- Actress, comedian, and author Angela Kinsey, Michaels' recently appointed Director of the Party Planning Committee, shares her tips for throwing a Halloween celebration that’s festive, creative and most importantly, fun for all ages.
- From creating a simple theme and turning balloons into a party activity to adding easy DIY details and giving little ones a job to do, Kinsey's tips are designed to make Halloween entertaining more memorable without making it more complicated.
- Michaels' 2026 Creativity Trend Report found that “party decoration” searches on Michaels.com are up 125% year over year and “party banners” searches have doubled, reflecting a growing desire to create more opportunities to gather and celebrate.
- Michaels brings together entertaining essentials, balloons, décor, crafts, DIY supplies, activities and more to help hosts bring these ideas to life.
Michaels is fueling the joy of creativity and celebration with actress, comedian, and author Angela Kinsey's tips for throwing a Halloween party people will actually remember.
As Halloween continues to grow beyond a single night into a full season of gatherings, themed dinners, neighborhood get-togethers and family traditions, Kinsey, Michaels' Director of the Party Planning Committee, is sharing her approach to hosting a celebration that's equal parts festive, creative and fun.
The advice comes as Michaels' 2026 Creativity Trend Report declares this year the Year of Creative Living in the Analog Era, with consumers increasingly looking for meaningful ways to gather, create and spend time together. The report's Confetti Culture trend found that customers are finding more reasons to celebrate, with “party decoration” searches on Michaels.com up 125% year over year and searches for “party banners” doubling.
For Kinsey, the best parties aren't about getting every detail perfect—they're about giving people a reason to gather, explore their creativity, and make memorable moments along the way.
"Here's my philosophy: Halloween is the ultimate blank canvas," said Angela Kinsey. "You have costumes, treats, and an entire season dedicated to pure creativity where there are no rules and you can make it entirely your own. All you need is a plan, a little imagination, and maybe a few more balloons than you think."
From setting the scene to keeping little ones entertained, Kinsey's tips for throwing the ultimate Halloween party include:
Tip No. 1: Pick a Theme. Then Commit.
A great Halloween party doesn't need a dozen different decorations to feel special. Pick a theme or color palette and repeat it in a few key places—the table, the entrance and one memorable décor moment. Suddenly, the whole party feels pulled together without turning decorating into a full-time job.
For a vintage-inspired celebration, a few nostalgic details can go a long way. For something more playful, let the kids' favorite Halloween characters or colors guide the look. Michaels' Halloween party collections, décor and entertaining essentials make it easy to build a cohesive celebration without overthinking every detail.
The goal isn't perfection. It's giving the party a personality.
Tip No. 2: Don't Just Put Balloons Up—Do Something With Them.
Instead of simply scattering balloons around the room, use them to create a balloon backdrop, frame an entryway or make a colorful focal point around the dessert or activity table. For little ones, balloons can also become part of the fun: let kids add Halloween stickers to balloons, help arrange a balloon display or create a simple “balloon hunt” around the party space.
Michaels offers Halloween balloons, balloon installations and decorating supplies to help bring the idea to life. And hosts don't have to spend party day coordinating the details—balloons can be ordered online for in-store pickup, delivered the same day or reserved for a specific pickup window up to four days in advance.
That means one less thing on the host's list and more time to actually enjoy the party.
Tip No. 3: DIY Something Kids Can Help Make.
A little DIY goes a long way, especially when the whole party can do it together.
Rather than taking on an ambitious project before guests arrive, choose one simple craft that doubles as décor, entertainment or a party favor. Paint mini pumpkins, decorate treat bags, make spooky placemats or create a simple Halloween decoration that even kids can help make.
Kinsey, who loves to craft herself, knows that the best DIY projects don't have to be perfect. The fun is in making them together.
Michaels offers Halloween craft kits, paint and DIY projects, along with seasonal fabrics, trims and sewing supplies from The Knit & Sew Shop for custom decorations, costumes, favors and festive details.
It's also an opportunity to make the preparation part of the celebration. Invite friends over to craft before the party, make decorations with the family or turn party prep into a Halloween craft night.
Tip No. 4: Give Little Ones a Job.
The best gatherings give people a reason to put down their phones, roll up their sleeves and join in. And with toddlers, having a job can be half the fun.
Set up a simple “helper station” where little guests can decorate treat bags, add stickers to a craft, sort supplies by color or help place decorations around the party space. Older kids can take on bigger jobs, like decorating pumpkins or creating a Halloween centerpiece.
It's a simple way to keep hands busy while giving kids a sense that they're part of the celebration—not just waiting for the next snack.
Michaels' 2026 Creativity Trend Report identified this growing desire for shared, hands-on experiences through its Crafting Chemistry trend. Searches on Michaels.com for “Craft Night” are up 103% year over year, while “Girls Night Crafts” searches have increased 242% and “Paint Party Kit” searches have grown 329%.
Tip No. 5: Send Guests Home With a Little Halloween Magic.
The best party favors are the ones that keep the fun going after everyone heads home.
Instead of a traditional favor bag, send little guests home with something they made, a mini pumpkin they decorated or a small collection of Halloween treats. Boo baskets can also be a fun way to create a more personalized surprise for kids, filled with affordable toys, plushies, glow accessories, stickers, games, candy and other seasonal favorites.
A simple treat bag or handmade creation can turn the end of the party into another memorable moment—and give kids something to look forward to taking home.
The Final Tip: Enjoy Your Own Party.
Shop the essentials ahead of time, give yourself permission to simplify and let someone else handle the details when you need them to. Michaels brings together party supplies, balloons, décor, treats, DIY materials and activities in one place, with convenient options like Buy Online, Pick Up In Store, same-day delivery and balloon reservations to help take some of the last-minute stress out of hosting.
And the fun doesn't stop at home. Throughout October, Michaels stores will host seasonal events featuring projects like craft pumpkins, Ghost in a Jar, Halloween lanterns, spooky yarn-wrapped frames and more. The season culminates with a special, free Halloween Fest on October 17, featuring trick-or-treating, a treat bag craft, balloon and vendor giveaways, and a costume parade.
After all, the perfect Halloween celebration isn't about pulling off a flawless production. It's about bringing people together, giving everyone something to do and making memories along the way.
Shop the complete Halloween assortment now in stores and online at Michaels.com and Michaels.ca.
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