photo courtesy of Courtney Pool
Halloween is no exception to the medley of holidays which are overflowing with health-compromising indulgences of processed junk foods and animal products. Here in Patagonia, Arizona, however, Halloween is not only supportive of your alter-ego-of-choice, but also of your body.
Next week, I will host my fourth annual vegan Halloween party. But this is not your average Halloween shin-dig! This October 31st between fifty and seventy people will gather together to enjoy some of the year’s most delicious and creative vegan treats, great music and dancing, stellar costumes and of course, community.
How do you go about putting together a vegan event that friends describe as ‘legendary’? Here are some of the things I do:
- I put together fun, humorous, creative flyers each year to email out to build the excitement throughout the weeks leading up, and I attach the best pictures from last year’s party with recognizable community members to remind everyone of how fun these annual bashes are, and how much fun they are going to have.
photo courtesy of Courtney Pool
- Prizes… who doesn’t love prizes? Prizes play a big part in the success and fun of these Halloween parties. I recruit as many spa treatments from community members as possible: facials, massages, reflexology, whatever 1-hour treatments people are willing to offer. I have three categories for prize-winning: Best Vegan Treat, Best Costume, and Best Persona (who plays their character the best?). Having prizes for treats creates incentive for people to really go all out – and have they ever! We’ve seen vegan donuts, brownies, chocolate cream pies, pumpkin creations and even a ‘Cosmic Cacao Cauldron’. And let’s be honest – most come partially for the promise of delicious food! Having prizes for costumes and for people who act their costume out the best creates enthusiastic energy at the party and of course – more fun.
photo courtesy of Courtney Pool
- In the past, I’ve had other components to the parties as well, such as live music from community members, dance contests, kids activities (kids are always at the party!), and one year – even a ‘Chocolate Fridge’ where I recruited the community’s vegan chocolatier to make over 12 different kinds of chocolate, stock a full fridge, dress up like Willy Wonka and sell them at a Halloween-party-only special price.
Make your Halloween vegan. But like my party disclaimer says, “we take no responsibility for injuries incurred from excessive laughter, for chocolate overdoses or any other consequences of having WAY too much fun!”
