PARTY THEMES
1920's
Theme
Champagne, silent movies, Charleston, conga Line, charades, jazz club atmosphere,
flappers, chandeliers, classic white tablecloths, “Big City” backdrop. Check
out "All that Jazz" movie track for more ideas.
1950's Theme
Poodle skirts, letter sweaters, “Sock Hop,” rock ‘n’ roll, soda fountain,
stand-up panels of cars, drive-in atmosphere, 1950s stars (Marilyn Monroe,
James Dean, Roy Rogers, Bette Boop, Elvis, Lucy and Ricky), “car hops” on
roller skates, giant record replicas, jukeboxes, Harley Roadster motorcycle.
Woah! Check out some "Happy Days" television series reruns for
more ideas.
1950's Television
Characters form 1950s TV shows, pot roast, carrots and peas, homemade rolls,
mashed potatoes and gravy, milk, beer and wine, TV show music, watch old
TV shows, TV Trivial Pursuit game, “I Love Lucy” invitations, inexpensive
frames with pictures of happy families in them hung on the walls, old-fashioned
TV.
1960s Theme
Flower children, bell-bottom pants, peace symbols, tie dye. Dress as political
figures of the era and there were a few.
Arabian
Nights
Arabian attire, “bazaar” tent with market items (baskets, lamps, urns, rugs,
feather fans), oasis, Nile barge or camel caravan, lattice arch, dome building,
lighted dish fountains, urns with pampas grass, Sahara desert scene, oasis
with palm trees, tables with gold, palm trees, ostrich plume tops, overhead
gold stars and crescent moons, genies.
Army Base
Olive-colored t-shirts with “Boot Camp” on front and company logo on back,
Army food (meat and mashed potatoes, rolls, etc.), have caterers interact,
pretend boot camp (obstacle course, push-ups, sit-ups, marching drills),
paintball, laser tag, bungee jump, president of the company addresses the
troops and awards medals to the winners, fireworks after dark.
Beach Party
Beach attire, sunglasses, beach volleyball, swimming, beach balls, towels,
umbrellas. Hamburgers, Hot dogs, shrimp, oysters and a great punch.
Casino Party/Riverboat Casino Theme
Formal attire, mouse races, bingo, casino games, craps, black jack, poker
and roulette tables, cigarette girls. Buy prizes with house tokens or give
trophies for tourney winners.
Carnival Theme
Sandwiches, potato salad, macaroni salad, chips and dip, cotton candy, popcorn,
roasted peanuts, ringmaster, acrobats, clowns, clown-card invitations.
Classic Greece/Rome
Ancient city, Greek gardens, marble colonnades, columns, cherub water fountain,
urns, balustrade, Athena statue, curved benches, pedestals, stone gate walls,
planters, topiary trees, golden gossamer fabric, ivy and grape vines, angel
and garden statuary, carved relief frieze “gods.”
Construction Party
Jeans, t-shirts, work boots, hard hats, sack lunches, construction obstacle
course, barricades, yellow lights and signs.
Derby Theme
Formal attire, large hats, bourbon, mint juleps, cake molds (horseshoes,
hot air balloons), candy molds (roses, horses), hot air balloon rides, races,
sterling silver, red roses, baskets of flowers, jockey colors, ice sculpture
(horse) with roses around neck.
Disco
Night
Leisure suits, disco attire, platform shoes, dance music (KC & The Sunshine
Band, Donna Summer, etc.), disco ball, “Staying Alive” signs, bouncer, velvet-roped
entrance, DJ stage, nauseating color scheme, rope lights, mirror balls,
character cut-outs (1970s Elvis, Beatles, Star Wars characters, John Travolta,
Shaggy and Scooby-Doo), giant silver stars, shimmer curtain, smiley faces,
Rolling Stones “lips,” lava lamps, giant flowers.
Game Show Party
Create your own version of “The Gong Show,” “Wheel of Fortune,” “The Price
is Right,” “Who Wants to be a Millionaire,” and others. Questions could
be geared toward your company or organization’s interests.
Mexican Fiesta
Fiesta attire, Mexican foods, margaritas, live band piñatas, sombreros.
Murder Mystery
Guests are assigned a character when they arrive complete with their character
profile. All the guests are suspects as well as detectives. As clues are
announced periodically during the party and the dinner everyone must get
around and interview the other guests. Only the murderer knows who she is
and of course the organizer. Everyone turns in their "who done it"
form at the end of the party along with other key elements like where and
with what weapon. Winner gets a prize like a weekend at the Lodge at Cloudcroft's
Murder Mystery Weekend held twice annually.
Pirate
Party
Pirate attire, eye patches, bandanas, grubby clothes, pirate hats, seafood,
games, ships, hook, fishing net, pirate ship flag (skull and crossbones),
gold doubloons. Caribbean fare, Jerk pork, fresh fruit and a good rum punch
help spice up this party
Progressive Party
Variety of dishes, travel to different locations for each course of the
meal. That is appetizers at the first location and desserts at the last.
It is also fun to have varying themes in food and decor at each location