Teen parties in our neighborhood don’t have a theme. All that’s required is food, music loud enough that conversation must be yelled, and plenty of participants. Melissa Daly’s new book 87 Ways to Throw a Killer Party
Blood Bash.
Offer red punch in a bowl rigged up to a fake blood bag. Give guests candy necklaces to wear. Throughout the evening they’ll be cued (perhaps by the word “vampire”) to bite a piece of candy from the neck of the person standing closest. And for atmosphere, play vampire movies with the sound off.
Blackout Party
Stage the event in a room with few windows, such as a basement. Cover those windows with cardboard or sheets. (Leave a nightlight by the exit door for safety.) As guests arrive, give each person a tiny keychain flashlight. Start the party with the lights on. Every third song or so, turn out another light until eventually the room is pitch black. People can flick on their flashlights whenever they choose, maybe to see who they’re dancing with or to provide an impromptu light show.
Trivial Pursuit: Friends Edition
This is best for a small group of friends who know each other well. Before the party, come up with six trivia categories. Assign these categories the same colors as your those in your Trivial Pursuit board game. Give each friend six colored index cards. They’re to write a question about themselves in each category on each card, with answers on the back. Then play together exactly as you would play the game, only with Q&A relevant to your circle of friends.
Oh, the lights out one was a favorite when I was a teen. We would play hide-n-seek in my basement at night (on a street with no streetlights) and you could literally stand in the center of the room and not be seen. Sounds silly, but even teens like to play kid games when it’s slightly creepy. Being the seeker was the worst because you never knew when someone might just jump on you when they heard your footsteps close by.
TIP: If you do this. Don’t lie on the floor as a hiding spot. Twasn’t me…