Halloween party or Bonfire Night picnic

Spooky, scary
or firework fun

For a Halloween party, when I was growing up in Northern Ireland, we always had fireworks, as well as the bonfire, traditional glowing lanterns and dressing-up costumes of witches and goulies.

I guess, as part of the United Kingdom, we were celebrating Bonfire Night, the 5th November, at the same time, as the dates are so close to each other.

In those days pumpkins were not to be found in N.I. so if we wanted lanterns, we had to use turnips, which are much more difficult to hollow out and carve.

Nowadays pumpkins and squash of varying vivid hues are readily available and you can easily create fantastic glowing displays for your Halloween party.

A Halloween party has become more of a bright and colourful celebration for today’s children in other ways as well.

In my youth we made witches, wizards and ghost costumes from the dressing-up box and whatever else was to hand. Now, in a more commercial world, all kinds of masks, novelties and fancy Halloween items are for sale wherever you look.

With all this paraphernalia available, it’s easy to create a Halloween theme for your party and, with a few additions to the traditional fare, you can also provide an interesting and tasty menu to be enjoyed around the bonfire.

Whether or not you wish to have fireworks and/or a bonfire, that’s for you to decide. However, games are an added excitement for children during any outdoor social event and should therefore be part of a Halloween party too.

You should play Halloween games early on and then everyone will work up a good appetite for the food to be enjoyed around the bonfire later.

Once the games are over, it’ll be time for Spiced Pumpkin soup, pumpkin pie, and other delicious outdoor food and Bonfire Night recipes.

If it’s a dry night but you're not having a bonfire, rescue your barbecue from the garden shed and cook some great barbecue recipes. The heat of the barbie might be welcome too, if you haven’t lit a bonfire.

A piece of dark, sticky gingerbread is a good cake to have for those who want something sweet afterwards, as an alternative to pumpkin pie. It's another autumn and winter traditional favourite, which is great for picnics.

Mulled wine is one choice of hot drink on a cold evening. Another, if you enjoy the warmth of brandy, orange and spices is Winter Pimms.

For children or those who want to stay off the alcohol, why not keep warm with hot chocolate – either chilli chocolate, minty or milky with marshmallows melting in it.

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