Spook-tacular Party Ideas

Scavenger Hunt
Each team (usually three to five people) gets a list of objects to gather, and it is up to them to locate the objects on their own. You can either make it an on-foot competition, or allow cars. The first team to make it back to the starting place with all the items wins!

Getting ready
Invitees need to know exactly what they are getting into well before they arrive at the party. Will they be hiking through the bush? Driving around town? Asking store clerks or waitresses embarrassing questions? Provide the appropriate details in your invitation.

Sometimes it’s fun to let neighbours and even nearby shops into the fun. Arrange in advance for them to hold on to items, but to not give them to the hunters unless they answer a riddle or do something silly.

What you’ll need
• A list of objects to gather. They can be themed, or completely random. Make sure you have a copy of the items for each team.

• The permission of your neighbours, particularly if the scavenger hunt will be on foot. Let them know the types of things everyone will be searching for, and discuss what limits and rules you intend to share.

• A clear set of rules for participants. What are the boundaries of the search? The timetable? Of course, make it clear that stealing is NOT allowed under any circumstances; nor is driving crazily or running through anyone’s garden.

• Food, drink, prizes and a place to relax when all the teams return.

Happy hunting
Here are examples of items to include in your scavenger hunt. Be careful in picking them: You want some that are easy to find and some that take ingenuity. Think through the methods people might use for finding the items, estimate the time it will take, and then add an hour to be safe. Better yet, do a dry run yourself! You don’t want to find out that your hunt takes six hours instead of the three you had planned for.
• AAA battery
• Apple
• Black fingernail polish
• Blood-red lipstick
• Broom
• Golf ball
• Head of garlic
• Light bulb
• Lock of black, red or grey hair
• Marshmallow
• Orange sock
• Sewing needle
• Plastic spider
• Strand of uncooked spaghetti
• Thread
• Today’s newspaper
• Toothpick
• Whistle