Neighborhood Halloween Carnival  This party is actually for 40-50 kids, but you could scale it back for an October Birthday party. Just reduce the number of games - or travel in a pack to each game so you can run it.  The prizes for each game (supplied by you instead of the neighborhood) would make up the goody bag. I would recommend have all the same prize at any one game so they won't fight over who got what! Every year my backyard is transformed into the site of the neighborhood Halloween Party. It is carnival style with games (some for older, some for younger kids), face painting, crafts, treats and prizes. Here's how it works: About 1 month prior to the party solicit the help of neighborhood teenagers and parents to run the games.  Two weeks prior to the party, invite children 10 and under to participate. Ask parents to drop off six (or whatever number you choose) age appropriate prizes per child (50 cent avg.) and a bag of candy, prior to the party.  Separate the prizes into those for age 3 and under and 4 and over.  Fill goody bags- or lunch sacks with six prizes each and add some candy.   Note- we used to put the prizes out for the children to choose from at each game- but you limited your number of games by how many prizes you were willing to ask for.  Also- some children can take a long time to decide on a prize, and the late comers would only get the leftovers.  The kids come dressed in their costumes (it's one more use of that costume!) They always have a blast and so do the workers! When the children arrive at the party, they are given a score card which lists all the games and has a place to record their scores. The children can play any games they choose, as often as they wish (only one score is recorded).  When they are done, they take their card to the prize table where it is stamped to indicate that they have received their goody bag. (This procedure also ensured that the late comers, due to soccer games, etc, also received some good prizes, instead of the leftovers.) Games- Note- if you don't have all the toys/equipment for the games, asked neighbors if they can lend them to you.  Also- in each game, let the younger children stand closer. Coke Can crash- set up a pyramid of 6 coke cans on a TV tray, use a tennis ball to knock them down, 2 balls per turn- record the number of cans knocked down.  Stick ball- strap 4 velcro paddles on a fence or swingset and let the children toss the accompanying balls to try to stick them on the paddles.  - record the number of balls that stick.  Football toss- tie a hula hoop on the swingset and let them toss 2 footballs at the hoop. - record the number that go through. Ring toss- I actually found a real game at a garage sale, but we used to drive a stake in the ground and use swimming pool rings. - record the number of 'ringers' Basketball toss- we use a regular hoop for the older kids and a small Little Tykes hoop for the younger kids. - record the number of baskets out of two.  Soccer kick- I have a Little Tykes goal, so we line the kids up and let them aim at it. To challenge the older ones, we use a large diameter ball that tends to get air born if you kick it too hard, the younger ones use a regular ball.- record the number of goals Bowling- I set this up on a strip of carpeting to make the ball roll smoother.- record the number of pins down. Lucky Ducks (store bought game)- this one is for the youngest ones.  Let the child pull a piece of colored paper out of a paper bag (don't let them look in). The colors should correspond to the ones on the bottom of the ducks.  Start the game and let the child pick ducks until they find one that matches the color they picked.- record how many ducks they picked before finding a match. Fishing- also for the little ones. I made a 'kissing fish' pattern (two mirror image fish) that I copied onto brightly colored paper. Cut the fish out and fold them at the lips so that each side of the fish has eyes, fins, etc. Place a tiny black binder clip on the 'nose'.  Glue or tie a magnet on a string, tied to a stick, to make a pole. A rectangular magnet will 'catch' those binder clips pretty well. - record the color of fish caught. Golf-I have one of those kiddy roller coasters which we turn into a golf hole.  The kids stand at the top and putt their balls into plastic cups, which are laying on their side, at the bottom. The middle cup is the hardest to reach, so it is the most points.  If you don't have a roller coaster, the ball could be putted on any smooth surface. Or your husband might have one of those putting practice holes...- record the number of points.  Shooting range- my son has one of those Star Wars guns that shoots foam disks. We set up some of his action figures on a TV tray and let the kids try to knock them over with the foam disk. I think you could use a water gun here as well - record the number knocked over. Face Painting- The teenagers always fight over who will do this, the kids love it too. Kits can be purchased anywhere in October. Spin Art- I purchased this from a craft store ($15). You can make replacement cards from regular poster board and I'm using acrylic paint for refills (the spin art refills are not worth the money) I cut an old T-shirt from the neck to the bottom, then put it on the kids (cut a back) to use as a smock.  Crafts- we have tried many things here.  The key is to have everything precut and just let the kids assemble it at the party. Otherwise you get too backed up.   Snacks- We always get a huge container of McDonalds Orange drink.  It cost $5 and they supply the cups!  Neighbors bring cookies and salty treats as well.  Here are a few more tips-  (1) Be sure to have games for very little ones and older ones too. (2) Type up instructions for each game in case you can't get enough workers- the parents can assist their child.  (3)Don't hold the party prior to trick or treating, it's too much for the youngest ones.- a week ahead of time is good (always set a rain date too)