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All the hosting inspo you need for throwing a haunting Halloween party

Movies, music, meals and more ideas for your spooky soirees.

Movies, music, meals and more ideas for your spooky soirees

Jessica Thevarajah · CBC Life · Posted: Oct 25, 2024 3:13 PM EDT | Last Updated: October 25

3 side-by-side images: closeup on a red and orange cocktail; Beetlejuice from the movie, a hand painting a pumpkin. — (Betty Shin Binon, The Geffen Company, TikTok/@flashesofstyle)

For some, spooky season begins the second September first strikes, for others it's marked by October's crisp weather and longer nights. No matter when you choose to begin your fall festivities, we've got all the inspo you need for hosting dinner parties, movie nights and, of course, classic costume parties this Halloween.

Below you'll find horror movie recommendations ranging from gateway to gothic, a soundtrack to set the scene at dinner, macabre DIY decor, treats to make (including a killer cocktail!), plus activities to keep your guests entertained like telling spooky stories or decorating pumpkins. And don't worry, we haven't forgotten inspo for your Halloween looks!

Halloween watch-lists

10 gateway horror films to spook the whole family this Halloween

triptych of stills from three films: Beetlejuice, Coraline and the Witches — Beetlejuice (1988), Coraline (2009), The Witches (1990) (Source, left to right: The Geffen Company, Focus Features, Jim Henson Productions)

10 period horror films to watch by candlelight this Halloween

A still from the film Black Sunday. Closeup of Barbara Steele as Asa kneeling before an open coffin with a man in it. — (Source: Mario Bava/Galatea Film)

9 Canadian horror films that belong on every Halloween watch-list

Three panel image. Left: Two teenage girls. Middle: A man with a mask over his lower face holding a knife to a zombie. Right: A little blonde girl screaming as little monsters attack her through a wall. — (Source, left to right: Copperheart Entertainment, Elevation Pictures, Canadian Film Development Corporation)

Fear not! 10 Halloween movies for scaredy cats

stills from 3 films — (Source, left to right: Unison Films, Happy Madison Productions/Netflix, Amazon Studios)

Spooky menu inspo

What to cook in October: Hearty meals for Halloween night

3 overhead food images. Left to right: a bowl of spaghetti and meatballs; hands holding a bowl of dal and rice; a bowl with chicken, hummus and roasted potatoes. — (Photo, left to right: David Bagosy, Dhivya Subramanian, Amina Al-Saigh)

Gin and Blackberry Chiller

A red cocktail in a glass with lit black candles in the background. — (Photo: Betty Shin Binon)

Spiced apple cider sangria: A festive beverage that's bursting with fall flavours

Overhead shot of 3 glasses of an orange cocktail with slices of apple and orange in them, all sitting on a pink background. — (Photography by Dhivya Subramanian)

Spider Web Mirror-Glaze Cake

A black cake with orange icing on top that looks like a spider web. — This week’s Technical Bake is decked out for Halloween. (Geoff George/The Great Canadian Baking Show)

Black and Orange Halloween Chili

chili in black bread bowls — (The Goods)

Make these Mummy Candy Apples for a haunting Halloween treat

3 candy apples decorated to look like the faces of mummies — (CBC Life)

Gothic decor and DIYs

How to create a gorgeous gothic display in your home this Halloween

table display of lit black taper candles, black mini pumpkins, grapes and faux butterflies surrounding a fake skull in a glass cloche. — (Photography by Betty Shin Binon)

13 TikTok hosting hacks for Halloween

three images, left to right: a hand painting ghosts on a small pumpkin; three small mugs with dry ice in them designed to look like cauldrons; overhead shot of a charcuterie board with crackers, vegetables and brie turned into Halloween shapes. — (Source, L-R: TikTok/@flashesofstyle; @yellowbellykelly; @champagneang)

A haunting soundtrack

Haunting film scores to soundtrack your Halloween dinner party

3 film stills: a man holding a woman, closeup on a woman's face, closeup on a man — (Source, left to right: Universal Pictures, A24, PolyGram Filmed Entertainment)

Killer looks

A vampire makeup look from Ms. Myles that's perfect for Halloween

A vampire makeup look from Ms. Myles that’s perfect for Halloween

1 year ago

1:23

Follow along as she shares how to achieve this edgy eyes and lips combo.

A dripping "blood " Halloween nail tutorial

A dripping “blood ” Halloween nail tutorial

1 year ago

1:00

Follow along with @nailsbyalsn for how to DIY this mani at home.

An adorable ghost manicure for Halloween

An adorable ghost manicure for Halloween

2 months ago

0:35

A step-by-step tutorial from nailsbyalsn for getting these ghouls just right.

A 3D webbed manicure with spiders, just in time for Halloween

A 3D webbed manicure with spiders, just in time for Halloween

1 month ago

0:45

Inspo for your spooky season nails, from nailsbyalsn.

The best pop culture Halloween costumes of 2023

a collage of celebrities including Rihanna, Beyoncé, Simu Liu, Taylor Swift, Gwyneth Paltrow and more on a blue background — (Photo: iStock; Getty Images; @instagram/Beyonce; Laguna Beach Textile Co; Warner Bros. Pictures; Marvel Studios; Instagram/JustJared; @art: CBC Life )

Frightful fun

How to create a gingerbread haunted house for Halloween

How to create a gingerbread haunted house for Halloween

1 month ago

0:43

Betty Shin Binon shows how to level up a store-bought kit with melted gummy bears, black icing and more eerie touches.

How to tell a ghost story and scare your friends

A dark hallway with a ghostly apparition of a woman in a white dress and veil. — (iStock/Getty Images)

How to read the tarot for yourself or your friends — with advice from the experts

closeup on multiple brightly coloured tarot cards laying scattered on a white surface — (Credit: Unsplash/Viva Luna Studios)

Last-minute pumpkin carving and decorating help

2 images side by side. Left: overhead shot of blue and white painted pumpkins. Right: An orange pumpkin with a hole carved in it. Inside is a white pumpkin painted to look like an eyeball. — (Source, left: Instagram/@murpheybeckerart; right: Instagram/@5.min.crafts)

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