By MICHAEL BOYLAN
Weekend Editor

Trick or Treating can be a fun activity, but there comes a time when it just stops being worth the hassle.

You're starting to look a little older, you no longer want to dress like your favorite Disney character, and it seems like the nice ladies behind every door start to ask how old you are. Maybe you're 12 or maybe you're 33 — the point is you can still get candy, dress up in a fun costume and have an excellent end to October, simply by hosting a party.

The first step is making the guest list. Make sure that the party plan is OK with your parents, spouse or landlord and then make your phone calls, e-mails or invitations. The number of people you invite should always correspond to the number of seats you have. Having too many people makes it hard to move around and it is much easier for a mess to be made.

A good number of guests for a gathering is between 14 and 20 people. Ask your guests to come in costume. If you do not make it clear that people should wear costumes, no one will be wearing one except you and that crazy person that dresses like a hobo year in and year out.

Now that people are coming to your place for a party, it is time to purchase decorations and refreshments. First and foremost on your list should be the package of cottony material that you can spread out to look like spider webs. Not only can it appear kind of spooky, if done correctly, but it is inevitable that one of your guests will use it to make a fake beard.

Traditional orange and black streamers are always popular as well. They are very easy to put up and yet, it looks like you spent a lot of time on creating a festive atmosphere.

Now would also be the time to look for objects you can buy that may frighten your guests a little. Fake insects, skulls with glowing eyes, rubber body parts, goo... any of these things, if properly used, can get a charge out of your guests.

When it comes to refreshments, first on the list should be candy. They sell candy in enormous bags during this time of the year, so splurge. Get some candy bars with nuts and some without, but don't purchase candy like Tart and Tiny's that can disappear very easily if dropped. The crunchy food group, meaning chips, is also necessary for any good party.

Make sure that you purchase both candy corn and apples. Candy corn is indicative of harvest time and Halloween, as is the sport of bobbing for apples. The origin of bobbing for apples actually dates back to a time when people could not climb apple trees and actually had to wait for the wind to knock them into the river, where the people could grip them with any available body part. In the fall, when the air got colder, people would just stick their heads in the water to avoid getting their whole bodies wet.

That may not be true, but it definitely dates back to a time when people didn't care if they got soaked on a cold October evening.

While you're making your food purchases, also look into buying a box of spaghetti, peeled grapes, Jello, and fruit punch. The spaghetti, grapes, and Jello are for the body parts game. Your guests walk through a very dark area and are invited to touch what they are told is the body parts of a dead man. The fruit punch is a great drink, because it looks like blood, it changes the color of your mouth, it tastes good and it is cheaper than soda.

It is also a good idea to purchase one of those Spooky Sounds tapes. They are very inexpensive and this is the only time of the year when it is acceptable to listen to it. The sounds make for interesting background noise to mingle to at the beginning of the party and will come in handy later on if you're in the mood to tell scary stories.

A word to the wise, though: unless you know that people have some really good scary stories, go to the library or bookstore and get a book of very short ghost stories. The activity tends to peter out if the only story anyone knows involves a hook hand.

There should be dancing, and if not dancing, at least music. To solve the problems of making sure everybody likes the music selection, either choose a radio station that appeals to the majority, program your CD player, or make a mixed tape before the party. Also remember to keep the vibe up and to leave slow numbers, if any, for the end of the party.

It is also a good idea to vote on best costume. As long as everybody doesn't choose himself, it can be a fun way to reward people for sticking around for a few hours in makeup or a hot and sweaty mask. The awards don't have to be extravagant. Most party supplies stores sell plastic spider rings or other little trinkets that would be appropriate.

Halloween is this weekend and you may have already begun to plan your party, but keep in mind these tips for a happy and safe Halloween.

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