By Alison Flory, Reporter
Throwing the perfect Halloween party is all about picking the right theme–and the classics continue to be popular.
Junior Amber Drefke said that vampire-themed parties would interest her this year.
“Not the ‘Twilight-type’ vampires; the old-fashioned, Dracula vampires,” Drefke said.
Zombies were senior Jackie Dethrow’s choice for a Halloween theme.
“Zombie babies sound pretty cool,” she said.
Megan King, assistant manager of the Spirit Halloween store, located next to Trader Joe’s in Batavia on Randall Rd., said that customers are buying a large number of life-size animated characters, such as executioners, vampires and headless brides this year.
“[Life-sized figures] can be creepy,” senior Kyle Straughn said. “But I usually make a scarecrow and hang it in a tree.”
Planning a party can be difficult, especially with all the options for music, food, themes and games. Sticking with the basics may keep guests having a good time. The music played can vary, depending on the mood or theme of the party.
“I prefer upbeat stuff, like ‘The Monster Mash’,” Drefke said.
For a more casual get-together, familiar favorites like “Time Warp” and “The Nightmare Before Christmas” soundtrack are popular choices. For scarier, haunted house-themed parties, creepy music like the theme from “Phantom of the Opera” or the “Halloween” soundtrack are more fitting. For added entertainment, the choice of party games is also important.
“Scavenger hunts and bobbing for apples were always my favorite,” King said.
Freshman John Meisenger said he enjoys playing Ghost in the Graveyard, a game in which the “ghost” tries to tag all the other players. It is also popular around Halloween time.
“It’s dark outside, and it’s fun to hang out with all my friends together,” he said.
Halloween-themed food also appealed to Dethrow, who said “spaghetti with eyeballs, like in ‘Rugrats’,” is her favorite party dish. Another is Jell-O that looks like brains.