Sharing food with friends is one of life’s great pleasures but sharing food and fun with friends is even better. Setting up a themed dinner party is going to cost you and your guests a little bit of effort and a little bit of money but once you get a taste for it you might just find that you just keep getting great ideas for another wacky evening. Here are some suggestions to get you started.
Hawaiian Luau
Perfect for those hot, balmy evenings and a great opportunity to be really daft. You can probably find quite a lot of the basic equipment that you are going to need either in your attic or in your local charity shop. Beach hats, muumuus, shell necklaces, Hawaiian shirts, big sunglasses, snorkels, fins and deck chairs are all going to come in handy. You’re also going to need lots of coconuts, pineapples and as much exotic fruit as you can get your hands on. The barbeque and things on sticks are of course obligatory as are some suitably colourful cocktails. Once the Hawaiian vibe has worked its magic, then you can start to play some silly games such as hula hoop contests, deckchair volleyball, coconut boule and of course, limbo dancing. If you are stuck for ideas you’ll find a wealth of accessories here. Hawaiian popular music of the nineteen thirties is a wonder, you’ll find some here.
Mexican Fiesta
Nothing is as good for reinforcing cultural stereotypes as a themed party. Here’s a chance for you to dig out your sombreros, mix up some margaritas and drench those nachos in melted cheese. Bold colours and banners are the order of the day, as well as some cacti and Day of the Dead skulls. You can play a musical chairs variant by passing a sombrero whilst dancing, the wearer of the hat when the music stops has to eat a chilli or drink a shot of tequila, or both. If you’re feeling generous then stuff a piñata with appropriate treats, blindfold your guests and enjoy the mayhem. Women might come as Frieda Khalo and men as Emiliano Zapata. Music of course should be Mariachi.
The name’s Bond
We’re looking for sophistication here and as many references to Bond novels and films as you can pack in. The men should be in tuxes and the ladies in cocktail dresses. The music, jazz-lite or Bacharach and David. You will of course serve martinis and bite size, classy food such as lumpfish caviar on blinis. Mid-evening set up some games of poker, use chips and keep it light-hearted and for those who’ve never played before, print off the hand rankings and display them on the table.
Murder Mystery
You can order a pack or download one but this is an evening that really does require preparation and as master or mistress of ceremonies you need to have learned your script, you cannot wing it on the night. Have fun giving your guests the most improbable characters and serve a three-course meal to sustain the fu
An Era Party
Pick a decade, 1920s, 1970s or whatever you fancy and encourage you guests to dress accordingly. Food and music should be decade appropriate and games based around events of the time.