New Year’s? It’s only December 8th, you say. True, but you’ll need the rest of the month to mail invitations and make costumes. Begin planning your New Year’s Costume Party today. New Year’s Eve is the perfect stage for costume parties. Plan for general costume frivolity or think of a theme for your extravaganza. Hit the costume shops and thrift stores to find your fun outfits. Here are a few ideas to get your brainstorming session started.
Favorite Decade: Flappers from the 20s, Bobby Soxers from the 50s, and Disco Dancers from the 70s.
Space Invaders (Fictional or Real): Star Trek, Old-school Buck Rogers or Flash Gordon, Firefly, Aliens, and NASA.
Future Life: Plastic Dress, Aluminum Jacket, Spacesuits, and Purple Jumpsuits.
Great Lovers: Cleopatra and Antony, Romeo and Juliet, Porky and Petunia Pig, Chocolate and Peanut Butter.
Gods and Goddesses: Greek Zeus, Roman Apollo, Nordic Freya, and Egyptian Osiris and Isis.
Pick invitations with a clock or hour glass on them to let your guests know there is a theme for the evening. For a Time Travel party, put an era or decade on each invitation so no two invites are the same. Give the Smiths the Renaissance, the Joneses the Roman Expansion, the Browns the Old West, and the Williams the year 2525. The costumes can be as general as a Roman citizen or as specific as Caesar. One of the first party games can be guessing everyone’s costumes. Throughout the evening play games like identify the quote or charades about time movies.
The menu on New Year’s should be light and varied. Finger foods and hors’dourve are best for mingling. If a plated dinner is more your style, serve no more than three courses. Pick two special cocktails that match your theme, like a Sidecar or Mead. Set aside Champagne or Sparkling Cider for the midnight countdown and toast. Make sure you have at least one noise maker for each guest. If your city ordinances allow it, plan a small firework display to wow your friends and neighbors.
New Year’s isn’t just for the grownups. A children’s party can be a lot of fun. Fill a trunk or box with play clothes. As the children arrive, let them select one costume from the trunk to wear during the party. If cost is a prohibitive, set up a craft table to allow the children to make their own era accessories. They can make cardboard knight’s shields and newspaper hats. Perhaps have supplies to create noise makers: rice maracas and milk jug cymbals. Lead them through the neighborhood in a New Year’s parade. Add some whimsy with sparklers.
Please party smart by limiting alcohol, taking car keys, or calling taxis for your guests. I hope you New Year’s celebration is fun and fantastic.
Costumes pictured from Costume Craze: Robin Hood, Lady in Waiting, Jitterbug Girl, Disco Fever, Gangster.