THERE’S a dark cloud settling over Britain. No one’s in the mood for fluffy bunnies or children’s clowns anymore. A new survey has revealed that when it comes to partying, Hallowe’en is now our second favourite family celebration after Christmas.

As household incomes shrink, the opportunity to send your kids out begging for sweets may suddenly seem more attractive. But more probably, the popularity of Twilight and Harry Potter has finally put witches, werewolves and vampires into the official party lead.

One in three families will throw a Hallowe’en bash, according to a new survey by Woolworths.co.uk But instead of spending all that money on plastic skull masks and pumpkins, event organiser Polly Betton (who thinks nothing of firing cakes from a giant slingshot in the name of a good party), suggests using your portion of the £280million reportedly spent in Britain each year on Hallowe’en, to have some bad, clean adult fun.

“Don't make it cute,” advises Betton, author of Party! How To Organise A Brilliant Bash.

“A grown-up Hallowe’en is not fluffy, so abandon that in favour of almost anything else. This is not the moment for adorable ghost-shaped biscuits, twee gift bags or dressing up like a fairy.”

Party tips

• Have a great theme. The Mexican holiday of Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) is shortly after Hallowe’en, and gives an excuse for amazing skeleton makeup and a riot of colour. For a more glamorous tone, try a Dead Celebrities theme, and if you’re a fan of kitsch, Hammer Horror is always a winner.

• Put together a carefully curated cocktail list to get the party swinging in no time. Think about appearance, flavour and practicality. Tequila sunrise is great for Dia de los Muertos, or perhaps Bloody Marys for dead celebrities.

• Have fun with your playlist. While the usual suspects, such as Thriller by Michael Jackson, have their place, you can also take your cue from television and film (e.g. Bad Things by Jace Everett, from True Blood).

• Projectors are a great way to fill up empty space without damaging the walls. If you have access to one, use it to project vintage horror films to give a cheap, easy and impressive backdrop to your party.

• Go all out with your pumpkins and invest in a carving tool: a little serrated blade that makes it easy to carve intricate designs. Find instructional videos and free patterns to follow online, for an amazing pumpkin display. For a really impressive effect, put some dry ice inside a pumpkin and pour a little water over it to create billows of low lying, spooky mist.

• Make use of the witching hour. A midnight feast is always a good idea at a big party because it helps to sober up anyone who’s a bit tipsy and delivers a welcome shot of energy to anyone who is flagging.