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.”
Venice Beach
Beach/summer attire, sandwiches, macaroni and potato salads,
tortilla chips and salsa, ice cream, food carts, volleyball,
Frisbees, kites, football, acrobats, clowns, fire-eaters, jugglers,
fortune tellers, mimes, steel drum band, sand pile, blankets,
chairs, umbrellas.
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.
Dinner Theatre
Create your own dinner theatre at Manhattan’s Wareham Opera
House or the Columbian in Wamego.
Film Night/Hollywood Party/Academy Awards
Night
Dress as old Hollywood characters, awards ceremony, Oscars, red
carpet, film reels, movie posters, walkway lined with palm trees, 3D
stars, director’s chair and megaphone, movie star stand-ups (Marilyn
Monroe, John Wayne, Humphrey Bogart, James Dean, Katherine Hepburn,
Jack Nicholson, Client Eastwood, Charlie Chaplin), giant “ HOLLYWOOD
“ letters.
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.
Hawaiian Luau
Roast pig, tropical fruit, flower leis, palm trees.
International Party
Authentic to cultures, international food stations, cultural
dance performance groups, various cultural music.
Karaoke Party
Karaoke machine.
Magical Moments
Capes, top hats, mystery meals, balloon artists, magicians,
audience participation, black and white décor, magic wands, decks of
cards, doves, rabbits.
Mardi Gras
Feathers, masks, sequins, Mardi Gras clowns, “Bourbon Street”
atmosphere, street lights, masks, beads, feathers, brick park walls,
iron gates, hedges, fountain, iron park benches, parade float, satin
purple, green and gold parade shells.
M*A*S*H
Fatigues, surgical scrubs, Army tents and the characters from
the popular TV series.
Masquerade Ball
Awards for best attire.
Mediterranean Fest
Mediterranean appetizers (brie, crackers, rosemary bread, wine,
fruit, green olives), Italian sodas, artichoke dip, pool party,
Italian music (soft and lively), photographer, live singers (opera),
Mediterranean postcard invitations, paradise décor (white sand,
old style striped tents, fold-out lounging chairs), lifeguard, walls,
decorated with green vines.
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.
Patriotic Theme
Hamburgers, hot dogs, apple pie (picnic food), singers,
games/races, U.S. flags, hats, presidential memorabilia.
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
