White bed sheets soaked in starch make great ghosts to hang in your trees. But the best part of the evening is when teams of guests head for the kitchen to help prepare the meal. You'll have all the supplies laid out with recipes for general guidance, but be rest assured, if your party goers are like ours, your guests will be more than happy to depart from the recipes, adding their special touches. Present each guest with a small hollowed-out pumpkin and provide a room with adequate tables covered with newspapers for carving.
Guests can also paint the pumpkins with colored markers.
Keep in mind that even guest-participation party food requires some advance preparation on your part. Lining ingredients up, washing and peeling vegetables, and measuring out ingredients is best done ahead. Have a bowl of Halloween Gorp and several baskets of raw veggies with Bat's Breath Dip ready for snacking until the meal is prepared to prevent any low blood sugars. Hot Spiced Witch's Brew simmering on the stove makes a perfect hot beverage without the worry of too much sugar. Offer cans of diet soda and small bottles of water in a large wash tub or cooler filled with ice.