Tips on Improving Parties with a Theme

Throwing a theme party can make a huge difference between merely having a get-together and actually making sure guests have a good time. The kind of theme you choose will go a long way toward improving the odds of the party being a success. Some party themes tend to pop up more than others and have provided a wealth of information on how to improve the revelry thanks to the trial and error of those who have gone before. Learn from your predecessors. Learn and improve.

The Academy Awards Party

Hosting an Oscar party is one way to get through the boring parts of the ceremony. Lately, those parts are becoming more and more representative of the Oscar telecast as a whole. Improve your chances for throwing a successful Academy Awards party by starting things off with the addition of a little Vegas to the proceedings. Allow your guests to place some money into a pot and then hand them a card with all the nominees listed. Let them check off their predicted winners and those who wind up having picked the most right at the end of the ceremony get to collect all the money in the kitty. Don't worry about a tie: nobody EVER picks Best Animated Short Subject correctly.

Murder Mystery Holiday Party

A murder mystery party is a fun way to get everyone involved in the activities of a party. Add some zest to this increasingly popular party theme by tying it into a holiday theme. In this way, you can create a holiday party that is invested with more than the typical holiday party proceedings. A Halloween party could be made into a murder mystery party in which the brutal death is lent a supernatural element such as being victimized by vampires. Decorate your home to resemble an Irish pub or hold the murder mystery party at an actual tavern on St. Patrick's Day. A July 4^th cookout could become a historical lesson as guests are invited to appear as one of America's founding fathers, one of whom is responsible for killing the visiting King George III.

SpongeBob SquarePants Pool Party

Why throw just a pool party when you can throw a SpongeBob SquarePants pool party? This is a great idea for kids, but teens will have some fun as well. Diving games can include being the first to bring up a pineapple from beneath the water. Cake ideas include a Patrick Star starfish-shaped cake or a 3-D cake made to look like SpongeBob's pineapple home. Food can include Krabby Patties, of course, as well as more offbeat items like squid. Have the kids take part in a Squidward Self-Portrait activity in which they attempt to paint a self-portrait of themselves in a manner similar to one of the many manners in which Squidward has chosen to portray himself.

Cowboy Party

The cowboy party isn't as popular as it used to be, which is a shame since it is so easy to wrap a theme around. Hand over some dart or water guns and holding a shooting competition. Create invitations in the form of a wanted poster. Costumes for a cowboy party are fairly self-evident. Party favors can include sheriff badges and bandannas. Sarsaparilla is the beverage of choice for kids while a bar lined with whiskey does the trick at adult parties. Food choices include, if you can stand the result, baked beans, hamburgers and corn on the cob.