Scooby Doo Mystery Halloween Party

As of late, I’ve kind of had a little Scooby Doo obsession! Our Natalie asked me to transform the Scooby Birthday Party that I posted a couple of weeks ago on my blog (Piece of Cake Parties) into a kid friendly, non-scary Halloween party. What could be more fun than working with ghosts, mummies and the Mystery Machine?


Invitations


You can absolutely purchase Scooby invites at your local party supply store, or you can make your own – very quickly at home. Here is my own version using a simple illustration of a spooky tree, and an image I downloaded of Scooby and friends. I’m including a blank card so you can print them at home, or better yet, add your text and email it as a pdf or jpg to your guests (save time and postage).


Decorations
Scooby and the gang usually use a pretty specific color palette of greens, yellows and oranges. To adapt their retro look for Halloween, buy balloons and streamers in dark purples, dark blues and black. An inexpensive way to really set the stage of any themed party, is to cut shapes out of construction or butcher paper and tape them to windows and walls. Here are a few for you to start with: a bat, the spooky tree, a ghost and the signature flower (I would cut it from black paper with a purple center).


Activity


Since Scooby is all about mysteries, how about a “treasure hunt”. Start by giving the children some kind of simple spy kit that could include; magnifying glass, small notepad with pen, sunglasses, binoculars or camera (obviously pretend). I’ve come up with a few generic rhyming clues that you could probably adapt to your own home, or make up your own and handwrite them on this blank clue card.

The “clues” are:

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On this dark and haunted night, look for an orange candle shining bright.
(could this be on the dining room or kitchen table?)

Now that you've uncovered this spooky clue, hunt for a photograph framed in blue.
(print out a portrait and tape it onto a larger piece of blue paper, hang it on the wall)

Let's continue this eerie quest, you are looking to find a mirror on a chest.
(chest of drawers, or a toy chest)

Don't be surprised by mysteries in the dark, listen closely until you hear a "bark".
(do you have a family dog? You could also use a stuffed one)

Last but not least your mission is almost done, solve this icy riddle and you've won!
(you could hide ice cream treats in the freezer with a card saying "you did it!" on top – or use "sweet" instead of "icy" to lead them to some cupcakes!)

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To make the "mystery" more spy-like, and to guide the children in the right direction, add hand made footprints to the floor. Don't have an orange candle? Substitute with items you already have in your house.


Food
How can you not make Scooby Snacks! Dog bone and dog paw shaped cookie cutters are abundant out there, how about using them to make shaped sandwiches, Jello Jigglers or Rice Krispie treats?


Cake

I recommend cupcakes (store bought or homemade with box of cake mix) for the ease of serving and clean up, and can of frosting tastes just as good to these kids as a fancy buttercream. I have also made a sheet of Scooby and friends images for you to print, cut out and tape/glue to toothpicks and arrange on the cupcakes. Super quick.

My motto has always been to use creative thinking to make any party your own, spend as little as possible and make it look homemade - even if it isn't!