There are lots of great college habits you should practice to be successful: go to bed on time, study in a quiet place, never procrastinate on your term papers, etc. However, you shouldn’t let this keep you from socializing with your fellow classmate. Studies have shown that the happiest students get the best grades, and happy students usually have fun social lives. And besides, if you’re going to work hard, you should be able to play hard too.
If you’re thinking about throwing a college party, think outside of the box and come up with a theme that your friends and classmates will love. Here are 5 cool party themes you can do at your next bash.
Toga
You can’t graduate college without having gone to a toga party at least once. Toga parties are typically associated with Greek life—hence the toga—but they became popular with all college students after the 1978 classic, “Animal House.” John Belushi yelled out, “Toga! Toga!” and the Delta House kids danced to “Shout!” and the rest is history.
Toga costumes are very easy to make—all you need is a white bed sheet. You tie the bed sheet around your body and you’re done. If you’re a lady, you can don a Greek headpiece to add a little pop to your outfit.
You don’t really need to get lavish decorations for a toga party, but you can get Greek party décor if you have the budget, These decorations could include anything from columns to laurel decorations.
Tip: Order lots of delicious Mediterranean food for your party guests!
Hawaiian
A Hawaiian-themed party is super fun, easy, and perfect for sunny days or warm nights. Have everyone come in Hawaiian shirts, and order a bunch of leis to hand out to your guests. You can decorate the party venue with tropical Hawaiian décor -torches make for a nice touch, even if you’re not going to light them – and be sure to have a playlist full of breezy surf tunes. This is definitely a laid-back kind of party, and it should have the vibe of a sunny luau.
The real fun of a Hawaiian theme comes from the drinks. Make sure you have a large punch bowl and a bunch of fruit juices for everyone to sip on. Serve lots of fruit that your guests can drop into their drinks, and have some for eating, too.
Disney
If you’re afraid to throw a party because you think you’re socially awkward, consider throwing a Disney-themed party. Here’s the truth: everybody loves Disney, including the so-called cool kids. At a Disney party, your guests will come dressed as their favorite Disney characters. Deck out your venue with Disney décor (which should be pretty easy to find because Mickey Mouse is the king of merchandising), and get Disney-centric treats for your guests to snack on. Most importantly, have a music playlist ready that’s full of Disney songs!
You don’t want to be playing Disney music the entire time. At a certain point, people are going to want to listen to your standard club music that’s easier to dance to. But mix in a few Disney songs here and there to achieve a perfect balance, and consider using the pop versions of Disney songs that accompany each movie.
Blacklight
A blacklight party is one of the most visually interesting parties you can throw. Replace most of the lights in your apartment with blacklights. Anything that’s white or neon will glow under blacklight, so make sure your guests come dressed in those colors. It’s a somewhat psychedelic, but totally awesome party environment.
To spruce up the colors, order neon wristbands that you can give out to party goers, or bring neon markers or paint so your guests can draw designs and messages on their bodies and shirts that will glow in the dark.
ABC
An ABC party is an “anything but clothes” party. That means that you and your guests can dress in any wild outfit that doesn’t feature clothing (except for shoes and socks). You don’t need any special décor for an ABC party because the costumes are the real stars of the show. Your guests can get incredibly creative with their outfits, but be warned that ABC costumes make take some more time to assemble, so you’ll have to let everyone know about the party well ahead of time.
If you need some ideas, check out these great ABC party costumes. Be prepared for one wacky get-together!
Before you begin your finals studying, throw one final party to close out the year and relieve your stress. Pick one of these awesome party ideas and throw the epic celebration they’ll be talking about forever.
For more great college tips, check out the other great blogs on College Basics.
