◂ Back to All Mysteries

Horror at Homecoming

Facts of the case

The future is bright for all but one at Mayhem High…

Purchase Mystery

Costumes

Find that perfect suit or dress for your rocking Homecoming Dance!

Where to find that perfect suit or dress:

• Use (or borrow a friend’s) old bridesmaid’s dress

• Scour the second-hand shops and garage sales

• Try the clearance racks in a department store right after a high school dance

• Dress up any outfit or gown by adding beading, cording, fancy fabrics, fringe, etc.

• Not the right color? Take a can of spray paint to the dress.

• Accentuate any shirt by adding a costumed bow tie to it.

Close Tab

Up-Do and How-To’s

Click below for steps on how to create your perfect hairstyle for your fabulous night!
French Twist
Chignon Step
Loose Waves
Star Fire Pony
Braid Bun

Close Tab

It’s Tiara Time!

Order a personalized tiara. Click here.

You might want to create a sash!!!

Design and order your own sash.

Or make your own sash. Click here.

Surprise your date with flowers!

Make your own corsage. Click here.

Make a boutonniere. Click here.

Close Tab

Back to top

Decoration Ideas

Create your perfect high school dance atmosphere with banners, balloons and much more!

The Party Space: Setting up the Dance!

To make the most of your Horror at Homecoming, you will want to transform your party space into your high school gym. Here are a few ways to do that are both inexpensive and FUN!

• School colors! Select school colors for Mayhem High and decorate using those colors. If the party is around Halloween time, you may want to use orange and black!

• Balloons, balloons, balloons! Nothing says a high school dance more. You can have them in clusters, archways, as table centerpieces, or just scattered on the floor. Nothing will make the mood more festive.

• Don’t forget the crepe paper streamers!!! Not only are these cheap, but they go a long way in pulling together your colors and theme of your party space.

• Create a “theme” for your dance and decorate your venue according to that theme. CLICK HERE for a list of possible dance themes.

• Make Homecoming Banners for the school and hang them in your party space.

• Print out and hang the signs included with the mystery!!! (seen below)

• If you can, solicit a disco ball to help with the lighting. If not, see lighting tips below!

• Create a dance floor with inexpensive linoleum tiles from your local home improvement store (Lowes, Home Depot, etc.)

• Have a stage with two thrones for when your homecoming king and queen are crowned.

• Create a balloon archway for your dance floor.

Close Tab

Lighting: Can Make or Break the Mood

• Disco Ball
• White twinkly lights
• Spot lights
• Colored Lights
• Strobe Lights
• Put glow sticks into balloons before inflating and have them act as a decoration AND lighting.

Close Tab

Photo spot: Creating Memories

You can’t go away from Homecoming without a picture! Be sure to provide your guests with a place to take their picture!!!

A few suggestions:

• Pick a place where there will be good lighting.

• You can make it as elaborate or simple as you want.

• Accessories and decorations can make a difference. Have some extra props on hand that your guests can pose with. Pom pons, Varsity coats, crowns, top hats, boas, tiaras, sashes, etc.

• An easy way to create a background is to use a “scene setter.” These affordable rolls of images transform your room instantly and make for a good backdrop to your picture.

• Use props like balloons, streamers, balloon arches, pillars, lavish chairs, anything you can think of, to create a staged area for pictures.

• Make sure there is enough room to fit everyone into the frame.

• For individual shots of guests, designate someone to be in charge of pictures as your guests arrive.
– Consider your character list and which character would fit the role of taking the picture. Ie, if you want mug shots, perhaps ask the investigator to be in charge of taking the pictures.

• For a group picture, take one just before the introduction is read or right after the solution is read (before people may start heading out).
o These are two times when you can count on everyone being around and attentive. 

Close Tab

Setting the Scene

Looking for decoration inspiration for your party? Here’s a video to help!
Click below to start!

Back to top

Food & Music

Look here to get ideas on what to serve up at your Homecoming Dance!!!

Food & Music

• You serve your puch in a traditional punch bowl or choose to fancy it up and serve it in a juice fountain for your party!

• For an adult party, you can have “spike your own punch” bottles sitting beside the punch bowl in lieu of serving a mixed cocktail.

• To make it a little “eerie” fill a latext glove with water and freeze it. When it is time for the party, remove the latex glove and have the hand float as an ice cube in the bowl.

“Spirited” Food Ideas

Appetizers–

You may want finger foods for your homecoming dance.
In this event, you can theme them to the “murder mystery” part by creating any of these spooky appetizers. 
CLICK HERE for recipes.

Desserts– 

Since Homecoming is all about school pride, have your desserts reflect that.
You can create (and decorate) football-shaped sugar cookies, school-themed cupcakes, a cake that says “Go Ravens”, or make a crown cake to emphasize the homecoming election.

Close Tab

Music: To Dance The Night Away

Find the most current hits: Find out TODAY’S current hits and download the most current music. You can find a list of the current top hits here.

Stream music from the internet:  If you want current music, but don’t want to pay for it, set up to stream music from the internet for your party. You can do so by utilizing the radio function in iTunes! If you don’t have itunes already on your computer, you can download it here.

For some great dance music, you can find a number of cds for purchase here.

For Free Music: Visit your local library for a number of compilations.

Close Tab

Click on the image to get our Spotify Playlist for this party!

Back to top

Host Information

With this mystery theme, you have a unique opportunity to do theme-specific activities and such to enhance the mystery party! Here are some ideas…

Hosting Tips: For This Mystery Theme

With this mystery theme, you have a unique opportunity to do theme-specific activities and such to enhance the mystery party! Here are some ideas:

• Give your guest their own Homecoming Ticket. You can send these along to your guests with their character description once they have rsvp’d to the party. Ticket designs included with the mystery.

• Run your own Homecoming Court Election. Make a ballot box and have your guests vote who they would elect for the king and queen. Ballots are included with mystery.

• Crown Your Queen and King! At one point in the party, the Homecoming Queen and King will be announced. Have crowns on hand and/or sashes for the winners!

• Create a Photo Spot! What Homecoming dance would be complete without a posed photo to remember the night by. See directions and examples on the Decorations tab above on how to create the perfect backdrop!

• Throwing a Last Minute Party? Provide an assortment of accessories to help your guests “get into character” including: bow ties, costume jewelry, pom pons, crowns, etc.

Close Tab

With this mystery theme, you we have included a number of ideas and designs to help enhance your party with easy-to-make decorations and such.

Included is:

– Investigator Notebook Designs
– Homecoming Ballots
– Homecoming Ticket Designs
– Posters for around the party space!
– Cup Label Designs
– Photo Props
– Homecoming Queen and Homecoming King sash templates
– How to make a Crown
– Food Tent Designs

And more…

Close Tab

Each month we highlight one of our customers who has posted on our blog and award them a FREE party!

To get your $5 coupon AND be entered in the Party Of the Month contest for a chance to win a FREE party, please email nompartyofthemonth@gmail.com

Don’t forget to add all the important details and party highlights that made your party one to remember! We love to hear about all of the hard work you, as host, put into your party. From the decor to the food, costumes, whatever. As well as how you and your guests acted (and reacted!) throughout the night! Everything that made your party one your guests will never forget — tell us about it! And be sure to attach some pictures!!!

Upon submitting, we will email you back a coupon to use for $5 off your next party AND enter you in our “Party of the Month” contest, where you could win a FREE party! Once submitted, you will not have to resubmit, but will be entered EVERY MONTH until your party wins!

Close Tab

Back to top

Tips

All of the information regarding how to run your Horror At Homecoming party can be found online at Night of Mystery. We highly suggest that you take time to look over our website and download the Horror At Homecoming preview file. Upon reading the introduction file, it will give you a better understanding about how the parties are run and what to expect once you purchase a full mystery file.

If you still have question, the Frequently Asked Questions page at Night of Mystery is a great resource or you can contact us.

 

Since our games are custom written for the size of the party (ie, we don’t just create a mystery with 8 characters and then keep adding more characters to it), each mystery size is unique unto itself. That being said, going from 10-15 version to 15-20 version, will not only add in more characters, but it will change the storylines of the existing characters, and vice-versa in going from a larger version to a smaller one.

Because of this, WE STRONGLY SUGGEST you get a guest count before formally ordering. You can do so by downloading an invitation, inviting your guests and then purchasing your mystery once you have a more accurate number of people attending. Unfortunately, if you find yourself purchasing the wrong sized party, you will have to purchase another version of the mystery for the size you want unless you are moving from the 15-20 version to the 20+ version.

You can download an invitation here before ordering.

PARTY PLANNING RESOURCES:
– Look above on this page in the Costumes, Decorations and Food & Music tabs.

– Be sure to check out our Horror at Homecoming Pinterest Board that is filled with ideas for recipes, costumes, decorations, etc.

– All of the *Extras* that come with the mystery!!! (see below for more info!)

For even more party planning ideas, check out our Horror At Homecoming Pinterest Board here. It is s filled with ideas for recipes, costumes, decorations, etc. for the perfect Horror At Homecoming party!

With this mystery theme, you we have included a number of ideas and designs to help enhance your party with easy-to-make decorations and such.

Included is:
– Investigator Notebook Designs
– Homecoming Ballots
– Homecoming Ticket Designs
– Posters for around the party space!
– Cup Label Designs
– Photo Props
– Homecoming Queen and Homecoming King sash templates
– How to make a Crown
– 80s Movie Poster Designs
– Food Tent Designs
– Cupcake Topper Designs
And more…

Each month we highlight one of our customers who has posted on our blog and award them a FREE party!

To get your $5 coupon AND be entered in the Party Of the Month contest for a chance to win a FREE party, please email nompartyofthemonth@gmail.com

Don’t forget to add all the important details and party highlights that made your party one to remember! We love to hear about all of the hard work you, as host, put into your party. From the decor, to the food, costumes, whatever. As well as how you and your guests acted (and reacted!) throughout the night! Everything that made your party one your guests will never forget — tell us about it! And be sure to attach some pictures!!!

Upon submitting, we will email you back a coupon to use for $5 off your next party AND enter you in our “Party of the Month” contest, where you could win a FREE party! One submitted, you will not have to resubmit, but will be entered EVERY MONTH until your party wins!

Check out some of our past winners here! Night of Mystery POM Blogs

Thanks again for hosting with Night of Mystery and we can’t wait to hear all about your party!!!

Are You Up for 
the Challenge?

VIEW ALL MYSTERIES