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Fabulous Fifties Party Ideas
Take kids back in time with these fun fifties party ideas.
It will be a memorable experience for everyone involved - so make sure to take lots of pictures!
Resources:
Party Supplies Free Printable Invitations
Invitations
Lets get creative with your fifties party invitations. I have included a couple of suggestions here to help you create excitement for your 50s party guests.
First, you can cut out a circle (that looks like an album record) from black construction paper. If you want your 50s party invitation to open like a regular card, then you have to fold the paper over and cut the circle leaving an inch or two on the folded side uncut.
Next, you can use gel pens to write your party details. (Gel pens work great on black paper). You invitation wording can say "It's a Rockin' Sock Hop! Put on those poodle skirts and leather jackets and come join the fun! Do the "Locomotion" and head on over to (your child's name) house for some Rockin' Sock Hop birthday party fun!"
For a second fifties party invitation idea, put a picture of a 50's style car on the front of the card. On the inside of the card, you can write "Cruise on over to Big Al's (or use your child's/husband's name) Diner for a Hot Roddin' good time." Next, add all your party details like date, time, location, and RSVP.
Here is another idea for your wording: "Hey, all you T-Birds and Pink Ladies! (Your child's name) is turning (age) and she (or he) is hopelessly devoted to you being there. So grease back your hair, guys! And grab your saddle shoes, girls! Because it's time to Rock 'n' Roll!
Make sure to ask all your guests to wear 50's party attire.
Decorations
The best color combination for your fifties party decorations would be teal, pink and black.
Decorate your front yard with balloons and streamers in before-mentioned colors. Decorate you front door with a banner "Welcome to Big Al's (or name of your choice) Diner!" Draw any 50s theme items (e.g. cars, jukebox, album records, etc) on the banner to make it look more authentic!
Hang old album records from the ceiling. Place old pictures around your fifties party area. You can also use musical instruments or music note decorations to go on the walls. Cover the floor with balloons in coordinating colors. Also, if you have any old memorabilia - spread it around your room.
Have some fun with your party table area. Hang 50s theme posters on the walls (e.g. soda drinks, hamburgers, hot rod cars, etc.) Cover the table with checkered tablecloth. Put catsup, mustard, and relish bottles on the table. Have classic soda glasses for everyone.
Hang Saxophone Mylar balloon as a centerpiece in the middle. Cut out Coke signs from the Coca-Cola box and spread the signs around the table. You can create price tags for all your food items. For example, root beer floats can be 10 cents, burgers - 15 cents, etc.
Play music of Elvis, Buddy Holly, or Grease Soundtrack in the background.
Guest Arrival and Introductory Activities
*Poodle Skirts 'n' Greasers: For this fifties party activity you'll need several items: outlines of poodles copied on 8½"X11" sheets of paper, crayons (markers, etc), combs, hair gels and mirrors.
Have each girl color in a poodle. In the meantime, help the boys style their hair by drawing the hair straight up and back from the forehead. Next, assist the girls in cutting out their poodle pictures, and pin them on their skirts with safety pins.
*Jump Rope Contest: Give each fifties party guest a jump rope. Have the kids use their jump ropes and time them to see who stay in the air the longest.
Favors
For your 50s party favors, you can have such items as slinkies, yo-yos, silly putty and ice cream cone bubble necklaces.
Give out pink scarves, cat eye glasses, pink poodle bookmarks, and pom poms for the girls. Have fuzzy dice, black combs and classic car sticker sheets - for the boys.
50s Party Games
*Hula Hoop Play: You'll need hula hoops for this fifties party activity. Have the kids practice their hula hoop skills. You can time who can keep the hula hoop in the air the longest.
*Sing like the Stars: Bring out any old tapes and records, and let the kids sing along to the tunes of some oldies.
*Stuck in the Mud: Play this 50s party game outside. One person is 'It' and has to run around tagging other players.
If the player has been tagged, he or she must freeze with their legs apart, until someone else crawls through their legs. If the person has been tagged 3 times - he or she is out. The game ends when everyone left is standing still.
*Activity with Sunglasses: This is a nice transition activity for the kids to restore their energy. Distribute black sunglasses for the boys and pink sunglasses for the girls. Help the girls decorate their sunglasses. When everyone is ready - take a group photo.
*Rock 'n' Roll Dances: Now that everyone has their sunglasses on, it's time to dance and have some fun. I have included simple steps for your fifties party guests to follow.
The Swing: divide guests into dance partners and get them to hold hands. Have them walk away, then towards each other in time with the music.
The Swim: get the kids to move like they are snorkeling above the ground. Dancers can move their arms and legs in swimming motions. They can even pinch the nose, bend the knees, and wave one arm above the head.
You can get more ideas for dance moves from the movie Grease.
*Find That Tune: Give everyone a sheet of paper with songs from the fifties. Get the kids walk around the house and look at album records (hanging from the ceiling or the walls as decorations) trying to find the right songs. The first person to find all the songs - wins!
*Copy Cat: All of the kids sit in a circle. The starting player makes a body movement such as clapping hands, wiggling nose, pinching ears, shrugging shoulders, etc. The next player in the circle copies the starting player's movement and adds a new movement.
The third player must copy the first two movements in the order they were made and then add a third movement. Play continues in this manner around the circle.
If a player can't remember a movement or copies a movement incorrectly, he or she is out of the game and must leave the circle. The last remaining player wins.
*Air Guitar Contest: Play a rock 'n' roll tune from the 50s. Have the kids pretend their playing the guitar. Have judges determine the air guitar playing champion. Have prizes for the funniest, craziest, etc. skit - so everyone wins!
*"Sock Hop": Give each fifties party guest an old sock to be used as a puppet. You can help the kids sew buttons for eyes, or do it in advance. Next, have the children decorate their socks with markers.
Put a sheet over some chairs to form a puppet stage. Play the 50s music in the background and get the kids to hide behind the stage and put on a puppet show. Let their imagination run wild with their selection of characters and song for background music.
Food and Drink Fifties Party Cake:
*Record Cake: Bake a round cake in single or double layer circle. Ice it with chocolate frosting. Carefully grate the cake top in clockwise motion with a fork (moving the fork each time you go around).
Next, cut out a small circle and punch the hole in the middle. Invent a song title using your child's name, and write it on the circle. Place it in the center of the cake top. Your record cake is ready!
If you'd like more ideas, here is one of my favorite - 50s doll cake. Fifties Party Food Ideas:
Prepare food that would fit the authentic drive-in style meal. You can prepare the food yourself or get it from on the fast food restaurants. If you have a classic drive-in restaurant in your area, then order food there - it will be more "authentic".
*Burgers & Fries
*Toaster Sandwiches
*Chicken Salad
*Pizza
*Tortilla Wraps
*Hot Dogs
*Onion Rings
*Sundaes
*Shortcakes Fifties Party Drink Ideas:
*Root Beer Floats
*Lemonade
*Ice Tea
*Flavored Sodas
*Slushes
*Chocolate/Vanilla Malts
*Milk Shakes
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