micro party or two throughout the Halloween season so you can enjoy some spooky fun without making yourself crazy planning a huge party in too small of a space.

 

3. Micro parties simplify your invite list

After budget and space, who to invite is always a challenge I hear from my friends in the Killer Halloween Party Facebook group. I tend to invite everyone I know to Halloweenie Roast, and I’ll admit…there have been a few times when I’ve been disappointed certain people didn’t show up after extending that invite.

I think those of us who host naturally wonder what we did, why that person wasn’t interested, etc. It’s hard not to take those moments personally from time to time!

But by simplifying the guest list and sticking to key friends and family, you can help eliminate all those feelings. You likely know who is interested in celebrating Halloween with you AND won’t leave you hanging, so invite them!

 

Why I’m hosting micro parties instead of Halloweenie Roast This Year

As I mentioned in reason #2, the biggest reason I’m moving to micro parties for this year is because of the space I have access to. My friends who have offered their homes to me have their hearts in the right place, but I’m not sure I’m ready to introduce party-planning Miranda to them. She’s a little intense…

(But she’s also dyyying to host a Stranger Things-themed party for Halloweenie Roast #11, so we’ll see how long that lasts…)

Being me, though, I couldn’t stick to just ONE way of celebrating Halloween…so I’m planning three micro parties throughout September and October. Here’s a sneak peek at them:

 

Micro Party #1: Halloween Movie Night

To kick off my 2019 micro parties, I’m inviting my three childhood best friends over for a Halloween movie night! While I don’t have the movie nailed down just yet, I do know I’m planning to make my living room a comfy – and spooky – movie theater, complete with a popcorn bar, lots of Halloween candy and a cocktail related to whatever we decide to watch. It’ll be a nice and quiet girls night where we can hang out together, enjoy the beginning of fall and welcome the spooky season with a movie or two.

 

Micro Party #2: Ghoul’s Game Night

Up next, I’ll grow the guest list a bit and invite all my ghoulfriends over for a game night. But this isn’t any old game night – I’m on the hunt for Halloween-inspired board and card games to play. (Don’t worry – THAT blog post is coming soon!) I’m also planning a signature cocktail – maybe something with a little mixology fun? – and a few snacks for this evening too.

 

Micro Party #3: Halloween Treat Exchange

Finally, in early October, I’m planning to host a Halloween treat exchange – kind of like a Christmas cookie exchange but with a Halloween twist! The guest list will grow again, and I plan to ask my guests to RSVP by picking their favorite Halloween candy – no repeats. Then they have to create a treat using that candy and bring enough for everyone to enjoy!

Guests will be able to take home samples of each dessert via the exchange. I’m thinking a small costume contest might be fun for this too, and I’m contemplating hosting it in the afternoon so it’s a little easier to come and go.

 

 

So…what do you think about micro parties for Halloween?

Does it change your mind about hosting a party? I think it’s a mindset that makes party planning less daunting!

And, to make it even easier, as we go through the Halloween season I’ll be releasing a series of party guides you can use to plan your own micro parties! Each one will include everything you need to host a killer movie night, game night or Halloween treat exchange.

 

NEED A LITTLE HELP HOSTING A KILLER HALLOWEEN PARTY?

Sometimes you need a little extra help planning, even when you’re going small, so you’ll definitely want to check out my e-course where I’ll help you plan EVERY detail. Whether you’ve never hosted a Halloween party in your life or you’re looking to step up your annual party, I’ve got tips, tricks and secrets galore in KHP that will help guide you through to process!

Killer Halloween Party is right for you if:

  • You want to plan a party, but you don’t know where to start
  • You want to turn your current party from annual gathering to the most anticipated soiree of the year
  • You need help staying on track and getting everything done
  • You’re looking for the BEST way to celebrate Halloween this year!

Let’s make October 31st even better and plan your killer Halloween party to celebrate the best night of the year! Get started now.

 

Happy haunting,

 

 

Miranda | Spooky Little Halloween

Miranda is the Houston-based writer, blogger, and Halloween lover behind Spooky Little Halloween, the blog celebrating October 31st all year long. Her favorite Halloween things include pumpkin guts, chocolate bars in her trick-or-treat pail, real haunted houses (including the one she lives in!), and historic cemeteries.

19 Comments

  1. Reply

    Kristen

    July 24, 2019

    Thanks for this blogpost Miranda, I finally have a term for the ideal party!

    I’ve been hosting Halloween get-togethers for years but have always been overwhelmed with the amount of stress that comes along with it (planning, costumes, who to invite, etc.) We Halloween Hostesses know that planning our dream party is always an intense labor of love, so most of the time we just put up with it. I felt that way until a few years ago when I decided to give myself a bit of a break.

    I decided to host more manageable micro parties to eliminate those gut-wrenching situations when guests don’t show up or I’m too stressed to enjoy everyone’s company. I personally don’t enjoy parties where everyone is just sitting around awkwardly, so I decided to host “activity parties” and planning the party around a group activity.

    In 2018 I hosted a smaller version of my annual Halloween Bash in my tiny 1 bedroom apartment and it went off without a hitch! The theme was Indiana Jones and I planned an Escape Room for my guests to enjoy. They solved puzzles, opened locked rooms, and ultimately solved the mystery of the stolen treasure. Everyone had a blast and I got to participate in the fun, too!

    • Reply

      Miranda | Spooky Little Halloween

      July 24, 2019

      Your 2018 party sounds FANTASTIC, Kristen! And I’m SO glad the idea of a micro party resonates with you. It’s something I’m VERY excited to explore this Halloween season and can’t wait to share more on my own parties I’m planning for 2019.

  2. Reply

    Candace

    July 26, 2019

    I love this idea!

  3. Reply

    Ciara

    July 26, 2019

    Hi! This is how I have been rolling for a while now for the reasons listed. I actually have multiple parties through October. You can do Halloween any way you want as long as you enjoy it! 👻 Great feature. 🎃

    • Reply

      Miranda | Spooky Little Halloween

      July 28, 2019

      That’s awesome, Ciara! I’m SO glad to hear this approach works well for you – I’m looking forward to giving it a try this year.

  4. Reply

    Lauren Pain

    July 30, 2019

    Miranda,
    This is such a great idea! Thank you for sharing. I really love the themes you chose for your microparties. I am always looking for new ways to celebrate the holiday with friends and family and you are so creative! I am so glad I discovered your blog, it’s great to connect with other Queens of Halloween!

  5. Reply

    Dinah

    August 27, 2019

    I had a micro party last year and it was fun! As you know, my apartment isn’t huge, so I had exactly 10 people over and It ended up being the perfect number. It also made keeping track of games easier. I once tried to coordinate a game of hot-pumpkin (aka hot potato) with about 45 drunk adults and whaaat a shit show! Haha

  6. Reply

    CM

    August 10, 2021

    We always do a board game night on Halloween and hand out candy to TOTers as they show up.. Everyone brings a food item to share and I mix up themed drinks.
    So much cheaper and less clean up!

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