As the dark closes in, the mist pours through the streets, the hour is upon us to think of that most ghoulish October get-together, Halloween. Thatâ??s why this year Matalan has put together this Halloween guide, giving you a host of horrifying ideas to make your Halloween party knock the warts off the competition:

Costume

A Halloween party would be nothing without dressing up, so youâ??ve really got to go to town on your devilish disguise for this one. Choose from a gruesome glut of outfits including zombies, witches, skeletons for men, ladies, and even toddler-wear for miniature monsters. There is also a range of face-painting kits; be a Halloween saviour â?? have an emergency outfit or some face-paints to hand in case of reluctant or forgetful party guests!

Monster Mash

If youâ??re preparing for a Halloween party of your own, itâ??s true that too much is definitely the right way to go with this sinister celebration. What makes a great Halloween party is the excess, the creation of a real spooky atmosphere. That means ghoulish down to the last detail! This year, Matalan are stocking a range of Halloween decorations, invitations, games and activities, set to transform your venue into a house of horrors! You can find your nearest M-Party store online here. Donâ??t forget the pumpkins!

Spooky Spots

Thereâ??s Halloween havoc happening all over the place on the weekend of the 31st , and we know where:

Edinburgh â?? The Gothic streets, spooky atmosphere, and chilling history of Scotlandâ??s capital are a sure hit for an outing this Halloween weekend. The City of the Dead festival includes tours of the cityâ??s haunted underground chasms, graveyard tours and chilling tales on the St Andrews night-walk.

London â?? The dead walk the earth the night of the 31st in London and you can be there too. Starting from Waxy Oâ??Connors pub on Rupert Street, the London Zombie Walk will have you shuffling and groaning your way to twelve pubs through the capital, ending at Verve on Upper Martins Lane before midnight. Remember to practice your best zombie moan well in advance. Check out Matalanâ??s range of zombie costumes in various sizes, and stages of decomposition. Yuk.

Oxford â??Oxford Castleâ??s GhostFest, taking place from the 16th until its finale on the 31st October, is ghost-central. As one of the most haunted sites in England, Oxford Castle is a great destination for a host of experiments into the world of paranormal activity. The Oxford GhostFest is sure to provide a nerve-jangling night to remember for the whole group!

Trick-or-Treats

To keep all your gruesome guests happy, youâ??ll of course need Halloween treats to share. Get into the spooky spirit with some Halloween cookies using Halloween cookie cutters available in Matalan stores, as well as Halloween fairy cakes with Halloween-themed parcels. Go over the top with grape juice for blood, grisly eyeballs (lychees with raspberry syrup) and a worm-infested punch (just add gummy worms and snakes â?? they go gooey in lemonade and fruit juice) dyed a grim green (food colouring). See what treats you can pass off as dishes in a freakish feast!