This is NPR's Life Kit, and I'm a reporter and supreme Halloween enthusiast, Andy Tagle.

Are all you cool ghosts and goblins ready to party with me?

Theme party, that is.

Spooky season is upon us.

It's my favorite time of year for lots of reasons.

The singular thrill-a-punted hay rides with friends, pumpkin carving, scary movie marathons,

plus eating buckets of candy is actually encouraged this time of year.

Don't you threaten me with a good time, holiday makers?

But hands down, my favorite part of Halloween is the costumes and the parties that go with them.

I find it so satisfying to spend a week or two making a homemade costume,

getting to be creative, and then getting that big reaction as I walk through the door of a party.

Like most recently, I was lured far-quad from the Shrek movies,

accompanied by my husband as perhaps the world's largest gingerbread man.

It was hilarious if I do say so myself,

and something that our friends still talk about a year later.

And that's the power of a good theme party.

It ups the ante for social gathering.

It's so much easier for people to reminisce about,

and you can be laughing about the various costumes and their things that really allow people to attach to,

versus a non-themed party.

If you're listening to this episode,

I'm guessing I don't have to convince you why theme parties are so special.

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