I don't think it is tacky to move it indoors. If the weather is bad, who wants to sit outside? As for prizes, I would keep with the Halloween theme and maybe give CD's of Halloween sounds or a candy wreath.

You could have an obsticle course. If your party is outside, set it up in the basement. You take paper plates with different items on them, such as peeled grapes, spaghetti, jello, etc. You blindfold the person and tell them that you will guide them through the maze. Once they are blindfolded, you have someone remove the plates and instruct the blindfolded person to turn left, turn right, etc. Once they made it through the course, have your helper put the plates back on the floor, remove the blindfold and tell them that they passed. Onto the next person. The person that already went can watch, but bring each person downstairs, one at a time. The anticipation will kill them.

Oh...that obsticle course sounds like such fun...great idea.
I'm STILL trying to figure out a FAIR and easy way to do the Judging on all the Jack O'Lanterns...as well as prize ideas for all the NON winners...

Depending on how many people you have, maybe you can line up the jack o lanterns on a table and place a lunch bag, taped to the table, in front of each pumpkin similar to a silent auction. Give each person five pennies.or beans, buttons or whatever and let them judge by picking the ones they think are the five best. The "owner" of the winning pumpkin will be the one with the most "votes" All participants would get a token gift for taking part. The Dollar Stores are full of Hallowe'en items that should fit the bill and keep costs to a minimum. Have fun. By the way....on the back of each bag place a number...that would correspond to a master sheet that lists the ones that have entered....ie: 1 John Doe, 2 Jane Doe etc.

threejs...that sounds like a great solution with placing the bags in front of each, and, writing their names on the back of the bags..also, having them vote by placing a penny or 'token' in each, and I like the idea of givng them each a certain number to vote with. Now, it seems like there will be about 12- 15 children and, at this point, I don't know how many will be entering...Also, about 14 - 16 adults. There will be voting for two groups...one for Kids and one for the Adults. I was thinking of doing Three Winners for EACH group,(with prizes) and then give an award Medal, to ALL of the other children who did not win First - Second - or Third. BUT > ALSO > make up labels that say, SPOOKIEST, FUNNIEST, CUTEST, CREEPIEST, ETC... Does this seem like a Fair way to go about it? Thanks for your input..
Slinkey

I forgot to add this site...there are many many more but this one has great instructions and pictures for "creepy" finger foods just perfect for a party!! I have no idea how to do the link but just copy and paste the site in your address line. http://www.britta.com/HW/HWr.html. Great idea about the labels, pass a set to each "kid" big or small that is voting, it can all be done at the same time. Sounds like a lot of fun in the making!

Threejs,

What a great website! I truly love the halloween recipes.

Thanks so much for sharing.

Threejs..I agree with cameragirl...Great website!
It gave me some fun decorating ideas.
I'm definitely going to use your idea about passing out the labels at the same time as the voting. I've already made up the labels, and they are ready to go!! Thanks again for being soooooooo helpful.
Slinkey

If you want to make sure Everyone one wins a prize keep a few "prizes" blank until the party has started then you could name the prize to fit the person. As in the least makeup on a scarey face or the pinkest , bluest or what ever they are. You might want to have prizes like full size candy bars with the prize tag wraped around like a second wrapper. A large ballon with the prize catagory on it. One for girly type one for totally guy stuff.

As far as doing it in the basement instead of the house I would rather, if it is to be somewhat roudy, be somewhere where I know I can't brake your great grandmas good china if I get clumys. And a basement could be so cool and scary.!!!!

craftybrat..I posted a reply to you..and somehow, I see,that it never appeared!! Well, anyway, thanks for the idea of extra prizes...just in case. Hadn't thought of that, and it would be good to do. I've been buying prizes, a little at a time, so as not to be so costly all at once.
I was at Michaels the other day, and purchased some beautiful Fall Foliage, with leaves, pinecones and fruit, that was on sale, and a clay flower pot, and it maks such a pretty centerpiece for one of the 'Adult Prizes'..As for the kids, there will be,like the adults, three grand prize winners...and for all the other kids, I have purchased from Oriental Trading, Award Medals with Halloween Holograms on them > witch/ghost/pumpkin/black cat..they were a great buy, and I'm sure the kids will enjoy them. My wheels are constantly 'spinning', and will always enjoy hearing from you guys, any other suggestions you have to offer..Thanks again.

The idea about the centerpiece for an adult prize is really good. That's actually similar to the suggestion I was going to add. Last year, I had a little Halloween party for my family...our ages range from my 8 year old little sister to my 45 year old parents and a mid-30s friend of the family, so picking out prizes was a bit of a challenge. One thing I did was buy some prizes that were Halloween decorations. My mom and my adult sister decorate for Halloween so I knew that would be a good one. Also, I bought some craft-related Halloween prizes. My mom and my little 8 year old sis love to do crafts and make their own decorations, so I thought they'd really like some Halloween-related craft supplies. Basically, I tried to find some prizes that I knew were especially tailor-made for people's personalities.

I also went with a few candy prizes--a couple of mini plastic jack-o-lanterns filled with a candy assortment. And, all of them men-folk in my family LOVE Reese's peanut cups that are shaped like pumpkins for Halloween. I had a few of those, and they actually got VERY competitive to win some!

santabymail..how nice to be able to plan your prizes 'around' your guests. I like the idea of crafts and decorations. I love crafts, and would love to win something like that. I would have loved to do that too however, this crowd is made up of friends and coworkers, and not too many are into crafts as I am. I was wondering about having candy. I didn't want to get any 'flack' over the fact that the kids will get too much candy when they go trick or treating. I guess a few of thoes, like you described wouldn't hurt. I got a cute, large canning jar, that has a Witch On the Top as a cover, and I am going to fill it with candy corn and have them guess how many is in there. The winner gets to keep the witch/jar and the candy. I'm also planning on doing a pumpkin hunt in the yard. I got them from Oriental Trading, and they are filled with tiny prizes. I just pray that the weather is good. If you think of anything else...I'd love to hear from you. Thanks again.

You probably already have most of your ideas, but one thing we did for a Halloween party with a mixed group was have a Pinata for the kids outside. I had a pile of plain lunch bags and each child colored their own bag and wrote their name on it so they had a bag for their "loot" when the pinata broke. That kept the kids busy. I think having the pumpkin contest, guessing the amount of candy in a jar, and a few other quick and easy activities would be plenty, especially if you are going to be serving food.

I think having the party in your unfinished basement if it rains outside would be a perfect place. As one other poster said, the basement can be a really creepy setting. You can put that spider web stuff all over the place, rubber rats on the floor, plastic bats and big spiders hanging from the rafters. Maybe bring in a few bails of hay to display the pumpkins (that can be done outside too). I'm at a loss for prizes, but kids enjoy their goodie bags - maybe also send them home with a caramel apple. And adults are easy to please - maybe some bottles of wine or a six-pack or two of Octoberfest microbrew beer if there are drinkers in the group.

I forgot about this idea, and we did this at an inside basement party. Have someone lay on the floor in an odd position with their arms and legs at angles, and trace their body with chalk like they do in crime scenes. Pour a little ketchup where the heart would be, and place a rubber knife coated with ketchup next to the body. Surround it with that yellow crime scene tape that you can purchase in any Halloween supply area of stores. Have that corner dimly lit - it is really creepy!

Slinkey, didn't know whan your party is, but if you haven't had it yet, I found a really neat Halloween site that has some Halloween certificates that you could use for your pumpkin contest. They're close to the bottom of the page.

Here is a link that might be useful: Halloween ideas

Hi Guys...thanks for ALL your great and helpful suggestions. We had our party yesterday. The weather was Sunny and 'nippy'...but just right!! The kids enjoyed the 'haunted' shed and the outdoor graveyard in the field. We even gave them 'hay rides' in my husband's tractor cart that was filled w/hay. We set up benches and a iron chiminea and they toasted marshmallows. I had a pumpkin hunt, hid 48 of them while my friend read Halloween Stories to them. The candy corn jar was a hit. The adults were really competitive with the guessing, as well as the voting for the Best Carved Pumpkin. The first prize in the kids group,was a 3 1/2 yr old. SHE actually painted a cute face
on her pumpkin, and was so proud. We didn't get to play any other games, because they were having too much fun doing different things. So, all in all, it went really well. I had made goodie bages for all the kids, and also for the adults. I had collected some vines from my yard, and made small wreaths (15) and hot glued some small autumn fruits and berries and orange organze ribbon (from Michaels),and placed them over - glass votive holders that were 3 for $1, w/pumpkin spice votives..and that was their gift. The adult prizes went pretty well. (3)...the fall centerpiece in small clay flowerpot. two mugs - a dollar each with,two - a dollar each fall plaid napkins and some cocoa packets, and then a small ceramic pumpkin w/4 Halloween Napkins...I let the first place winner choose first, then the second and third. It went over really well, and everyone kept saying how much fun they all had and that the kids had the best time. Even got some calls back this morning to express what a great time they had!! So, thanks again. Oh! also we did a Pot Luck, and EVERYONE outdid themselves...all wanting each others receipes!! Whew...I'm just so relieved it went well, and now I can RELAX...til Christmas!!! LOL

Slinkey, It sounds like it was a huge success!!! I'm glad for you!!! I like the hidden pumpkin idea.
Cheri

thanks cheri...my body is still 'recooperating'...LOL