Differences Between Halloween Parties and Fall Festivals

Have you noticed lately that there are more and more fall festivals around your town and fewer Halloween parties? Are they different names for the same thing, or are they really different sorts of event? How do you tell the difference, and which is best for you or your group to host?

As most people are aware, the increase in recent years of fall festivals is largely an attempt to honor all cultures while still throwing a fun party in October. In other words, it's an easy way to show how politically correct you are. Let's take a look at the similarities and differences in these two types of event.

Timing: Both fall festivals and Halloween parties are generally held in late October, however the fall festival is not tied to the timing as much and may be held earlier or later. This may depend in part on the climate where the party is being held.

Decorations: Halloween parties are largely themed in black and orange. There will be scary, spooky things all over the place. Sometimes it is a cute variation on the scary, spooky things like fluffy little black kittens, or dimpled tots in witch costumes. Fall festivals will be decked out in autumn shades of red, gold, orange and russet. There will be fall harvest things all over the place. Scarecrows and straw are also prevalent. The pumpkins are not carved.

Costumes: Halloween parties generally have an "anything goes" policy on costumes. Parties for young children or families may have a ban on anything too scary or gory. If you are concerned about this, it's best to find out in advance of attending the party. Fall festivals may have a no costumes mandate, but that is rare. More likely they will ban any of the scary/magic type characters only, and kids dressed as puppies or ballerinas would be welcome. Sometime a fall festival will ask guests to dress up in a certain theme such as storybook characters or farm animals.

Food: This will depend entirely on the type of party and age and number of guests in both cases. It's a safe guess that a fall festival will have some kind of apple treats, and that a Halloween party will have something made to resemble a scary or magical item.