Top 10 Party Themes

Dec 23 2010

Photo by sub city radio

Parties, events, social gatherings, celebratory extravaganzas...they come in a very wide range of size and scope.  We've all been to those parties that are ho-hum at best, most have gone to the fun-but-forgettable social gatherings and a select few of us have been to those events that they'll never forget (either in a good or bad way).  From this huge sampling of experiences alone it can be something of a major challenge to have your interest piqued in a party, but no other type of party comes close to catching one's interest more than a themed party...they generate excitement, they generate buzz and just by the very core concept a themed party has guests buying into the experience in a way no other type of party does, crafting their costumes to take part in the activities of the night. 

People love getting dressed up in some shape or form, and really the only major challenge is finding a particular party theme that will get a large group of people interested enough to attend.  Personally, I think it has something to do with the weird boost to one's own confidence when they're in a costume or acting alongside a scripted event...social barriers come down, everyone is dressed the same and the playing field is level during that moment.  That said, here are my own top ten favourites for themed parties (in no particular order):

1. Night of the Walking Dead


With the entire genre of zombies seeing a big revival in the past few years (with no sign of slowing down in the near future), zombies are all the rage!  Mix in a few activities where you have to stay in character while performing (zombie dancing, zombie sack race...even zombie bowling can be hilarious) and you have an instant hit.  It helps that the cost range for guests can range wildly from dirt-cheap to expensive, really letting them invest as much or little time as they'd like in their costumes.  Add themed snacks like cheesy fingers or brain stew to round the whole thing out!


2. 1980's Cringe-Inducing Bash


As a child of the 1980's myself it's somewhere between embarrassing and horrifying to see anything with the words “fashion” and “80's” in it, but it's turned into an extremely popular party theme that guests really get into.  The uglier the outfit, makeup and hair the better seems to be the rating scale here for success, you can probably find genuine leftovers in thrift clothing shops anywhere or just mismatch neon-colored clothing you buy cheap and cut a few holes into it.  Don't forget the hairspray and head band...


3. Steampunk Formal


Steampunk has been gathering a lot more attention recently, and while I can't really point my finger to any one particular reason it's exciting nevertheless!  A mix between a Victorian era clothing style, some leather and accessorizing with crazy steam powered brass gadgets (usually involving lots of cogs) it's a fresh idea others potentially haven't heard of before that can be a lot of fun to carry over into an entire theme.  Inspiration for decorating the event should be pulled from the early 19th century, with varying elements from possible dystopian future added here and there (propaganda posters on walls, for example).  One neat point about this style is it can cater to those that like fancy style clothes down to gritty urban wear, with a bit of geek-loving tech sprinkled all over it.  Move this into a venue with mock (or real) ballroom dancing and you're in for one incredibly unique experience!


4. Vampire's Den


Unless you've been sleeping in a coffin for the last decade (pun intended), it isn't hard to notice the Vampire craze all over the media right now...movies, TV, books, it's everywhere.  A bloodbath themed party though is perfect for such a wide variety of people though that it's hard for it to not be a success...go as simple as buying some teeth or as detailed as including makeup and outfit.  Add in some bloody looking food and drinks and make the location dark and macabre atmosphere and you're sure to have a great time.


5. Sci-Fi Stars


Narrowing things down a bit from an all-out “movie characters” theme, having a science fiction themed costume party can have quite a wide variety of costumes and themes in and of itself...cheesy classic sci-fi, hardcore space sci-fi, fantasy hybrids, etc.  Ask guests to dress up as major characters from sci-fi films like Star Wars, Star Trek or television series' like Doctor Who or Firefly.  As an added bonus, ask couple to dress as famous couples from these films/shows!  This is potentially the most difficult one to decorate a location for, but with proper planning it should be possible.


6. 1970's Disco (with a side of sleaze)


It's too easy to simple to ask people to dress up from the 70's disco era, even today some of those fashions have come back (albeit in slightly altered form) and the concept can feel a little worn to some.  However, ask the guys to dress up like lounge lizards, pimps or greasy con men and the woman like ladies of the night or gold diggers looking for their sugar daddy and you have a fresh take on an old idea.


7. Murder Mystery Dinner


An oldie but goodie (as it's very rare to actually find one of these), a murder mystery dinner is basically a live-action take on the old Clue board game.  Pick an era's clothing style for your guests to dress up with, find a great place to host the dinner (old hotel or just a really well-dressed up dining room) and then carefully plan the murder mystery well in advance.  As guests arrive they're given their roles to play and throughout the dinner clues are given as to whom the killer might be, and come the end of the night (usually by dessert) everyone will discover who committed the crime!  An additional spin would be to have guests have to wander around gathering clues between dinner and dessert.


8. Pirates of the Party...ibbean
Arrr! 

Though you're certain to get quite a few Jack Sparrow look-alikes, dressing up as Pirates for a night of fun lends itself wonderfully for people getting into their characters and forgetting their day jobs--though it'd be funny to see one toothless Pirate discussing an Excel worksheet with a peer.  Find common games people are easily familiar with given a Pirate-themed twist (Peg-leg race, anyone?), find clever ways to fine people who break character while talking, include lots of alcohol and enjoy the break from reality.


9. 1940's Everything


Swing dancing had a large revival some time ago, and while it's not nearly as popular as it had become (again) there are swing dancing groups all over the place in major cities.  Plan a great night with a big band orchestra (or just some really loud speakers with a great playlist), have plenty of space and get everyone to dress up in their late 40's and early 50's finest for some heavy dancing--just make sure you mix in some slow dances for the non-dancers to have a shot on the floor, too

10. Black Light Party


A recent idea I had heard and got really excited about the prospects for was a party where all of the light bulbs are swapped out for black lights and all the guests dress in black clothes.  The catch is where you then accessorize and detail your outfit with colors (namely white) and items (glowsticks, anyone?) that will make you stand out a certain way in the uniquely lit setting.  For the look and feel of the event to really be pulled off you'll need to cover the walls in black, but done successfully you're guaranteed and unique visual experience everyone is sure to never forget.

Lots of ideas out there, if you're thinking of throwing a themed party (or trying to encourage someone to do so to your benefit), these are just some of the greatest ideas I've either attended or later heard of through friends and felt a great wave of disappointment that I had missed out on.  You can also try some other sites for inspiration such as Jackpot Party who have a whole section of info on how to throw the best parties!  Don't ever hold back from attending if budget is an issue, you're almost guaranteed to find everything from the super-cheap costumes to the “that must have cost you a month's salary” ones at any party you attend.  The point is to try something new, enjoy the high immersion values that these themed parties provide and get lost in the energy of everyone around you!