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Jack-o'-Lantern Cake. Frost a round cake with orange icing and then decorate it with raisins to make a jack-o'-lantern face. The birthday child may like to do this. Each child might also be given a cupcake to frost and decorate to look like a jack-o'-lantern. For a Scary Party or a Monster Party, decorate the cake to look like a monster's face.

Ice cream

Roasted pumpkin seeds

Juice, milk, punch

DECORATIONS

Use a Halloween tablecloth, napkins, cups, and plates.

Carve a jack-o'-lantern for the centerpiece. Carve it as soon as the children arrive. Put a candle inside to light when you serve the cake. Save the seeds to roast and serve later. Turn off the lights when you bring in the cake. Only the jack-o'-lantern and the candles on the birthday cake shine.

FAVORS, PRIZES, ITEMS FOR TREAT BAGS

Small pumpkins, Halloween masks, Halloween candy, digital pictures of the children in their costumes

INSIDE GAMES AND ACTIVITIES, NONCOMPETITVE

1. Have the children bring costumes. Have a costume parade. Take pictures.

2. Make paper-bag masks. Provide bags, crayons, markers, glue, yarn, and children's scissors. Help the children cut eye holes in the right place.

3. Set up a Horror House. (See Country Fair Party.)

4. Carve a jack-o'-lantern and then roast the pumpkin seeds. Mix 1 tablespoon oil and 1 teaspoon salt with each cup of raw seeds you saved from the pumpkin. Spread seeds on an oiled baking sheet and bake at 250 degree until crisp (about 45 minutes). Cool before eating.

INSIDE GAMES, COMPETITIVE

1. Pin the Hat on the Witch. Play like Pin the Tail on the Donkey.

2. Who Am I? Use names of scary creatures.

3. Hot Potato

OUTSIDE GAMES, NONCOMPETITIVE

1. Bob for Apples. (See Apples and Autumn Leaves Party.)

2. Bat, Bat, Dracula. Play like Duck, Duck, Goose.

3. Monster Treasure Hunt. Write the clues on paper cut out in the shape of giant footprints.

4. I Spy

OUTSIDE GAMES, COMPETITIVE

1. Giant Steps

2. Run, Rabbits, Run!

3. Snatch the Flag