Themed Party Ideas
(That have met with great success!)
When planning a Young Adult party, themes always seem to be a successful way to set
the stage and give your planners a “jumping off point” to go from. Coming up with themes
for events isn’t difficult – and don’t re-invent the wheel! Remember the saying: “When
you care enough to steal the very best.” Here are some themes that either we or other
libraries have had lots of success with in the past.
Board Games: Simple and easy. You’d be surprised how many tweens and
teens enjoy sitting back, enjoying air conditioning and munching snacks while
playing classic favorites such as Scrabble, Yatzee, Jenga, and Monopoly. In fact,
a library can hold an official Monopoly Tournament through Hasbro games!
Hasbro supplies brand-new games, certificates for everyone who participates, and
prizes for the winners! (You can also use the tournament as a fundraiser if you so
choose.) For more details and rules, go to:
http://www.hasbro.com/games/kidgames/monopoly/content/News/PDF/tournament_guide.pdf
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Culture Nights: These will go very well with the 2011 Summer Reading
Theme of “Travel”. Have a party based around “Jolly Olde England” complete with
high tea and a Tourney with pool noodle jousting and nerf archery! Washington
County Library, Hurricane Branch did a Japanese Culture Night for New Year’s Eve
2010. We had a fortune tree, a Japanese calligraphy demonstration, as well as a
traditional food-seller’s stand with riceballs, sweet bean buns, and fried rice. (We
had volunteers with food handler’s permits.) It was a big success with 77 people in
attendance!
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Steampunk (BYOG – Bring Your Own Gears): FYI - Steampunk is a sub-genre of
science fiction, alternate history, and speculative fiction that came into prominence during
the 1980s and early 1990s. Specifically, steampunk involves an era or world where steam
power is still widely used—usually the 19th century and often Victorian era Britain—that
incorporates prominent elements of either science fiction or fantasy. Works of steampunk
often feature anachronistic technology or futuristic innovations as Victorians may have
envisioned them; in other words, based on a Victorian perspective on fashion, culture,
architectural style, art, etc. This technology may include such fictional machines as those
found in the works of H. G. Wells and Jules Verne or real technologies like the computer
but developed earlier in an alternate history.
Other examples of steampunk contain alternate history-style presentations of "the path not
taken" for such technology as dirigibles, analog computers, and such. –Wikipedia.comSteam Punk parties are great for enthusiasts of all genres, from history to fantasy to
mechanics! Gear-based art projects, parasol decorating, Design-your-own-dirigible
contests, and costume contests are great activities to hold at these events. Movies such
as “League of Extraordinary Gentleman”, “Hellboy II”, “City of Ember”, “Disney’s Treasure
Planet” and “Steamboy” are excellent references to the genre as well as fun to show at
the party.
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Graphic Novel-Based Parties: This does not have to be a cape and tights
event (although those are tons of fun, too!). Have a Guy Fawkes Party on the 5th of
November to tie in with V for Vendetta by Alan Moore or organize a Zombie Walk to
go with The Walking Dead by Robert Kirkman. But with the huge amount of
Superhero films that have been released lately, a Hero-movie-marathon is a popular
and easy alternative to an all-out event.
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Other (Self-explanatory) Themes:
Alice in Wonderland
Music Based Video Game Events (i.e. Rockband, DDR, Singstar)
Undead / Supernatural
Pirates or Ninjas (or Pirates vs. Ninjas)
Holidays (Christmas and Halloween seem to work the best.)