Theme Party Ideas

Get the Party Started Right...
Parties based on themes add excitement to special occasions, such as birthdays to corporate events. From menus to music, favors to fashions - you'll find ideas for your next theme party right here!

Celebrating a theme takes thought and preparation. To follow are popular theme-party ideas. Of course, your theme party is limited only by your imagination, and the equipment available for rent at your local party and event rental center. Check with your rental store to find additional props and ideas they may offer.

Review these theme ideas from around the world.
• Patriotic
• Evening in Paris
• Pasta Party
• Mexican Fiesta
• Oriental Mystique
• Hawaiian Luau
• Alaskan Gold Rush
• Circus
• Mardi Gras
• Western

Patriotic
You know the red, white and blue part, but where do you go for help? Check with your party and event rental professional for decorations, props and ideas.
• Decorations - Flags, bells, drums, balloons, red/white checked tablecloths
• Menu Ideas - Fried chicken, potato salad, coleslaw, baked beans, biscuits, cornbread, apple pie, ice cream, lemonade
• Activities - Invite guests to make impromptu campaign speeches from a soap box; organize a block party; travel to a Fourth of July fireworks display
• Music - Martial band music, John Philip Sousa music, Yankee Doodle

Evening in Paris
Dreaming of romance? Your event and party professional can take you and your friends to Paris.
• Decorations - Small, round tales covered with red/white checked tablecloths; candles in wine bottles; posters of famous French art; Eiffel Tower; poodles; fleur-de-lis; French national flag
• National Colors - Red, white and blue
• Menu Ideas - French onion soup, crepes, pate, fruit, cheese, wine, champagne
• Activities - Art show in which guests are invited to bring their own artistic creations; art, crafts, needlework, woodworking and other traditional French activities; wine tasting; draw a mural; have each guest make an "artistic" contribution and the finished art is presented to the honoree
• Favors or prizes - Bottle of champagne; samples of perfume; 1st-, 2nd- and 3rd-place ribbons
• Music - Strings, cancan

Pasta Party
Fun-loving Italians know how to have a food festival. With the assistance of your event and party expert, you can, too.
• Decorations - Outdoor café-like setting: tables covered with brightly colored tablecloths; candles in wine bottles; Italian travel posters; shells; mosaics; tiles; marble; copies of famous Italian art; gondolas; leather; gold; wares of wood and textiles; fruit, vegetable or pasta arrangements; Italian flags
• National Colors - Red, white and green
• Menu Ideas - Antipasto, minestrone, spaghetti, ravioli, lasagna, pizza, veal, egg plant, artichokes, zucchini, Italian breads, fruit, cheese, spumoni, café espresso
• Activities - Soccer games, bicycle race, painting party; invite guests to write a poem in recognition of a special event, i.e., bon voyage, birthday, promotion
• Favors or prizes - Bottle of wine, almonds, small piece of Italian artwork, leather key case
• Music - Madrigals, operas (Aida, Rigoletto, La Traviata), concertos, romantic ballads, harmonica, accordion

Mexican Fiesta
Everyone loves the food and fun of Mexican fiestas. Create your own with the help of your event and party expert.
• Decorations - Piñatas; large, bright-colored paper flowers; bullfight posters; cacti; burros; red, white and green streamers and balloons; red/white checked tablecloths; luminaries (candles in paper bags weighted with sand)
• National Colors - Red, white and green
• Menu Ideas - Guacamole dip, enchiladas, Spanish rice, burritos, tortilla chips and salsa, tacos, Sangria wine, margaritas
• Activities - Break the piñata; make your own tacos; Mexican hat dance
• Music - Mariachi band, guitar, maracas, castanets