I’m the kind of person who loves to throw a great party. However, I’m also the kind of person who loves to save money. As an entertainment-loving cheapskate, it was my mission to find entertaining ways for me, my kids, and my friends to have a great time without spending a lot.
And I found a lot.
I’ve broken them down in to three categories:
What are the Best Food-Related Party Entertainment Ideas?
Cocktails or Mocktails?
A cocktail party is a party where people drink cocktails. A mocktail party is the same thing, except with non-alcoholic cocktails called mocktails. Cocktail parties are usually held at night, in bars or restaurants, and with a more formal dress code. They tend to be more intimate than other types of parties and are usually held for a special occasion, such as the opening of an art gallery or the release of an album by your favorite musician.
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Have a Taste Test
If you want to host a party that involves food and doesn’t break the bank, consider having taste testing at your party. You can either provide multiple types of something inexpensive like flavored popcorn, funky Oreos, or many types of cereal, or invite guests to bring their own dish to share.
At the end there’s usually some kind of vote on which dish was best, with the winner getting a prize or other recognition. You could also have an award for “best bite” if that works better for your group.
What are the Best Activity-Related Party Entertainment Ideas?
Sing Karaoke
Singing karaoke is a great way to get people to relax and have fun. Almost everyone loves singing, whether you are at home or in a club. It’s also the perfect activity for large groups because it allows everyone to participate and have fun together. Singing with friends can be a great party entertainment idea when planning an event, or even just having friends over for dinner!
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Have a Dance-Off
It’s not just for weddings and bar mitzvahs! A dance-off is a fun way to entertain your guests and let them feel loose by giving them an opportunity to show off their moves in public. If you want to make it more than just a mass group of people doing the Macarena, consider having a theme or creating prizes for the winner.
$5 and Under Gift Exchange
A gift exchange is a fun way to mix up your party entertainment and have everyone go home with a fun little treat. Instead of buying gifts for everyone, try a $5 and under gift exchange! It’s fun and easy to put together, and you can make it as big or small as you want.
Science Experimentation
Science experiments are an excellent way to entertain guests at your next event. While they may require some preparation, they can also be done on the spot and with little or no cost. If you’re planning a party, consider these science experiment ideas for a fun and engaging activity for your guests.
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Movie Night
“Movie Night” is a great idea for a party. You can choose to watch a classic movie, or you can make it more fun by watching something new. The best thing about this type of entertainment is that it doesn’t require many materials and it’s very affordable.
Murder Mystery Dinner Party
A murder mystery dinner party is very much like an elaborate game of Clue. You can choose from a variety of themes, such as “The Secret Life of Sherlock Holmes” or “The Perfect Murder.” There are tons of inexpensive pre-made products online.
Board Game Tournament
As the host of a party, it’s up to you to decide what sort of games will be played. But which ones are best for a tournament? While there are many board games that would work well, here are some ideas to get your creativity flowing:
- Pictionary (the classic game of drawing)
- Scattergories (where players draw words from categories and then write down answers)
- Cranium (a combination trivia/performance game)
- Apples-to-Apples (in which players match funny descriptions and names with similar items in the cards given by other players)
What are the Best Creativity-Related Party Entertainment Ideas?
Music Bingo
Music bingo is a great option for any party and is a lot of fun! To play, you need all the usual bingo supplies (bingo cards, caller’s card and marker, pen or pencils) as well as a music source. You’ll also need to have some sort of prize for the winner (this could be something silly like an inflatable banana).
To start playing you’ll want to call out one song at random from your music source (you can use YouTube videos but I find that Pandora works best). Then have someone mark off where “Sugar” starts on their card before playing it so it’s easy for them to remember where they left off when another round begins.
DIY or Crafts
You can have some homemade crafts at your party. You can have a craft table with different crafts, which you can make. For example, you can have an invitation card making station where people can make their own invitations or decorate them. You can also make a DIY craft table for those who want to do their own thing. You might want to provide guests with some basic craft materials like paper, ribbons and stickers so that they can create their own masterpieces.
Costume Party
A costume party is one of the easiest types of parties to plan because all you have to do is buy or make costumes and invite people over to dress up in them! You can choose any theme you want or make up your own theme if you’re feeling creative.
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Conclusion
When planning a party, it’s important to keep in mind that a great time can be had without breaking the bank. While you’ll still need to watch your budget, these cheap party entertainment ideas should help with saving money on the fun portion of your event.
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