If you want to throw a party that your friends will never forget, try one of these creative new party themes! They’re not just offbeat, they’re also super easy to pull off.
So start this semester with a unique bash rather than another kegger or the beer pong competition that everyone expects. We’ve put together a list of 14 college party themes and bucketed them into types:
What are the Best Classy Party Themes?
1. Gatsby-Inspired Party
Gatsby parties are all about glamor and luxury, so you’ll want to make sure you have everything from fancy hats to posh cigars. You can choose from a variety of different decades when deciding on this theme: 1920s, modern day, or somewhere in between.
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2. After Dark
An after dark party theme is ideal for anyone who wants to get rid of their inhibitions and really let their hair down. It’s also a great idea for those who love dressing up as it makes it easier for you to get into character and really embrace the spirit of this theme.
What are the Best Glow Party Themes?
You’ve been to the same parties during your time in college. You’ve done togas and you’ve done Anything But Clothes. Perhaps it’s time for something glowing. Here are a few unique college party themes that will make your next social gathering memorable for all involved:
3. Glow in the Dark Candyland Party
It’s not hard to find party supplies for a glow in the dark party, but if you want to go above and beyond, you can make your own! This can be done by painting objects with glow in the dark paint or buying glow in the dark stickers that can be applied to anything. You could even make your own Candyland board game out of cardboard or wood and draw it on top of some kind of mat so that it doesn’t get messed up when used.
4. Black Light Party
Black lights are fun and can change the atmosphere of your house in an instant. Really, they make everything look cool. Make some fun glowing cocktails, grab some neon makeup, and prepare yourself to party!
5. Neon Gangster Party
This is a great party theme for anyone who is an old school gangster rap fan. The neon color scheme is perfect for this theme, and it’s simple to pull together. You can decorate your house with pictures of gangsters from the past, play some classic rap music, and dress in your finest neon apparel.
What are the Best Artsy Party Themes?
6. Body Paint Party
The body paint party is a slightly more risqué theme that can be easily adapted to your college’s culture and student body. The basic premise of the event is to put on black and white clothes, bring a paint brush, and break out the body paint. This could take many forms: face paint, temporary tattoos or even real body paint (provided by an artist). Let your guests creativity flow as they paint and draw on each other.
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7. Iron Chef Party
If you’ve ever watched the show Iron Chef, then you know the basics of what it entails. The idea is to have a competition between two teams of chefs (or in this case, party-goers) who will compete against each other to create the best dish using only one secret ingredient that they must bring with them. Each team should be judged on taste, presentation and originality. Winning team gets a prize!
What are the Best Throwback Party Themes?
8. Classic Cartoon Party
If you’re in college, chances are you’ve grown up watching cartoons like SpongeBob SquarePants, Scooby-Doo and Tom & Jerry. Now that you’re older, you may be looking for a new way to celebrate your favorite cartoons. If so, why not throw a cartoon party? You can make it fun and entertaining by inviting all of your friends over and having them dress up as their favorite characters.
9. 90’s House Party
The 90s was a decade of change. The Berlin Wall fell, the World Wide Web was born, and grunge music became popular. It was a time of rebellion and experimentation. People wore their feelings on their sleeves, and hung up their cares to dry.
If you’re looking for a great party idea this year, why not pick one of these 90s themed parties? You’ll be sure to have a blast!
What are the Best School Related Party Themes?
10. “What’s Your Major?” Party Theme
If you’re majoring in communications or any other field related to social sciences or humanities, this is one of the easiest college party themes ever. For example, if you’re studying psychology, you could go with “Freak Show” (if it fits your personality).
11. Mascot Themed Party
If you’re a student at a university or college, then it’s likely that you have an official mascot. Most colleges have mascots that are designed to embody everything that is great about their school in the form of an animal or creature. If your school has a mascot, then why not throw a party based on them? You could also base your theme around another aspect related to the university such as its colors or location.
12. Sports-Themed Party
If you or your friends are into sports, then this is the theme for you. The best thing about it is that it can be applied to nearly any sport and still work just as well. You can show up as players from any team—college or pro—and simply wear jerseys of their favorites. If there’s a big game on during your party timeframe, consider watching it together but keeping score by who gets the most likes on their Instagram post with the #sportsparty hashtag at midnight (or whenever other random scoring you think).
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What are the Best Eco Fresh Party Themes?
13. Down on the Farm
If you’re looking for something different than the normal frat parties, this theme is perfect for you. It’s easy and inexpensive to set up and can be used for any occasion. All that’s needed are some farm animal decorations like cows, pigs and chickens along with some hay bales and other country props, cute country outfits, and delicious BBQ food!
14. Go Green
Green is the new black. It’s a great color for your party, and it’s also something you can do to reduce your footprint on this earth.
You can use green as a theme for your college party, from food to decorations that are eco-friendly. If you want to go all out with the idea of going green, consider investing in reusable cups and plates that guests can take home at the end of the night. You can also ask them not to throw any trash away if they don’t want to waste paper bags or plastic cups by telling them it’s part of an experiment where you’re trying out different ways of reducing waste!
Conclusion
Hey, party people! I hope these ideas have gotten your creativity flowing, and that you’re ready to throw a killer party. Remember: don’t be afraid to mix and match elements from different themes to find the perfect vibe for your party. It’ll make it even more unique—and fun!
