Halloween II Party Planning Guide

Party Planning Checklist

Halloween II Party

A step-by-step checklist for a Halloween II birthday, Halloween party or horror movie night. Quantities are for 8 guests.

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3–4 weeks before

Set the date, time and headcountPlan on 2–3 hours. Evenings and weekend afternoons work best.
Send invitationsSend a text, an e-vite or mailed invitations. Ask guests to RSVP 1 week out.
Optional: dress codeCoveralls and a white mask, or a 70s look like Laurie Strode.
Pick the spaceA living room set up for movie night. Candles and carved pumpkins set the mood.

3–4 weeks before

Tableware for 8The Standard or Deluxe Pack Prime Party covers this. To build your own, get 8 dinner plates, 8 dessert plates, lunch and beverage napkins and a table cover.
CupsThere are no Halloween II cups, so plan on solid orange or black cups from the store.
Forks & spoonsGrab 20 of each: orange forks and orange spoons, or black forks and spoons. Prime Party
StreamersTwist orange and black together in long spirals across the ceiling. Prime Party
Latex balloonsOrange and black pearlized balloons. Prime Party
ConfettiScatter silver circle confetti down the table. Prime Party
DécorThe Halloween II fabric wall banner Prime Party plus a few carved pumpkins.
Water bottle labels (16)Bottle labels Prime Party. They set how many bottles of water you buy. See the food section.
Favors (8)Halloween II favor boxes Prime Party, one per guest.

1–2 weeks before

Order or bake the cakeA pumpkin or chocolate cake with orange frosting, or cupcakes with candy pumpkins.
Buy 16 bottles of waterYou have 16 bottle labels, so that's 2 per guest. Standard 16.9 oz bottles are the easiest to wrap.
Plan the main courseA big pot of chili with cornbread, or a hot dog bar.
SnacksCandy corn, caramel popcorn and pumpkin seeds.
Plan the drinksMake Haddonfield Orange Cider Punch (the recipe is after the store list), plus water. Plan for 2–3 drinks per guest.
IceAbout 1 lb per person, so one 10 lb bag.

1–2 weeks before

Buy prizes for every gameWinners pick from the prize basket (see the DIY games below). Plan on 15–20 small prizes.
Movie marathonWatch Halloween and Halloween II back to back. They take place on the same night.
Pumpkin carvingSet out pumpkins, carving kits and a trash bag for the guts.
TriviaPrint this guide and leave the trivia page on the table. It's at the end of this checklist.

1–2 weeks before

Number Scramble: make the numbersWrite one big number per guest (1–8) on half sheets of 8.5 × 11 paper and tape them to the floor around the house. Write the same numbers on slips of paper and put them in a bowl.
Number Scramble: how to playAbout every 15 minutes, ring a bell or play the Halloween theme on a speaker. Everyone scrambles to stand on an open number. Draw a slip from the bowl, and whoever is standing on that number picks a prize. Set the winning slip aside so more guests get a turn.
Lucky Plate: mark one plateBefore you set the table, draw a small jack-o'-lantern on the bottom of one dinner plate.
Lucky Plate: the revealHalfway through the meal, announce that everyone should check under their plate. Whoever finds the small jack-o'-lantern picks a prize.
Prize basketFill a basket with inexpensive prizes for winners to pick from: movie-theater candy boxes, $1–2 scratch tickets, glow sticks and full-size candy bars. Use it for every game. Buy more than you think you'll need. Leftover candy and scratch tickets make great thank-you prizes for your clean-up crew. 😉

1 week before

Buy favor fillers for 8Candy corn, mini candy bars, glow sticks or a mini scratch-off.
Optional take-homeA leftover cupcake or a bottle of water for the road.

Day before

Wrap the water bottlesPeel off the store labels, wrap with the Halloween II labels and chill.
Fill the 8 favor boxes
Make the Number Scramble signs and slips; mark the lucky plateTape the numbers down on party day so they don't get kicked around.
Hang the banners and wall décorPut the wall piece behind the food or photo area, and drape the banner over a doorway or the food table.
Inflate balloonsMix orange and black. Air-filled clusters last longer than helium. Hang the streamers and scatter the confetti on the table last.
Set out serving dishesFood goes in bowls and on platters, not on the printed plates, so the artwork stays visible.

Party day

3 hrs before	Pick up the cake and the food.
2 hrs before	Table cover, 8 place settings, and the centerpiece.
1 hr before	Fill the cooler, set up the games, and tape down the Number Scramble numbers.
Arrival	Music on, drinks in hand.
Every 15 min	Ring the bell for a Number Scramble round.
+30 min	Dinner or appetizers. Lucky Plate reveal halfway through.
+1 hr 15	Movie marathon and Pumpkin carving.
+1 hr 45	Cake and candles, "Happy Birthday," then trivia.
Goodbyes	Hand out the favors at the door.

Take this to the store

Everything here comes from the grocery or dollar store.

Signature drink (non-alcoholic)

A cozy orange punch for a cold October night. Alcohol-free. Makes about 10 cups, enough for 8 guests. Time: 10 min.

Tip: On a cold night, skip the ginger ale and serve the cider and orange juice warm in mugs.

Table talk

Leave this page at the table and take turns reading them out loud. They make for fun conversations at the table.

What year was Halloween II released?
Show answer
1981
In what town does the story take place?
Show answer
Haddonfield, Illinois
Who plays Laurie Strode?
Show answer
Jamie Lee Curtis
Who plays Dr. Loomis?
Show answer
Donald Pleasence
Where does most of Halloween II take place?
Show answer
Haddonfield Memorial Hospital
What big secret about Laurie is revealed?
Show answer
She is Michael Myers' sister
Who composed the famous Halloween theme?
Show answer
John Carpenter
Michael's mask was made from a mask of which TV character?
Show answer
Captain Kirk from Star Trek
Halloween II picks up on the same night as the first film. What year is it?
Show answer
1978
Who directed Halloween II?
Show answer
Rick Rosenthal
What was the name of the sister Michael killed as a boy?
Show answer
Judith Myers
How is Michael Myers listed in the movie credits?
Show answer
"The Shape"