Murder Mystery Parties are great for murder mystery buffs any time of the year, but especially appropriate when that Halloween full moon is casting spooky shadows!
What is a Murder Mystery Party? And Why Halloween?
A Halloween Murder Mystery party would involve an interactive, staged murder storyline in which the party guests find themselves in the middle of a mysterious Halloween murder, and sleuth their way toward solving the mystery.
If price is no object, there are companies that write Murder Mystery scripts and even hire actors for parties, available for a large corporate event or a small private party. Additionally, Murder Mystery dinner theatres and troupes can be found around the country for Murder Mystery events, These parties are avaialble 365 days of the year, including that perfect holiday for a murder, Halloween! A good website to find local companies who specialize in Halloween Murder Mystery parties is partypop.com. It is important to contact a Murder Mystery company well in advance of the Halloween party to obtain a price quote and make arrangements.
For those people who enjoy organizing and throwing parties, they can plan a Murder Mystery party themselves at a much lower cost for the same amount of fun!
How to Organize a Halloween Murder Mystery
A Murder Mystery party can be planned by the party host, who uses their imagination for the murder scene, characters and clues. If unfamiliar with throwing this type of party or lacking in the creative genius it takes to put this type of party together, purchasing a pre-planned mystery is the best idea.
All the components for a good Murder Mystery party can be found in boxed form or online. The Murder Mystery plot is already developed, with props provided or outlined and clues prepared ready for their sealed envelopes. Online, party guidelines can be found to fit every type of guest list.
Halloween Murder Mystery Party Stages
Each Murder Mystery party usually contains the following four stages:
- Arrival of guests, dressed in character - Each guest arrives as the character assigned in their party invitations, and are given additional props and instructions pertaining to their character or the plot.
- Introduction of the plot and character objectives - The host or an assigned character will introduce the murder plot once everyone has arrived. Guests are then given time to mingle, keeping their objectives in mind as they get to know each other. (Each guest plays their role as well as sleuth during this time.) This can be done during dinner or party appetizers.
- The murder and investigation - Once the host is certain all objectives have been met, he will arrange for the lights to go out and when they come back on someone will be discovered dead! Evidential information will be provided and solution forms handed to party guests for their murder accusation.
- Solving the crime and determining top sleuths – When everyone has had time to review all the clues and complete their crime solution forms, the mystery will be solved and winners presented with their sleuth certificates! Sleuth certificates can include best actor, best costume, or, if play money is involved, wealthiest sleuth.
Halloween Murder Mysteries
“Horror at Homecoming” is an online production available on Nightofmystery.com. When clicking the download preview link for this particular Murder Mystery, an outline of the party package is provided, including required number of guests, male/female breakdown, character roles, and examples of the invitation and all documents that are provided in the package.
While any Murder Mystery could fit into a Halloween theme, some good websites to check out for mysteries most specific to Halloween are:
- Great Murder Mystery Games - Curse of the Pharaoh
- Merri Mysteries - Murder in Outer Space
- Mystery Game Central - A Devilish Masquerade, Beauty Shop of Horrors, Halloween Lies, Horror in the Haunted House, Murder at Spooky Castle
- My Mystery Party - The Wacky Pumpkin Town Panic, Murder of Twilight at the Red Haven College, One Too Many Witches Will Spoil the Brew, A Daunting Night of Monsters and Murder, and more!
The prepared boxed or online mysteries run between $35 and $70, depending on the number of guests, so it pays to shop around and closely review the various games available! Also many of these websites offer additional party items that enhance the experience.
A Murder Mystery Halloween party combines the fun of decorating for Halloween, planning a party for friends, and hosting a unique event. Guests escape the reality of real life by becoming a Halloween character in a murder plot, and flexing their detective skills! Because of the problem-solving involved in a whodunit, guests interact with each other, the party is lively and no one feels left out. Whoever thought bobbing for apples was a Halloween party?
Related Reading:
Halloween Party Planning Guide
Halloween Party Idea: Monster Masquerade
Resources:
Great Murder Myster Games website
Jan Peterson - I'm a retired banker, published songwriter, cyber journalist, and member of the advisory board for the Arizona Music & Entertainment Hall ...
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