Day of the Dead

The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals offered a healthy alternative to snacking on candy by hosting a Halloween Half-Marathon on October 28. The Los Angeles event drew some 12,000 runners, including Will Ferrell. Fun sideline attractions included a Shelter Pet Costume Contest and dog-shaped cookies from Walkers Shortbread.

Billed as a "skeletal spectacle," Redmoon Theater's October 27 Halloween party in Chicago featured dozens of the bony Halloween icons. At a s'mores station, two performers dressed in lingerie and face makeup prepared the snacks in a bathroom vignette. They warmed the chocolates over candles in the bathtub and used blowtorches to melt the marshmallows.

Oranum.com and Neuro Drinks hosted Just Jared's October 27 Halloween party at Siren Studios in Los Angeles. Because oranum.com facilitates online video chats with experts who specialize in mystical topics such as clairvoyance, chakra healing, and dream interpretations, the event offered tarot card readings. The readings took place in branded areas replete with Moroccan-style lamps and psychics wearing golden veils.

Keep a Child Alive's family-friendly event included artsy activities for kids. The event took place at the Barker Hangar in Santa Monica on October 27.

Chad Hudson Events produced the October 24 premiere event and after-party for the new film Fun Size. Held at Marathon Park inside the Paramount Studios lot, the event was inspired by a typical, all-American Halloween festival. Illuminated jack-o'-lanterns, creepy trees and scarecrows from CHE and Jackson Shrub and Props, and lighting effects and spiderweb gobos from CHE and Ultimate Lighting created the festive atmosphere.

On October 25, Patrón XO Cafe hosted an event in Chicago with so-called "celebrity ghost hunter" Zac Bagans. Bagans, who appears on the Travel Channel's Ghost Adventurers, brought paranormal-activity-detecting tools to The Hangge-Uppe, which is allegedly haunted. "There were definitely a few eerie moments including a voice that was heard by some guests on the ghost hunt," reported PR rep Arielle Himy. The evening's menu included "Dark Spirits" made with Patrón XO Cafe Dark Cocoa.

On October 24, Boston's Emerald Lounge at the Revere Hotel hosted a Zombie-themed fashion show with looks from Dance Party Massacre's fall line. Scenes from Night of the Living Dead played inside the lounge, and spooky swag included skull-shaped shot glasses from Crystal Head vodka.

Chicago's Dana Hotel and Spa hosted its zombie-themed Halloween bash on October 26. At 7:30 p.m., around 50 costumed dancers sporting everything including fake blood and checkered socks—one even held a sign that said "Eat You Maybe?"—took over the intersection of State and Erie Streets for a spooky pop-up performance. Jason Laws (who was also the assistant choreographer for the famous Oprah and Black Eyed Peas flash dance in 2009) choreographed the dance to a mash-up of "Thriller" and "Ganhgam Style."

Target marked its 50th year in October with a private event for partners and executives in New York. Producer ExtraExtra gave Center548 a festive look by placing bunches of balloons attached to gift-wrapped boxes atop circular seating.

The Boston Institute of Contemporary Art's 75th anniversary in October last year put balloons behind the bar, forming a striking decor element at the after-party inside the museum.

This year the New York City Wine & Food Festival marked its fifth anniversary using late-night dessert showcase Sweet to celebrate the occasion. In addition to confetti garlands strung across the ceiling, there was a strolling entertainer handing out birthday hats to attendees.

Determined to mark its 30th anniversary with a bang, Diesel staged "Diesel xXx," a 24-hour party in 17 cities, spanning eight time zones in October 2008. The celebrations culminated with a blowout party called a Diesel Rock 'n' Roll Circus for as many as 6,700 revelers on Pier 3 in Brooklyn. Inside a tent, guests encountered a circus atmosphere more informed by old European traveling carnivals than Barnum & Bailey.

Sanrio celebrated the 35th anniversary of Hello Kitty by opening a pop-up shop in California in 2009. The opening night party for the promotion had servers and guests dressed in outfits that channeled the brand's cutesy look.

When Mars Chocolate North America commemorated one year since the introduction of M&M's Pretzel, the public party also broke a Guinness World Record for the world's largest piñata. Standing 46 feet tall in New York's 69th Regiment Armory, the papier-mâché-clad replica of the orange M&M's Pretzel character—referred to by the brand as a "spokescandy"—held thousands of bags of the chocolate sweets, which were released and distributed to the audience.

Rather than go big, Toyota opted to hold a competition for the 10th anniversary of its Prius car in October 2010. Following a Facebook contest to find the most passionate driver of the eco-conscious vehicle, the carmaker hosted dinner for the winner as well as 150 Prius enthusiasts, musicians, members of the press, and Toyota executives at a private home in California.

This year marked L.L. Bean's 100th year in business, so the retailer built a giant scale replica of its most iconic product—the duck boot—put it on wheels, and took it on tour. Built by Florida-based fabricator Echo Artz, the 13-foot-tall, 20-foot-long "Bootmobile" was outfitted with a number of details, including oversize shoelaces and the "Bean Boot" stamp on the heel.

Oreo also turned 100 in 2012 and, as part of larger campaign, the Nabisco cookie brand put dancing flash mobs in seven cities across the country. The March publicity stunt, which each involved more than 40 dancers, also included cookie-dunking contests and a Web site for consumers to send virtual birthday messages.

Audemars Piguet turned the 40th anniversary of its Royal Oak timepiece into a traveling art exhibit. The showcase, which kicked off in New York this past March, put the watches in custom cases that resembled rock fragments. Each of the structures had a steel exterior, walnut interior, and was underlit to create the illusion of floating.

Bullseye, Target's canine mascot, turned out for the retailer's 50th anniversary in October and proved one of the night's biggest attractions. The well-trained pooch sat patiently on a pedestal as guests posed for pictures with her.

At an event in March that kicked off the celebrations for Glenfiddich's 125th anniversary, guests could sign an oversize card, which was transported back to the William Grant & Sons distillery afterward.

For the Museum of Contemporary Art in North Miami's 15th anniversary in February, David Stark used past press releases, editorial clippings, photos, and invites to decorate the walls of the institution. The color-coded mosaic also covered lamp shades suspended from the ceiling.

At the October 2011 dinner for Boston's Institute of Contemporary Art's anniversary, each table number represented a year in the museum's 75-year history.

In 2007, the then-owners of New York's iconic Plaza hotel made a big splash by hosting a centennial celebration that had fireworks launched from the roof and the windows of the property. The outdoor spectacle was timed to live music from the 50-piece Orchestra of St. Luke's.

Vintage entertainment put a retro spin on the 50th anniversary gala for Washington, D.C., radio station WAMU 88.5 in November last year. In an homage to its popular "Hot Jazz Saturday Night" program, Doc Scantlin and His Imperial Palms Orchestra performed big-band hits, complete with costume changes and dance routines.

Products, rather than its founding decade, were the focus of the entertainment for Target's 50th bash. The cabaret-style performance that spoofed “Be Our Guest” from Beauty and the Beast had costumes embellished with hoses, shoes, gift cards, and other wares sold by the retailer.

Like birthday parties, anniversary events typically involve cakes. But the tiered creations don't have to be edible—Bergdorf Goodman marked 111 years in business in October with a prop piece that had 25 sparklers instead of candles.

For another spin on a birthday cake, Mattel's 50th anniversary bash for Barbie in 2009 included a 1,000-pound-plus ice sculpture that resembled a giant cake.

Audemars Piguet's dinner toasting the Royal Oak timepiece's 40th year had a cake as well as an elaborate dessert crafted by Olivier Cheng. Hidden inside individual chocolate spheres was a silver sugar version of the 40th-anniversary logo.

When Mattel created a life-size version of Barbie's Malibu Dream House to fete the doll's 50th year in 2009, the toy brand used hundreds of Barbies—both contemporary ones and originals from 1959—to create an eye-catching wall.

In January this year, Bacardi toasted its 150th anniversary with several events, including a party held at its headquarters in Miami. A 72-foot-long retrospective wall showcasing eight different illuminated Bacardi logos doubled as decor.

As a way to thank partners for helping build the company, Target gave guests at its 50th anniversary a brick from the retailer's first store. (The Roseville, Minnesota, location was reconstructed in 2005, and Target saved 1,000 bricks from the original structure.)

Diesel used its 30th anniversary concert and circus show to sell merchandise branded with the event's logo.

Hundreds of past issues formed an oversize wall that stood at the entrance to Women's Wear Daily's 100th anniversary party in 2010.

At Veuve Clicquot's White Cube Party at the Soho Beach House, guests gathered on custom walkways over the pool. Soho House created the build-outs for the December 4 event.

For the 2012 Red Bull Curates: Canvas Cooler project, artists had one day to turn a blank canvas-wrapped Red Bull cooler into a work of art. Ten of the finished products were exhibited at Scope Miami, which took place in a pavilion in the midtown arts district.

Lords South Beach hotel provided a dramatic location for several events during Art Basel, including the Shhh...Special Basel Edition party at Lords South Beach December 4. The hotel turned itself over to artist Desi Santiago, who created the Black Lords installation in which the all-white hotel was painted black and a massive, inflatable dog named Gypsy looked down over the property. Perrier sponsored the project.

Diane von Furstenberg launched her DVF Evian bottle at a luncheon at Soho Beach House December 6. The party was produced by MKG, which created a glass logo display overlooking the ocean. The decor also included oversize printing of the mantra "water is life is love is life."

For the launch of the DVF Evian bottle, MKG added pillows, simple tulip and peony arrangements, and table accents that complemented the feel of the Soho Beach House but also highlighted the red and white colors of the water bottle.

Perriet-Jouët commissioned London designers Glithero to create a piece for Design Miami. The company was the official champagne sponsor of Design Miami and served its Belle Époque cuvee champagne in the Collectors lounge and at several V.I.P. events.

At the MAM Ball at the Miami Art Museum, planned by Karla Conceptual Event Experiences, dinner began with a pre-set amuse called "Evolution of the Tomato." The four-part presentation was set on a balsamic-painted plate and featured a baby wild cherry tomato blanched and served with sea salt and pomegranate molasses; a charred tomato with olive tapenade, mozzarella pearls, and micro greens; tomato caviar with homemade ricotta, bacon crouton, and extra-virgin olive oil; and tomato gelee with vinegar dust. A Joy Wallace Catering & Design was the caterer.

At photographer Terry Richardson's Terrywood book release December 7 at the Standard Spa, guests could submit photos to an interactive photo wall through Instagram. The "printstagram" feature from Social Print Studio would automatically print out a photo from anyone who used the event's hashtag, #HTCLovesTerry. An HTC One was set up to photograph guests who did not have Instagram on their phones, according to Jessica Gehring of event producer Made With Elastic. Guests could take the photos home when they left.

About 700 guests previewed eight custom-designed pianos from Steinway & Sons Miami at the Pop-Up Piano Miami fund-raising concert December 5 at the Perry South Beach. The next day the pianos were placed across the region in a public art project. Organizers expect to raise more than $20,000 from the event to benefit New World Symphony and Kimbanguist Symphony Orchestra. The One Group provided food and beverage, the Event Firm provided decor, and Swank Audio Visuals oversaw the sound and visual effects.

Main Art Basel sponsor UBS hosted a private dinner and Jose Bedia art exhibition December 7 at One Ocean, a new condominium from the Related Group. Karla Conceptual Event Experiences catered the event, serving bites such as smoked Scottish salmon over black bread with dill yogurt and paddlefish caviar.

Inspiration Miami Beach, which benefitted Amfar, took place December 6 at Soho Beach House. Josh Wood Productions produced the event, which had both a silent auction and an online auction hosted by Artnet Auctions. The decor at this year's tent included hanging wicker light fixtures.