Classic College Party Themes
Rock N’ Roll Channel the rocking dudes and dudettes of decades past with a classic rock-and-roll themed event. This theme is a classic for a reason, and everyone will have a blast dressing up and getting down just like their favorite rock star persona. Have people dress up as famous musicians, pull up a playlist of rocking tunes, and decorate your space with cool posters or concert paraphernalia! Decor: Black and white streamers, posters of iconic rock bands, inflatable instruments. Food & Drink: Finger foods (mini purgers, chicken wings, etc.), rock candy, “Electric Lemonade” (clear lemonade with blue curacao). Activities: Guitar Hero, air guitar contest, Lip Sync Battle, headbanging competition. Outfits: Leather jackets, ripped jeans, vintage band tees, combat boots, bandanas, long-haired wigs.
Luau Say aloha to the party of your dreams and harness the island vibes of Hawaii for your next college bash. A Hawaiian luau is an absolutely classic college party theme, since hardly anyone can turn down an opportunity to dress in beachy vibes and drink a couple of piña coladas (even during winter semester). Decor: Tropical flowers, tiki torches, string lights, palm leaves, beach balls, inflatable flamingos. Food & Drink: Grilled pineapple, Spam Musubi, Hawaiian macaroni salad, coconut shrimp, Mai Tais, Piña Coladas. Activities: Limbo competition, hula hooping, beach volleyball, bonfire. Outfits: Hawaiian leis, Hawaiian shirts, floral dresses, coconut bras, grass skirts, flip flops, Bermuda shorts.
Rave Rager Who said you need to be in Ibiza (or in a warehouse) to attend an epic rave? You can host your very own Charli XCX-worthy rave with techno tunes, decorative lights, and attendees who are prepared to party until the sun comes up. Raves are actually one of the easiest types of parties to throw, since the activities, decor, and food are all mostly straightforward. The most crucial part is the music! Decor: Black lights, glow sticks, neon lights, confetti cannons, fog machines. Food & Drink: Chips, popcorn, fruit platters, glow-in-the-dark candy, Pop Rocks, sports drinks, cocktails with glow in the dark food coloring. Activities: Dancing to DJ sets or electronic playlists. Outfits: UV body paint, neon clothing, rave gear, anything that glows under black light.
Pajama Party You may have graduated from slumber parties to college parties, but why not combine them into one epic bash? A PJ-themed college party is a pretty easy route to a fun, silly, and cozy event. Everyone can look cute and feel comfy in their outfits, and the nostalgia factor will do a fair bit of the work for you. Plus, you just can’t beat the sleepover snacks, games, and gossip! Decor: Plush pillows and blankets scattered around, fairy lights, movie projector showing classic sleepover films. Food & Drink: Hot cocoa, pizza, popcorn, movie theater candies, spiked apple cider. Activities: Movie marathon, board games, Truth or Dare, Spin the Bottle, Never Have I Ever. Outfits: Pajamas, obviously!
Crazy Karaoke This party theme is all about the karaoke, so get ready to sing your heart out! A karaoke theme is amazing for many reasons, but mostly because there’s a guaranteed activity—there’s zero chance that your guests will be wandering around with nothing to do. Set up a stage with a karaoke machine or microphone, then place a projector on a nearby wall where you want to stream the lyrics. Then, just channel your inner Simon Cowell (or Ariana Grande, depending on whether you’re on the stage or off). Decor: Brightly colored balloons, spotlight, karaoke “stage,” props (wigs, hats, sunglasses, etc.). Food & Drink: Soda, juice, mocktails, chips and dip. Activities: Karaoke!! You can also do dance-offs or give awards (e.g., “Best Performance,” “Most Energetic,” “Best Dancer,” “Most On-Key”). Outfits: Anything works! A casual look, cute going-out outfit, or pop-star-inspired fit would all work especially well.
ABC Party An ABC party is one of the most popular themes for college frat parties, and it stands for “Anything But Clothes.” Basically, attendees must wear *anything* but clothes to the event. Everything else can be kept pretty simple and in line with a classic frat party, but the outfits (or lack thereof) are definitely the most important part. Decor: Streamers, balloons, caution tape. Food & Drink: Punch, finger foods, “naked” foods like peeled grapes, bananas, carrots, and more. Activities: Costume contest, photo booth, simple games without much movement (like Charades). Outfits: As long as it’s not clothes, anything goes! Some popular ABC party outfit ideas include duct tape, security tape, garbage bags, playing cards, tinsel/streamers, flags/tapestries, bandanas, bubble wrap, aprons, Monopoly dollars, Twister game boards, and pom-poms.
March Madness If you’re a big basketball fan, then you can celebrate the best time of the year with the best party of the year! That’s right, we’re talking about throwing an epic ~March Madness~ party with b-ball decor, activities, and cool jersey-centered outfits. And, of course, don’t forget to keep the games running all night long. If basketball isn’t necessarily your thing, you can also do a general jersey party where everyone reps their favorite team from any sport! Decor: Basketball hoops, team banners, jerseys, basketball garlands. Food & Drink: Game day snacks like chips, sliders, and pizza. Beer, soda, and sports drinks. Activities: Bracket challenge, free throw competitions, dribble contests, basketball trivia. Outfits: Jerseys, team colors, or other basketball-related looks.
Casino Night Las Vegas, Atlantic City, your local frat house…they’re all capable of hosting an epic casino night, and we’re here to help you do it! Casino-themed parties come with a built-in activity that’s full of excitement and suspense—plus, you’ll have a chance to see your normally sweatpants-clad classmates in their finest duds. Assign your closest friends to run games like poker, blackjack, and roulette, and invite everyone else to see how they fare against “the house.” Decor: Playing cards, dice, chips, and other store-bought casino-themed decorations. Food & Drink: Finger foods, hor d’oeuvres, champagne. Activities: Casino games like poker, blackjack, roulette, and craps. Include simple games like Go Fish and BS, if desired. Outfits: Suits, dresses, and other fancier ‘fits.
My Tie My Tie is a special sort of college party theme, because it mainly applies to heterosexual singles (although you could definitely tweak it to fit other situations and to be more inclusive). This theme is best for a mixer-type party where you want your single (and looking) pals to mix and mingle. Basically, every guy is supposed to wear a tie to the party. When they arrive, they put all their ties into a bowl and every woman selects a random tie from the bowl. Whoever’s tie they pick will be their date for the evening! Decor: Ties as streamers, napkins, tablecloths, etc. Food & Drink: Tie-shaped foods (if possible) and finger foods that are easy to eat. Any drinks, but use tie-themed drink charms. Activities: Tie-related contests like “Ugliest Tie,” “Longest Tie,” “Most Unique Tie,” etc. Outfits: Ties for the men, and anything for the women!
Turn Up in Togas A toga party is pretty much the ultimate college party, so you probably already know the deal here. Everyone wears togas (and *only* togas), and the whole party has a bit of a Greco-Roman theme. Togas are usually white and made quickly from white bedsheets, but guests could also wear real costume togas or craft togas in a variety of colors and patterns. Decor: White sheets draped everywhere, white streamers, bowls of fake grapes and olives, fake Greek columns. Food & Drink: Greek salad, pita bread, olives, grapes, wine, grape juice. Activities: Typical party activities like dancing and beer pong, as well as “best toga” contests. Outfits: White sheets turned into togas, Roman sandals, laurel wreath crowns.
Risky Business Take inspiration from Tom Cruise’s classic film—and the ‘80s decade in general—-with this time-honored party theme. The most important part of this party is the outfits, which should emulate Cruise’s character’s iconic look of just a baggy dress shirt, underwear, and black sunglasses. You can also channel the vibe of the ‘80s with decade-appropriate music, games, and decor. Decor: Red solo cups everywhere, ‘80s movies posters. Food & Drink: Classic party foods like pizza, nachos, and Jell-O, and red solo cups filled with any beverage. Activities: ‘80s dance-off, movie scene recreation contests, costume contest. Outfits: Recreate Cruise’s look with an oversized white button down, white tube socks, black underwear, and black sunglasses.
Costume Party Themes for College
Welcome to the Jungle Tap into your wild side for a jungle-themed party where everyone can let loose and go bananas! Decorate your space like the depths of the jungle, and make sure that everyone dresses up according to this animalistic theme. Guests could dress up as actual animals, or they could wear other themed costumes like camouflage, grass skirts, or safari ‘fits. Decor: Jungle vines, fake leaves, animal print fabrics, inflatable animals, tiki torches. Food & Drink: Jungle juice, fruit skewers, grilled chicken skewers, “monkey bread.” Activities: Scavenger hunt, limbo, animal sound competition, photo booth with animal masks. Outfits: Animal prints, animal costumes, camouflage prints, grass skirts, safari costumes.
That’s So 70s From free love to disco, the 1970s certainly knew how to bring the party—and now you can too! A ‘70s-themed party is fun all around, and there’s plenty of inspiration to draw from when it comes to decor, costuming, and food. You can even stream That ‘70s Show on a massive projector screen, or keep a playlist running with your favorite tunes from the “me” decade. Also, if the ‘70s aren’t your vibe, do a ‘90s, ‘80s, or Y2K party instead! Decor: Disco balls, lava lamps, tie-dye fabrics. Food & Drink: Pizza, fondue, 7-Up floats, Shirley Temples. Activities: Disco dancing, lip sync battle to ‘70s songs, Twister, photo booth with ‘70s props. Outfits: Bell bottoms, platform shoes, tie-dye shirts, teased hair.
Anime Party Anime is becoming more and more mainstream, so whether you’re a massive fan or just know a lot of people you are, an anime party can be a really fun and unique college party idea! To make this costume party work, make sure everyone knows that they should come in a cosplay of their favorite anime characters. Some popular choices include Sailor Moon, Naruto, and Kiki from Kiki’s Delivery Service. Decor: Anime posters, cosplay props like swords and wigs, projector with muted anime movies playing. Food & Drink: Sushi, ramen, onigiri, Japanese snacks and candies, sake, themed mocktails. Activities: Cosplay contest, anime trivia. Outfits: Cosplay as a favorite anime character.
Fright Night Whether it’s Halloweekend or any other night of the year, spark up the scary vibes with a frightful event. Throw a college party with all the makings of a haunted house—encourage Halloween costumes, serve up spooky snacks, and deck out your space with creepy crawlies. Play some spooky tunes over your speakers, and you’ve got yourself a horror-ified event that no one will ever forget! Decor: Fog machines, cobwebs, fake blood, dim lighting. Food & Drink: “Eyeballs” (peeled grapes or olives), “fingers” (sausages), “witches brew” (red punch). Activities: Costume contest, scary movie marathon, spooky story contest, bobbing for apples. Outfits: Halloween costumes—the spookier the better!
Ski Lodge Social Bring the Vail vibes to your university town with a ski-themed college party that’s even better than spending a day on the slopes! Decorate your home like the cozy inside of a ski lodge, and encourage everyone to come in their party versions of their favorite ski ‘fit. This party is even more fun if you do it in the summer or spring, when everyone’s craving a cozy cabin weekend! Decor: Fake snow, Christmas lights, plaid blankets, fake fireplace. Food & Drink: Hot chocolate, spiked cider, chili, stew, s’mores. Activities: Board games, card games, skiing video games like We Ski and Go Vacation. Outfits: Cute ski suits, sweaters, winter hats, scarves, snow boots.
Heaven or Hell Is that a devil or angel on your shoulder? With this college party theme, you don’t have to pick just one! This idea is all about a 50/50 split between heaven and hell—so, when it comes to decorations, food, and outfits, make sure that both are equally represented. Maybe you’ll even come out of this romp of good vs. evil with something to talk about in your Philosophy 101 seminar! Decor: One half of the room (or room/floor) decorated like heaven (white decor, fake clouds, angel imagery), and the other like hell (red and black decor, fake flames, devil imagery). Food & Drink: Heavenly treats (angel food cake, fruit salad, cotton candy, “Holy water” or clear punch) and hellish treats (spicy snacks, devil’s food cake, chocolate pudding, “Devil’s brew” or red punch). Activities: Costume contest, “Heaven vs. Hell” tournament (play games where players are divided into the two teams and can earn points for Heaven or Hell—e.g., Two Truths and a Lie, Charades, Hot Seat, etc.). Outfits: Dress as an angel or in white clothing, or as a devil or in black or red clothing.
Wildin’ For the West Cowboys and cowgirls are always a hit, so a Western-themed romp is pretty much the ultimate college party theme. You could go for more of a “disco cowgirl” vibe with sparkling cowboy hats, sequin-covered Western paraphernalia, and pop bops from artists like Chappell Roan and Olivia Rodrigo. On the other hand, you can play up the spirit of the Wild West with bandanas, saloon doors, and classic country tunes. Decor: Cowboy hats, bandanas, saloon doors, fake cacti. Food & Drink: BBQ, burgers, baked beans, pork rinds, lemonade, iced tea. Activities: Line dancing, horseshoe toss, karaoke to country music. Outfits: Cowboy hats, cowboy beats, denim, Western button-ups and vests.
Superhero Shindig Why should Marvel and DC get to have all the fun? They certainly won't, if you choose this college party theme and invite all your friends to come dressed as their favorite superpowered hero. You could narrow down the choices with a sub-theme like “Avengers,” “Supervillains,” or “Comic Book Heroes,” or give your guests free rein to dress up as anyone in the superhero world. Decor: Lifesize superhero cutouts, capes and masks, “Hall of Justice” photobooth station. Food & Drink: “Iron Man” energy bars, “Hulk” smash cookies, Spiderman spiderweb cocktails. Activities: Superhero trivia, costume contest, obstacle course. Outfits: Dress as your favorite superhero.
Music Festival Turn your house or apartment into your very own Coachella, Lollapalooza, Woodstock, or whatever your music festival of choice might be. Choose your decor and costume vibe accordingly—for example, you might go more bohemian or influencer-vibes for Coachella, while a Woodstock-themed event would probably warrant some ‘60s looks. Of course, the most important part of this event is the music itself—have guests send you their ideal “line up” ahead of time so you can craft a flawless party playlist. Decor: Colorful streamers, flowers, tie-dye fabrics, fake “stage.” Food & Drink: Food truck food like tacos, pizza, grilled cheese, etc. Water, soda, juice, pitcher cocktails. Activities: Dancing, obviously! Outfits: Festival attire—depending on the event you choose to emulate, could be a Y3K aesthetic or hippie vibes.
Hanging at Hogwarts You may have grown up wanting to go to Hogwarts instead of your current college, so why not throw a Harry Potter event to make your dreams as close to reality as possible? Plus, everyone loves a bit of magic! Divide your house up into different common areas for the different houses, then “sort” guests ahead of time or as they arrive. Put together an array of party snacks fit for the great hall, and make sure that guests come dressed as their favorite witch or wizard. Decor: Hogwarts crests, house banners, floating candles. Food & Drink: Butterbeer, pumpkin juice, pumpkin pasties, treacle tarts, Bertie Botts beans. Activities: House sorting, “Quidditch,” Harry Potter trivia, Harry Potter movie marathon. Outfits: Hogwarts robes, character-specific costumes, wizard hats, house scarves.
Dynamic Duos The world is full of dynamic duos, so this theme is easy for guests to aspire to as they put together incredible costumes. Guests are meant to come in pairs—either with a friend or romantic partner—and both people should be dressed as one person in a famous dynamic duo. Some good choices might include Batman and Robin, Bonnie and Clyde, Lilo and Stitch, Spongebob and Patrick, Barbie and Ken, or Thelma and Louise. The options are endless! Decor: Images of famous duos. Everything in double—two rows of streamers, two balloons tied together, etc. Food & Drink: “Duo” snacks like peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, macaroni and cheese, milk and cookies, etc. Drinks with exactly two ingredients (e.g., vodka cranberry, Arnold Palmer, etc.). Activities: Partner games like partner Charades, Two Truths & a Lie, Pictionary, etc. Outfits: Dress up as one half of a famous duo with another party-goer.
#NoFilter This tech-themed and trendy college party theme is all the rage for anyone who can’t stop putting the dog filter on all their selfies (no shade!). The gist of this party is to ask all guests to dress up as their favorite Snapchat filter—like the rainbow filter, baby filter, dog filter, flower crown filter, etc. Be as creative as you can, and encourage guests to do the same. And don’t forget to send plenty of Snaps of everyone’s cool outfits! Decor: Use elements from popular snap filters (e.g., flower crowns, rainbows, etc.). Food & Drink: Cutesy foods like cupcakes and cookies. Beer, wine, and soft drinks. Activities: Snapchat filter-themed photo booth, costume contest. Outfits: Dress up as your favorite Snapchat filter.
Disney’s All Grown Up Bring your childhood faves to your young adult rager with a Disney-themed party—replete with costumes of all your favorite characters. Ask guests to dress up any Disney character; they could be a classic animated persona like Hercules, Pocahontas, Minnie Mouse, or Aladdin, or they could go for a more modern Disney Channel character like Hannah Montana, Kim Possible, or Zack and Cody. Whatever their choice, your party is sure to become the happiest place on Earth! Decor: Lifesize cutouts of Disney characters, colorful balloons, streamers, “Disney castle” backdrop. Food & Drink: Mickey Mouse cookies, churros, Dole Whip, turkey legs, “grey stuff” from Beauty and the Beast. Activities: Disney trivia, costume contest, Disney sing-along. Outfits: Dress as your favorite Disney character.
You Are What You Eat (Or Drink) This party theme is all about nutrition…in the most fun possible way, because you are in college, after all! You can take this theme idea in one of two ways: firstly, you can go for “You Are What You Eat.” In this version of the theme, ask guests to dress up as their favorite foods—hot dogs, sushi rolls, pasta dishes, etc! Otherwise, you can have them dress up as their party drink of choice. If they’re a Captain Morgan drinker, a pirate costume works best. For a Guinness fanatic? Leprechaun costume! Decor: Food- and drink-themed decor. Food pyramid or mixology poster. Food & Drink: A buffet with a variety of foods and drinks—almost like a sample station! Activities: Food-related trivia, food-related Charades and Pictionary. Outfits: Dress up as your favorite food, or as your party drink of choice.
When I Grow Up Now that you’re pursuing an actual career, why not throw it back to your very first aspirations and ambitions? Think about what you told grown-ups at 5, 10, and 12 years old when they asked you what they wanted to be when you grew up—then dress up as that! Not only is this college party theme super fun and silly, but you’ll get to know your friends, roommates, and classmates way better by discovering their childhood dreams. Decor: Childhood toys, games, posters, etc. Food & Drink: Childhood snacks like pizza, chicken nuggets, ice cream, fruit roll-ups. Activities: Soda, juice boxes, Capri Suns, Shirley Temples. Outfits: Dress up as whatever your dream job was as a kid. E.g., doctor, astronaut, prince/princess, firefighter, teacher, pop star, etc.
Mary-Kate & Ashley Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen are arguably the most iconic twin duo of all time, to the point that they have a whole college party theme just for them! Take inspiration from your favorite of Mary-Kate and Ashley’s movies—consider classics like New York Minute, Passport to Paris, The Challenge, When in Rome, and more. Then, match your food, decor, and activities to the plot, location, and overall vibe of that film. And, of course, ask guests to dress up as their favorite Mary-Kate and Ashley characters! Decor: Mary-Kate and Ashley movie posters, decor themed to certain movies (e.g., an Eiffel Tower for Passport to Paris). Food & Drink: Pay homage to the “Gimme Pizza” song by giving plain cheese pizza to guests and giving them the options of DIY toppings like chicken, guacamole, meatballs, salsa, chocolate sauce, marshmallows, mashed potatoes, spaghetti, and fish sticks. Activities: Mary-Kate and Ashley movie marathon, challenges from The Challenge, photobooth recreations of their most iconic photos. Outfits: Dress like Mary-Kate and Ashley (twinning outfits encouraged).
Color Party Themes for College
White Party White parties are social events where guests are expected to wear completely white clothing—while these are usually elegant, high-society events, why not bring that same concept to a cool college party? This color party theme is pretty simple: stick to white shades in your decor, food, and drinks, and don’t forget the white outfits, of course! Decor: White balloons, white streamers, white flowers, white tablecloths, white candles. Food & Drink: White foods like cauliflower, white chocolate, and white cheeses. White drinks like white wine, white sangria, and clear sodas. Activities: White clothing contest, photo booth, dancing to a playlist of songs with “white” in the title. Outfits: All-white attire from head to toe!
Day-Glo Party Turn on the neon lights and get this party started! A day-glo party is a super fun take on a color party, with an emphasis on neons and glow-in-the-dark everything. This theme is similar to a rave party, although you can focus more on the colors and lighting and less on the DJ-inspired music—unless that’s your vibe! Decor: Black lights, neon-colored streamers and balloons, glow sticks. Food & Drink: Neon-colored cocktails and sodas (e.g., blue curacao, pink lemonade slushies, Mountain Dew). Activities: Dancing, glow-in-the-dark games, black light tag. Outfits: Neon clothing, accessories, and anything that glows under a black light.
Double Down On Denim Years later, Britney and Justin’s iconic Canadian tuxedo ‘fits still have a hold on us, so that’s where we’re drawing inspo from for your epic denim darty or party. The golden rule for this theme? All denim everything—and there’s nothing like a good pair of jeans! Go for denim fabrics in your decor, pick denim-inspired blue treats for guests to snack on, and incorporate denim and its Americana vibe into your party activities. Decor: Denim banners, denim tablecloths, denim photoshoot wall. Food & Drink: Blue foods like blueberries, blue cheese, and blue corn chips. Blue drinks like raspberry lemonade, bubblegum soda, and blue curacao cocktails. Activities: Denim decorating contest (with denim-compatible puffy paint), denim fashion show, line dancing. Outfits: Denim jeans, jackets, shirts, skirts, and more.
Stoplight Party Stoplight parties are one of the most popular types of college parties, and they’re completely based around guests’ relationship statuses and the colors they’re wearing. Basically, each guest must wear a specific “stoplight” color to represent whether they’re single or taken. Wearing green means they’re single, yellow means “it’s complicated,” and red means that they’re in a relationship or aren’t interested in dating. If you’d rather not control what your guests wear, you can also ask them to choose from green, yellow, and red cups at the party to indicate their status. Decor: Red, yellow, and green balloons, streamers, and lights. Food & Drink: Red, yellow, and green foods (e.g., strawberries and red vines, bananas and popcorn, grapes and pistachios). Activities: Stoplight games like “Red Light Green Light.” And lots of mingling! Outfits: Red, yellow, or green clothing—according to relationship status.
Graffiti Party This college party theme is one of the most fun and interactive—although it requires guests to get a little messy (or messier than usual). Ask guests to show up to the party in white items that they don’t mind sacrificing. For instance, someone might wear a cheap white tee with an old pair of jeans and sneakers that they don’t wear any more. Cover your walls and floors with old white sheets and/or white paper, and move all of your furniture to an off-limits area. When guests get to the party, give them a selection of spray paints and paint pens, depending on how crazy you want things to get, and invite them to draw or write on each other’s shirts (and any other white surface). Decor: White paper on walls and white fabrics on floor, or large graffiti posters on walls. Food & Drink: Colorful foods and drinks, like rainbow fruit skewers, rainbow cupcakes, and fruit punch. Activities: Graffiti-ing each other’s clothing, as well as other permitted surfaces. Outfits: White shirts and any clothing/shoes that you don’t mind getting ruined.
Funny College Party Themes
High School Flashback High school wasn’t all that long ago, but it’s still worth throwing it back to (what hopefully wasn’t) the peak of your lives! Bust out high school memorabilia, serve up classic cafeteria foods, and lean into high school stereotypes (e.g., jock, nerd, theater kid, rebel) for your throwback ‘fit. Decor: Yearbooks, old posters, fake “prom” photo backdrop. Food & Drink: Pizza, burgers, fries, salad bar, soda, juice boxes, Smirnoff Ice, Pabst Blue Ribbon. Activities: Dodgeball, four square, “Most Likely To” contest, Truth or Dare, Never Have I Ever, Beer Pong. Outfits: High school uniforms, band t-shirts, jerseys, high school clique-themed costumes.
Mustache Party This college party theme is fairly self-explanatory…it’s all about mustaches! Stick a mustache anywhere you can—on balloons, streamers, cutouts, wallpaper—the sky’s the limit! As much as possible, tie mustaches into your snack (mustache-shaped cookie, anyone?) and drink selection. Decor: Mustache balloons and streamers. Mustache cutouts on sticks. Mustache pictures on the wall. Food & Drink: Mustache-shaped cookies, mustache-shaped soft pretzels, beverages with mustache stirrer sticks or drink charms. Activities: “Best Mustache” contest, “mustache trivia,” “stick the mustache on the hipster” (a la “Stick the Tail on the Donkey”). Outfits: Any outfit works, but everyone must wear a mustache on their face! Mustaches can be real, fake, or drawn-on.
“The Office” The Office is one of the most widely beloved shows that’s ever been on television, so it’ll be a massive crowd pleaser to fast forward to your 9-to-5 years with an Office-themed college party. Immerse yourself in the world of Scranton, PA and theme your party decor, foods, activities, and outfits after the iconic sitcom. The party planning committee doesn’t stand a chance against you! Decor: Dundies, “IT IS YOUR BIRTHDAY” banner, office supplies. Food & Drink: Chili, pretzels, beets, beet juice, Jell-O. Activities: Office Olympics, “That’s What She Said” contest, “Best Jim Face” contest, Office trivia. Outfits: Dress in professional clothing or as your favorite The Office character.
Area 51 Beam you and your guests to Nevada (or beyond) with an extraterrestrial college party theme that’s out of this world. Go full force with the alien vibe—from the costumes, to the lighting, to maybe even a late night UFO sighting (hey, you never know!). Treat your guests to ~alien foods~ or outer spacey food and drinks like Tang, green Jell-O, and UFO Juice (clear soda with a glow stick stirrer). Decor: Alien-themed decorations, green lights, UFO cutouts. Food & Drink: Green Jell-O, Milky Way bars, Tang, red punch, UFO Juice (clear soda with a glow stick stirrer). Activities: Sci-fi trivia, “alien abduction” role play games, extraterrestrial scavenger hunt. Outfits: Alien costumes, astronaut suits, and any other space-themed outfits.
Meme Mania Whether your meme knowledge comes from the age of Tumblr, Vine, or TikTok, you’re sure to have a few favorite memes on deck. So, challenge your guests to come to a party dressed as their favorite meme, and make sure that your party space is meme-ified to greet them! Some classic memes to dress up as or theme your party around include “Distracted Boyfriend,” “First World Problems,” “Is This A…,” and “This Is Fine.” Decor: Tape print-outs of iconic memes up on the wall. Food & Drink: Meme-inspired snacks, e.g., “doge” hot dogs, “woman yelling at cat” cupcakes. Activities: “Caption this meme” contest, meme-inspired charades, costume contest. Outfits: Dress as your favorite meme.
Netflix & Chill Nearly everyone has a Netflix account, and Netflix creates some of the most popular shows on TV—so it’s safe to assume that a Netflix-themed party would be just as popular! You could focus on one Netflix show, or theme your celebration over a few of their most watched shows, like Stranger Things, Bridgerton, Squid Game, and Wednesday. Decor: Decorate with elements from popular Netflix shows and movies—i.e., a Bridgerton ballroom or a room with dark and colorful decor, a la Wednesday and Enid’s dorm room. Food & Drink: Serve items featured in Netflix shows—like Squid Game dalgona candy or Eggos from Stranger Things. Make some themed drinks inspired by specific shows, like the Gibson cocktail featured in The Queen’s Gambit. Activities: Netflix trivia, Netflix show bingo, cosplay contest. Outfits: Dress up as your favorite Netflix character!
Wigging Out This whole event will be all about one thing: wigs! It’s a simple party theme, but it’s one that’s endlessly fun and funny for hosts and guests alike. The most important aspect is to have all guests wear the craziest wigs they can find—whether they’re crazy in cut, color, style, accessories, or length, anything is game! Otherwise, just plan a fun party for all your wig-wearing friends to enjoy. Decor: Wigs hanging from the ceilings, from the walls, and from the furniture. Food & Drink: Finger foods, “hair of the dog” drinks like a bloody mary, mimosa, or light beer. Activities: “Best Wig” contest, “Toss the Wig on the Wearer” game, “Hairography Dance-Off.” Outfits: Wear the wildest wig you can find!
Beer Olympics If you and your buddies are only athletes when it comes to one specific activity (*cough* drinking beer *cough*), then the Beer Olympics may be more up your alley than the true Olympic games. To plan a Beer Olympics party, come up with 5-10 games for guests to play. Split your group into teams of about 4 players each, then keep track of which team wins each game. At the end of the tournament, give trophies or other types of awards to the winning team. Decor: Olympics-themed decor like trophies and flags, and beer-themed decor like giant beer steins or bottle caps. Food & Drink: Game-day foods like wings and pizza, and beer (of course!). Activities: Beer Olympics games like Beer Pong, Flip Cup, 7-11 Doubles, and King’s Cup. Outfits: Anything casual and comfy that you can move around in.
Thrift Shop Prom Throw your own “grown up” prom…but on a budget. Challenge all of your guests to visit a local thrift store and thrift whatever prom-appropriate outfit they can find. Out-of-style gowns, tweed jackets, vintage heels…you name it! Your guests have to wear their best find to your party, making for an evening of hilarious outfits and endless laughs. Decor: Tacky or vintage-looking high school paraphernalia, like banners, streamers, and balloons. Food & Drink: Simple drinks and finger foods like cheese and crackers, chips, and punch. Activities: “Worst Dressed” contest, “Thrift Store Fashion Show,” slow dancing! Outfits: Wear your best (aka, worst) thrift store prom finds.
Anything But a Cup An “anything but a cup” party is similar to an “anything but clothes” party, but it’s a little easier to manage! Basically, the idea of this party is for guests to bring their own cup to drink out of…but they can’t bring a cup. Common choices of container include flower vases, fishbowls, teapots, boots, squirt guns, traffic cones, conch shells, carved-out pineapples, wheelbarrows, and baby bottles. Decor: Place unconventional drinking vessels like bowls, (clean) shoes, and dog bowls throughout the party space. Food & Drink: Serve normal party foods, and lots of drink options for guests to pour into their non-cups. Activities: “Most Creative Container” contest, drinking games using the non-cups. Outfits: No rules here! Wear anything you feel comfortable in.
Sexy College Party Themes
Yacht Club Go for a fun and flirty nautical vibe with a yacht club party theme! While you may not be able to actually take your guests for a ride on the high seas, you can definitely bring big boat energy with nautical-themed decor, food, and activities. For example, you can ask guests to dress in a preppy aesthetic with nautical prints, especially when bought from coastal brands like Vineyard Vines and J. Crew. Decor: Nautical flags, ropes, anchors, blue-and-white decorations. Food & Drink: Shrimp cocktail, oysters, finger sandwiches, sparkling wine, mojitos. Activities: “Yacht race” using paper sailboats and blowing through straws, boat deck games like shuffleboard and spinning tops. Outfits: Preppy, nautical looks like white pants, boat shoes, polo shirts, and sailor hats. Or anything blue and white!
Bad & Boujee If you haven’t had the Migos tune on repeat lately, here’s your reminder that “boujee” is a way to say luxurious and over-the-top…which is exactly what your party will be! The vibe of “bad and boujee” basically means that something (or someone) is attractive, expensive, and totally extra in the best way. So, your party should focus on sexy outfits, decorations, and foods that give off an air of old money—even if you put the whole party together on a student’s budget. Decor: Gold-and-black decorations, inflatable champagne bottles, wall of “money.” Food & Drink: Caviar on potato chips, champagne, petit fours, flourless chocolate cake. Activities: “Best Dressed” contest, life-size Monopoly, champagne toast. Outfits: Designer or fake designer clothing, extravagant jewelry, and anything else that screams “luxury.”
Beach Bums Transform your space into a beach club with sand (if possible), seashells, and blown-up posters of the ocean. Serve beachy foods and tropical cocktails, and put the “sexy” into this sexy beach party theme with a swimwear or swimwear-adjacent dress code. You can also make this theme more specific with a Baywatch (lifeguard costumes and red swimsuits) or Beanies & Bikinis (exactly what it sounds like!) sub-theme. Decor: Beach balls, sand, seashells, tropical flowers, photos or a projected time lapse of the beach. Food & Drink: Burgers, hot dogs, skewers, tropical fruit, margaritas, piña coladas, “Sex on the Beach” cocktails. Activities: Beach volleyball, limbo, sandcastle-building competitions. Outfits: Beachwear of any kind—swimsuits, cover-ups, sunglasses, flip-flops, etc.
Foam Frenzy When it comes to parties, it doesn’t get more epic than a foam party—so if you have the space and resources to throw one, then go ahead and foam it up! Just make sure that the foam won’t do damage to your home, and let guests know that any clothing they wear to your event will likely get wet or damaged. Decor: Foam machine, water guns, inflatable pool toys. Food & Drink: Fruit skewers, popsicles, ice cream, sodas, fruity cocktails. Activities: Foam fights, water balloon toss, slip ‘n’ slide. Outfits: Swimwear or any clothing that can get wet.
Fire and Ice This classic college party theme brings the chill and the heat—making for a perfectly balanced bash that’s fun, sexy, and effortless to put together. In a nutshell, everything at your party should be divided up as fire or ice. One half of your space should be decorated in a fire theme, with the other half being decorated in an ice theme. Same goes for food, drinks, activities, and peoples’ outfits! Decor: Red/orange decor and candles, and blue/white decor and fake snow. Add paper snowflakes, fake flames, and any other imagery to represent fire and ice. Food & Drink: For fire, serve spicy snacks, spicy margaritas, and hot toddies. For ice, serve ice cream, shaved ice, iced tea, and frozen slushies. Activities: Spicy food eating contest, ice-sculpting competition (with ice cubes or ice cream), Charades with related words (e.g., fireplace, volcano, ice skating, snowcone). Outfits: Choose between “fire” colors (red, orange, and yellow) or “ice” colors (blue, white, and silver).
007 Bond, James Bond…ever heard of him? Well, he’ll be the inspiration for your next college party, since this theme is all about the iconic Secret Service agent. Channel recognizable aspects of the Bond films, including casinos, martinis, sensual lighting, and elegant designs. And don’t forget to ask everyone who their favorite 007 actor is before you let them in the door! Decor: Casino-themed decorations, warm lighting, black-and-gray color scheme. Food & Drink: Hors d’oeuvres, champagne, martinis (shaken, not stirred!). Activities: Casino games like poker and blackjack, James Bond trivia, secret agent-themed mystery games. Outfits: Tuxedos, gowns, and costume spy gadgets!
Oktoberfest If you couldn’t make it to Germany for Oktoberfest this year, you can certainly rival the epic beer-centric celebration with your own themed college party. An Oktoberfest party has everything you could want—fun and flirty costumes, delicious German food, rousing music, and heaps upon heaps of beer! Decor: German flags, Oktoberfest banners, wooden beer barrels. Food & Drink: Bratwurst, soft pretzels, sauerkraut, potato salad, and beer! Activities: Pretzel-eating contest, “beer stein” holding contest (who can hold the most?). Outfits: Oktoberfest costumes, including lederhosen, dirndls, and Bavarian hats.
Barbie Girls & Boys Barbiecore certainly isn’t dead, and it’d make for a super fun college party theme! The number 1 rule? Pink, absolutely everywhere. From decorations to snacks, make sure everything fits into that iconic Barbie shade. The most fun party of this event will probably be everyone’s Barbie-inspired costumes, but make sure to nail other essentials like adding Aqua’s “Barbie Girl” (and the rest of the Barbie soundtrack) to your playlist for the night. Decor: Pink balloons, streamers, flowers. Photo wall with Barbie props and backdrops. And Barbie dolls, of course! Food & Drink: Pink lemonade, pink cupcakes, pink cotton candy, and pink cocktails. Activities: Barbie trivia, Barbie fashion show, Barbie photo booth. Outfits: Wear any Barbie- or Ken-related costume or outfit. When in doubt, just wear anything pink!
Classy College Party Themes
1920s Speakeasy You probably had to read Gatsby in order to get into college, so why not use all that knowledge for a flapper-era party? This theme is more on the elegant side of college party ideas, but it doesn’t make it any less fun! Go for a jazzy, sexy vibe with food and decor themed after the Roaring Twenties—and lean on the speakeasy element for a touch of danger. Decor: Dim lighting, jazz music, playing cards, disguised alcohol bottles. Food & Drink: Finger sandwiches, charcuterie board, mini quiches, olives, grapes. Activities: Card games (e.g., poker, blackjack), dancing to jazz. Outfits: Flapper dresses, suits, fedoras, suspenders, pearls, feather boas.
Masquerade Ball A masquerade-themed college party is classy, mysterious, seductive…and fun to boot! Disguise your identity, and disguise your home as a place of luxury and elegance with faux chandeliers, candles, and a cool black-and-gold color scheme. Make sure guests know to come in cocktail or slightly-dressier attire, and don’t forget the masks, of course! Decor: Masks as wall art, fake chandeliers, candles, black-and-gold decorations. Food & Drink: Hors d’oeuvres, champagne, petit fours. Activities: Dancing (like a masked ball), best dressed competition. Outfits: Elegant gowns, tuxedos, and fancy masks.
Eras Tour Calling all Swifties! If you’re longing to return to the days of Eras Tour livestreams and surprise song guesses, this college party theme is perfect for you. Turn different sections of your party spaces into different Taylor Swift eras, like Reputation, Debut, Lover, evermore, etc. And, of course, make sure that your playlist is streaming Taylor’s Version tunes all night long! Decor: Lifesize cutouts of Taylor Swift, themed decor for each era, giant friendship bracelet garlands. Food & Drink: Chai sugar cookies, chicken strips and ranch, or charcuterie/snack boards that are color-themed for each era. White wine, or drinks themed after each era—e.g., spiked sweet tea (Debut), peach schnapps (Fearless), grape juice (Speak Now), vodka cranberry (Red), Blue Lagoon cocktail (1989), Black Russian cocktail (Reputation), Cosmopolitan cocktail (Lover), Earl Gray tea (folkore), spiced chai (evermore), red (“maroon”) wine (Midnights), vodka soda (The Tortured Poets Department). Activities: Taylor Swift trivia, Taylor Swift singalong, making friendship bracelets. Outfits: Have guests dress in their favorite Tay ‘fit or as their favorite era.
Royal Wedding Want to be a member of British high society for a day? Well, here’s your chance! If you didn’t get the chance to attend Harry and Meghan’s nuptials yourself, you can create your own royal wedding-themed college party with elegant decor, fancy finger foods, and “royal” activities. Basically, your party will be fit for a queen. Decor: White flowers, elegant faux chandeliers, fake “throne,” photo booth altar. Food & Drink: Hors d'oeuvres, champagne, wedding cupcakes. Activities: Costume contest, “waltz” dancing, croquet. Outfits: Gowns, tuxedos, tiaras, crowns, extravagant headpieces.
How to Plan the Perfect College Party
Throwing the funnest party of the school year is a pretty big undertaking—but you can do it with these tips! Once you’ve chosen your perfect theme, follow these party-centric pieces of advice to make sure that your event goes as smoothly as possible: Invest in a good sound system: Look into renting speakers if you don’t have adequate ones already, and make sure to prepare a playlist ahead of time. Have sufficient seating and bathrooms: Ensure that guests will have comfortable places to sit and chat, and do your best to give access to as many bathrooms as possible (and make sure the lines are moving throughout the night). Keep the lighting low: At a college or frat-style party, no one wants to have blinding fluorescent lights on them while they’re getting down on the dance floor. Get warm, dimmable lights to set the vibe for your shindig. Prioritize safety: Make sure people aren’t driving while intoxicated and that everyone has a buddy at the party. Ask a few close friends to help you keep an eye on the crowd to make sure everyone’s staying safe. Provide hearty snacks and plenty of water: Especially if people are drinking alcohol, make sure to have enough filling snacks (like ones with carbs) and water. Hire a student photographer: If you have the budget, hire a local student photographer or ask a friend with photog skills to snap some photos throughout the night.
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