It’s that time of the year where everyone is buzzing with Halloween party ideas. Adrian is trying to talk me out of hosting a Poltergeist trilogy movie night. He says it would be the third consecutive year we’ve done this, and our friends are getting tired!

The problem is, I can’t think of anything else, especially since that movie had such an impact on me as a kid.

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“Chop it down, chop it down!” I would cry as my dad tucked me into bed. My dad would peek outside the window at the old oak tree and laugh heartily. “The tree is not going to attack you, Bobby. Now, sleep tight”.

But I couldn’t help it. I would stare at the shadow of the grand oak tree outside my window and imagine that it would turn into ugly gnarled branches, smash through my window and grab me in the middle of the dark night. So I would run to my parents’ room, crawl under their covers and fall asleep.

Though I have outgrown these childhood fears, the idea of a Poltergeist haunted house still gives me goose bumps. This never fails to put me in the right mood for the Halloween spirit. (And of course, I still have my evil tree costume).

But perhaps Adrian has a good point. Perhaps it’s time to think of a different way to celebrate a Happy Halloween with friends and family that’s not stuck in the 80’s.

I’ve been looking around for ideas and notice that most scary movies these days are about vampires and werewolves, unlike the ghosts and ghouls of my childhood era.

So since I’m too old to Trick or Treat, perhaps I could host a vampire party? I was thinking I could add red food coloring in my ice cubes to make “blood bites”, give my Jack-o’-lantern some fangs, and finally get a new Halloween costume. (I could even dress Kong with a cape, since he already has fangs.)

What do you think? What other Halloween party ideas or Halloween costume ideas do you have? And what puts you in the right mood for Halloween? I’d love to hear your thoughts and suggestions in the comments!