So, we're planning this really cool Hallowe'en party...

[LSPoorEeyorick]

Originally Posted by wendybeth

I'm fresh out of Dementors, but I could throw in some of Eric's socks.

If they're anything like the socks around our house, I'm sure those could suck the life out of just about anybody!

That's a marvelous party idea, Jughead! Sounds like so much fun. Have you guys found the recipes for pumpkin juice/butterbeer online?

The US Potter conventions (I was part of the administrative staff for one once, before I quit. Don't ask.) have an official ground quidditch game and I'd bet they'd be willing to share the rules with you.

We've been to many a Potter book release at bookstores... and we've seen some fun activities. Build your own wand, with string/pipe cleaners/etc. Potions classes... kids could make slime, or do those simple chemistry tricks (color-changing, dry ice, etc.)

I'm sorry I'm not nearer, as to portray the Fat Lady!

And about the whomping willow stuff.. two seconds of glee per kid ain't bad, as long as you have somebody willing to do it. We did a live scarecrow once, and the bursts of terror/laughter made all of the waiting in-between completely worth it.

[Morrigoon]

Originally Posted by Gemini Cricket

You should dress someone up as the Whomping Willow with branches and leaves on them. Put them outside and have them surprise jump guests as they arrive.

If you can find a car-shaped pinata, you could staple some leaves to the stick and blindfold and have the kids "be" the whomping willow trashing the Ford Anglia. (helps if you can find a blue car, but chances are you'll have to settle for red)

[Jughead P. Jones]

You guys are awesome! I'll definitely fill my sibs in on these ideas!

The whole Azkaban idea for bratty kids is so cool!

And, actually, we're going to drape a net over black balloons to make Dementors. I just remembered that idea.

[Jughead P. Jones]

Originally Posted by wendybeth

It might be fun to have a sort of mini Diagon Alley, where you have booths or stations set up representing some of the stores- the kids could go through this prior to being sorted. (Give out play wands, candy, etc).

I REALLY like the Diagon Alley idea. Since it's my sister's house that will be hosting this event, maybe we could do Diagon Alley in her garage or something. That would be interesting.

[Jughead P. Jones]

Originally Posted by katiesue

Sounds great. We do a pumpking carving party every year. I just spread out plastic table cloths all over my kitchen floor and let the kids go at it, then they take the pumpkins home. Easy clean up I just gather up the tablecloths and trash em with all the pumpkiny guts in the middle.

I may need to swipe some of your ideas for this years event.

Hallowe'en has always been a holiday that my family has celebrated with full force. About 15 years ago, when I was a small fry, we had a tree in our front yard that was, well...dead. And, we were getting new siding to replace the cracked and warped siding that we previously had when we moved in. So, that year, we decided to have fun with it. We made our house look like a haunted house, and threw a fake corpse in the dead tree along with bats and ghosts. And, we also painted murals on our glass doors to add to the spookiness. The Hogwarts party we're planning this year is going to be really fun to plan out.

I'm glad you like our ideas! Feel free to borrow as many as you like!

[Jughead P. Jones]

Originally Posted by Moonliner

Time management.

Something like the whomping willow mentioned above can take a large amount of time to setup (plus it requires a full time person) for about 2 seconds of fun per kid. Make sure you have enough activities for them interested based on the length of the party. Costumes and decorations do not keep kids busy and a busy kid is a happy kid.

Exactly! I think how we're doing it is that each section of the house will be a classroom (i.e. Divination, Potions, Transfiguration, etc), and each class will have an activity. It'll be like a rotation thing going on, similar to class activities within school.

[Jughead P. Jones]

Originally Posted by Eliza Hodgkins 1812

I couldn't go to this party. I'd spend the entire evening trying to get into Snape's crotchety pants.

Yeah...not exactly the most kid-friendly activity.

[Jughead P. Jones]

Originally Posted by LSPoorEeyorick

If they're anything like the socks around our house, I'm sure those could suck the life out of just about anybody!

That's a marvelous party idea, Jughead! Sounds like so much fun. Have you guys found the recipes for pumpkin juice/butterbeer online?

The US Potter conventions (I was part of the administrative staff for one once, before I quit. Don't ask.) have an official ground quidditch game and I'd bet they'd be willing to share the rules with you.

We've been to many a Potter book release at bookstores... and we've seen some fun activities. Build your own wand, with string/pipe cleaners/etc. Potions classes... kids could make slime, or do those simple chemistry tricks (color-changing, dry ice, etc.)

I'm sorry I'm not nearer, as to portray the Fat Lady!

And about the whomping willow stuff.. two seconds of glee per kid ain't bad, as long as you have somebody willing to do it. We did a live scarecrow once, and the bursts of terror/laughter made all of the waiting in-between completely worth it.

Those are all great ideas! I think I'll do some searching for some recipes! Thanks, LSPE!

[Jughead P. Jones]

Originally Posted by Morrigoon

If you can find a car-shaped pinata, you could staple some leaves to the stick and blindfold and have the kids "be" the whomping willow trashing the Ford Anglia. (helps if you can find a blue car, but chances are you'll have to settle for red)

That is another great idea! We actually sell car pinatas at the store I work at, but I think they're all yellow and red...

...but, we could always repaint it with non-toxic paint.

[tracilicious]

That sounds like so much fun!

(And I'm happy that we have another Potter geek here. Soon we'll outnumber the Monty Python people! )