Your Summerween Party Hosting Guide
(Yes, It’s a Real Holiday, and It’s Amazing)
If you’ve never heard of Summerween, prepare to have your party calendar rocked.
Summerween is Halloween’s quirky summer cousin… an unofficial holiday made famous by the brilliant animated show Gravity Falls, where residents celebrate all things spooky under the sun. Think costumes, candy, carved watermelons (aka jack-o’-melons), and just enough eeriness to keep things fun without crossing into horror territory.
So whether you’re planning your first Summerween bash (even if you are just learning about it now) or levelling up from last year’s backyard BBQ, here’s your quick guide throwing a spooky-good party in the middle of summer.
1. Pick a Party Vibe: Cute & Creepy or Full-On Haunted Heatwave?
Summerween can go a few different directions. Some hosts lean into the colourful chaos of jack-o’-melons, skeleton sunglasses, and pool floats shaped like tombstones. Others channel a more gothic-candlelit-lanterns-by-moonlight mood. Either works—just be consistent so your décor, food, and activities match the vibe.
2. Carve Jack-o’-Melons (Yes, Seriously)
This one is a Summerween staple. Swap out pumpkins for watermelons, cantaloupes, honeydews… anything summery you can hollow out and carve a silly or scary face into. Pro tip: scoop the inside into a bowl, add some lime juice and fresh mint, and boom! Instant creepy fruit salad. Line them up around your yard with LED candles inside for a surprisingly spooky glow.
Super pro-tip: Spike your melon before carving, then put the guts out for a refreshingly boozy summer snack. CLICK HERE FOR OUR SIGNATURE RECIPES!
3. Get Guests in Costume—But Keep It Summer-Friendly
It’s not Summerween without costumes, but your guests probably don’t want to sweat through velvet cloaks. Invite them to get creative with warm-weather spookwear: vampire lifeguards, haunted surf instructors, tiki witches, and campy horror movie throwbacks all hit the mark. Want to give your guests some direction? Theme parties like haunted islands, ghostly séances, or vintage Halloween balls are perfect costume cues. (And yes, there are party kits that do the heavy lifting for this kind of theme—more on that later)
4. Serve Spooky Summer Snacks
Go for a spread that screams “Halloween in July.” Think candy bark with crushed Skittles and gummy worms, hot dogs wrapped like mummies, or sliders with olive “eyeballs.” Signature drinks are where you can really shine… pitcher-style sangrias or mocktails in eerie colours (think black cherry or blood orange) make great centrepieces. Bonus points for floating eyeball gummies or dry ice fog effects.
5. Set the Mood With Lighting and Sound
If you’re partying into the evening (which we totally recommend), lighting is key. Think string lights, flickering LED candles, and a glowing moon lamp or two. Soundtracks with ambient creepy noises or retro horror scores playing low in the background will transport your guests instantly—especially if you’re building toward a big event like a scavenger hunt or murder mystery party reveal.
6. Plan an Activity That Gets Everyone Involved
Whether it’s a costume contest, DIY haunted photobooth, or a horror trivia challenge, you’ll want something interactive. For the ultimate group activity? A murder mystery party kit brings everything together—theme, costumes, interaction, and a storyline that unfolds throughout the night. Even if guests aren’t big on roleplay, the format can be adapted to keep it fun, light, and perfect for Summerween vibes.
Looking for ideas? A few of our favourites that fit the Summerween theme like a glove:
- The Halloween Party Murder (perfect if you want traditional Halloween costumes without the cool weather)
- The Haunted Island Murders (tropical meets terrifying)
- Murder at the Seance (outdoor nighttime vibes = chef’s kiss)
- A Vampire Murder (just enough bloody drama)
- The Phantom of the Theatre (for a dramatic flair under string lights)
7. Don’t Forget the Takeaways
Wrap up your Summerween bash with little goodie bags—candy, novelty vampire teeth, mini bubble wands shaped like skulls, or even simple thank-you cards that keep the vibe going. If you hosted a mystery, include take-home Polaroids of your guests and your group in costume. It adds a personal touch guests will remember.
Final Thought: You Don’t Have to Host a Murder Mystery… But Why Wouldn’t You?
Summerween is already a little weird in the best way—why not run with it? Whether you’re going full haunted luau or low-key spooky picnic, the perfect Summerween party balances lighthearted fun with just a touch of darkness. And if you’re already planning the costumes and the playlist? A murder mystery party is the cherry on top (possibly poisoned, possibly not), and we have a line up especially for this theme – CLICK HERE!
So go forth, carve that melon, cue the creepy playlist, check out our Summerween Pinterest Board and let the Summerween weirdness begin.
