How to Throw a Halloween Potluck Picnic for Your Neighborhood

Halloween is a holiday loved by children and adults alike - a time to let loose and indulge in a little harmless fantasy. Decorating with spooky spiders and fabric ghosts, dressing up as your favorite character, and enjoying some treats is a fun way to celebrate the fall season. What better way is there to maximize the good times than getting your neighborhood together for a Halloween-themed potluck picnic? A little bit of planning and some creativity will reap a reward of lots of smiles on the faces of little witches, princesses and super heroes.

The first thing you should do is check with your neighborhood association (if applicable), your local parks and recreation department or city hall to see if you need a permit of any kind. Getting a permit is typically a fast and easy process (as long as you don't plan on serving any alcoholic beverages) and they can let you know whether there are any rules and regulations you must follow. This can also help you decide the location - a local park, the neighborhood clubhouse or a good old fashioned block party would all work perfectly.

A couple weeks in advance, you should distribute flyers or stop by neighbors' houses asking for volunteers. You'll need people to bring potluck dishes, help out with decorating and cleaning, and to oversee activities. The more people you can get to help out, the better! Parents of small children will likely be eager to lend a hand, getting their little ones involved in the fun.

Once you've got an army of helpers, you're ready for the really fun part - planning the decor, food, and activities! Halloween decorations can be really easy and inexpensive. Here are a few quick ideas: cover tables with coffee-stained cheesecloth for a creepy effect; make large cut-outs of bats, spiders and other creepy creatures from sheets of black poster board; hanging ghosts are a snap with some old white fabric such as sheets; black trash bags can be made into big, leaf-stuffed lawn spiders. Go to your local farmer's market for dried corn stalks and pumpkins.

Halloween-themed food will really make the party special - and who better to consult for ideas than the queen of DIY, Martha Stewart? Check out her Halloween Guide for recipes such as Scary Spider Cakes and other treats. For an even larger selection, check out this list of over 450 Halloween-related recipes from Recipezaar.com.

Finally, determine what kinds of activities you'd like to have as part of your Halloween potluck picnic. Have each family bring a pumpkin for a Jack o' Lantern carving contest (be sure to lay down lots of newspaper and check that all children are supervised). Fill the back of a pickup truck with hay and offer some leisurely 'hay rides' down the street. 'Marshmallow bobbing' is an easier and more hygienic version of the traditional 'apple bobbing' Halloween activity. And of course, no Halloween party would be complete without a costume contest!

Who knows, your first venture into Halloween potluck picnics might just turn into an annual tradition. With good food, fun activities, the company of neighbors and diligent practice of these Halloween safety tips, you'll have a hit party that the kids will remember for years to come.