A captivating theme can create a unique ambiance that sets your bar apart. It can also align the environment with your audience’s interests and foster loyalty and repeat visits.
Captivate sci-fi fans with a themed night featuring décor and drinks inspired by popular franchises. Or transport your patrons to a Polynesian oasis with tiki-themed decor and exotic cocktails.
Movie Night
Providing an opportunity to get together in the community is essential, especially when you have people who don’t see each other often. Movie night is a great way to build relationships and share an experience that is sure to be memorable.
Set the mood by decorating the room to make it feel like a real movie theater. Whether you use holiday lights or create a walkway that resembles an aisle, this will make the evening feel more authentic.
Consider taking an intermission halfway through the movie to give guests a chance to check their phones, use the bathroom, or grab another round of snacks without missing any of the action. It will also give everyone a reason to chat about what they thought of the film.
Movie night is a fun theme that works well for both family and date movies. You can even use the event to showcase older movies that your audience may not be familiar with.
Latin Dance Night
A sultry dance movement is bringing a bit of Latin heat to winter nights in Central Oregon. After dinner ends, the dance floor comes alive with couples swaying and grooving to Salsa music all night long.
The Latin dance tradition includes a broad range of dance styles from the Caribbean, Mexico, and parts of South America that were colonized by Spain. The dances evoke the legacy of Hispanic ethnicities, generations and nations at the intersection of politics, spirituality and culture that leave people transformed.
For newcomers to the Latin dance scene, Bachata, Reggaeton and Merengue music is a great place to start. This music tends to have a stronger inclination towards socializing with friends and acquaintances over strangers. As a result, the people dancing at a Latin Night may be less focused on quality dance moves and more concerned with having fun.
Murder Mystery Night
If you’re looking for an unbeatable theme that creates a truly immersive experience, a murder mystery night is the perfect party idea. You can get creative with the costumes, props and decorations. For example, you might roll out a red carpet for your guests to walk on.
The best thing about murder mystery parties is that they can be tailored to just about any setting. You could have a classic whodunit set in the Roaring Twenties, or go with a more out-of-this-world theme like a space station gone rogue or carnival at midnight.
During the night, your guests will use their master sleuthing skills to figure out who the murderer is. The game usually consists of four rounds. In round 1, characters are established, in round two, motives are revealed and in round three someone dies. Then it’s time to see who got it right! The winning team gets to enjoy a prize!
Superhero Night
With soaring brass fanfare and majestic strings, John Williams’ classic theme for Superman embodies the nobility and power of heroism. Use this timeless piece to set the tone for your superhero-themed party.
You can also create a fun DIY crafting station where guests can decorate their own masks and capes to take home. This is a great way to break up more energetic activities and provide some calm, productive downtime. Whether you choose to use plain store-bought masks and caps or craft materials like felt, sequins, and stickers, this superhero party idea is sure to please.
At the end of the night, send your superheroes home with fun party favor bags. Include cupcakes with superhero cake toppers, themed stickers, pots of slime, and a mask, cape, or comic book. These little treats will keep the smiles on their faces long after the party has ended.
80s Retro Night
A lot of people grew up with the ’80s, and this theme is sure to make your guests nostalgic. It’s also a great way to draw in younger crowds.
The ’80s gave us eye-popping fashion trends, from scrunchies and mullets to acid-wash denim. Encourage guests to wear their favorite outfit from this decade. The music from the ’80s was just as bold, and iconic figures like Grace Jones and Boy George left their mark on culture. Hang posters of these artists as decor.
Incorporate retro video games into your ’80s party to delight your guests. Arcade machines are a must, but you can also get creative and set up a table where they can play Tetris and Pac-Man. You can even create a dance-off, lip-sync battle or karaoke contest for extra fun. Serve classic ’80s candy, including Skittles, Nerds, Runts and Push Pops. The Slippery Nipple is an alcoholic drink you should consider serving, too.
Trivia Night
A bar trivia night is a classic way to get your crowds involved. Pick your favorite show to base it on, and choose categories that appeal to the crowd. It’s always a good idea to end with a super fun round like TV theme song trivia or music questions, especially at a place like the The Dolly Blue Bar in Newby Bridge.
Teams of up to five players compete in a series of rounds with 5-7 questions each. The host reads off the questions (or displays them on a screen) and teams write their answers on an answer sheet. Teams swap sheets at the end of each round and either submit them to the host or tally up their scores themselves.
You can also use tablet or smartphone apps to automate the scoring process. Providing hints and clues during the trivia game is a good way to help participants, especially if the questions are difficult. Be sure to have a mix of extroverted and introverted team members so that everyone feels included.
Jazz & Blues Night
Jazz and blues are two genres of music that work together well, blending the heartfelt melodies of blues with the jazzy rhythms of jazz. Alabama Shakespeare Festival’s “Blues in the Night” is a wonderful example of this pairing, featuring incredible voices and a fabulous band.
This musical is about the inhabitants of a hotel in the 1930s, with each character having her own story and voice. The songs range from sad and beautiful to celebratory and exultant, evoking the African-American song-dance tradition of gospel and Spirituals.
The band features a variety of musicians, from blues guitarists to harp players to saxophonists and bassists. The singers, all women, have tremendous acting chops and are at ease with their material. The musicians all interact with the audience, who sit at nightclub-style tables. The whole show is a feast for the ears and eyes!
Game of Thrones Night
The final season of Game of Thrones concluded Sunday night with a bang, and if you were among the many who sat breathless as Arya slayed the Night King, you probably also heard Ramin Djawadi’s shiver-inducing theme.
It’s a simple piano song that begins softly and slowly builds to a crescendo as violins join in. The tense music is the perfect complement to a scene that feels like it’s going to be a tragedy, until, at last, Arya appears and kills the Night King and his army of White Walkers.
It’s an ending to remember, and the theme is a perfect way to get yourself in the mood for your Game of Thrones viewing party. Add it to your playlist and listen to it the next time you need to psych yourself up for a day full of backstabbing, dragons, and the final battle for Westeros. Valar Morghulis! (Well, maybe not that last part.)
Casino Night
Whether you’re hosting a roaring 20s-inspired event, a Great Gatsby-style shindig, or an Elvis impersonator, a Casino Night is a sure winner. This theme gives guests a chance to channel high-stakes Las Vegas energy, where everyone’s a winner.
Invite guests to don their best suits and glitzy dresses, and include a dress code in your invitations. You can also add to the atmosphere by having a live band playing music, or hiring a DJ to spin some hits.
Because the party might run for several hours, consider having a mixologist on hand to serve drinks. If you’re serving hors d’oeuvres, try to choose options that can be eaten quickly and without a lot of mess, like chicken skewers or sliders. Send guests home with fun and practical swag that will remind them of your memorable night, like poker-themed shot glasses or customized playing cards. A Casino Night is also a good choice for a fundraiser, as you can offer prizes to encourage better attendance and participation.
