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30 Party Hosts Share Their Knowledge On How To Throw A Party That’s Fun For Everyone
Interview
It’s no secret that for many people, a good, and I mean a really good party is sometimes accompanied by one glass too many. And the morning after will surely remind you that having fun and moderation should go hand in hand.
But let me tell you that there are many splendid ways to have a smashing party completely sober. We’re not just talking non-alcoholic beverages.
“What's the best non-alcoholic way to make a party crazy and fun?” someone asked on Reddit, turning a thread into a noteworthy party planner you may find handy for the next occasion. Scroll down for the best responses below!
This post may include affiliate links.
#1
Step 1: Find the crappiest, cheapest horror movie possible.
Step 2: Watch it for about 15 minutes then pause it
Step 3: List out all the characters you've seen and have everyone write down which characters they expect are going to die and in what order.
Step 4: Unpause the movie. The person with the most accurate predictions wins.
You'll get people shouting "GET HER" at the screen because they're banking on whatever person being killed off to win them the game. I did it with a friend while watching Thankskilling and it was glorious.
It's no secret that many people cannot imagine partying without alcohol. But there should exist healthier alternatives for having fun. So to find out more about them, as well as ways to have fun sober, Bored Panda reached out to Jason Peterson, the Head of Brand at Cycling Frog. Cycling Frog is a brand offering THC seltzers that are a wildly drinkable and healthier alternative to the hooch. The seltzers are made with 100% hemp extract, so they're federally legal and all-natural fruit juices that have no alcohol.
#2
Before we got married, we found out my sister-in-law’s boyfriend had never heard Bohemian Rhapsody. At our wedding reception, every single guest circled around him and one other person who had never heard the song. The DJ played the song and we hard core belted that song directly at them. People naturally started singing melody and harmony and it was basically 80 people singing karaoke together. This is one of my favorite memories from that day. Granted, a tiny bit of alcohol had been consumed prior to this moment but it was an absolute blast for everyone.
#3
Some of the best adult parties I've been to are kids parties after the kids fall asleep.
If you want to see adults playing like kids and laughing their asses off, rent a giant bouncy slide and one of those carnival games with the spinning ladder.
harpling 2 years ago
I was so sad when I started outgrowing those things as a kid. My feet touch the bottom when my butt is still at the top of the slide. My feet don't fit in the footwells, and my arms dangle off the sides and hit the ground. I get to be the designated bag-holder any time I go someplace with rides like this. Sad face.
#4
**Change the lights.**
Nothing kills the party vibe like bright overhead lights. Turn down the lights, set up some string lights, get a disco ball, swap out the bulbs in your lamps with colored bulbs. Just do *something* so that your living room says "party" and not "living room".
“We get it. We’ve all been fed the idea that you can’t possibly have a good time unless you’re 5 beers deep, but that’s just not the case,” Peterson said.
In fact, a new trend of alcohol-free THC seltzers has emerged in the past years. “Americans looking to indulge and get a little high are turning towards cannabis beverages and away from alcohol. With fewer calories and fewer, if any, long-term health risks, cannabis-infused drinks allow you to relax and unwind without even so much as a hangover the following day,” Peterson said.
However, if you want to swerve the substances altogether, Peterson’s advice is to simply opt for low-sugar and alcohol-free versions of your favorite drinks. “We challenge you to try and taste the difference between a virgin mojito and the real thing!”
#5
A bag of bulk wigs. Just discretely place the bag of wigs on a couch or coffee table. Wait and watch.
The crushinator 2 years ago
A lot of my friends are hippies who travel a lot and i've had scabies 3 times. I wont accept or share as much as a hankerchief from anybody anymore, never again.
#6
Do a murder mystery night.
Invite as many people as you know, get everyone all dressed in old garb, turn off the lights, murder Gary in the dark, then call the cops.
#7
Generally speaking making yourself have a good time increases the energy in the atmosphere which causes everyone to have a good time.
I basically quit drinking a few years ago so when friends have get togethers I'm always sober, the last time I hung out with all my friends I went to the bathroom, and when I came out and I was walking back into the living room I heard a song playing that I like so I started singing it loudly just to amuse myself.
Came stomping out of the hallway into the living room head banging and singing the song, entire living room lit up with laughter and next thing I know I've got everybody standing up and dancing, bouncing around and head banging along with me.
That energy stayed for about 2 hours until people started leaving for the night, without exception every person that was there told me how much fun they had because of me the next time I saw them.
No real secret, you need to be comfortable with yourself and let your natural energy flow, the temperature in the room will raise with you when done naturally and not forced
This also works in bars, clubs, concerts, etc. Anywhere there should be high energy. I can't tell you how many dance floors were dead when we showed up that we were able to make explode with life, and I can't dance nor am comfortable dancing,. You don't need a skill set to jump up and down and clap your hands
Meanwhile, “if zero alcohol is simply not an option but you still want to be mindful of your health, there are still low- and reduced-alcohol alternatives that are low in ABV (typically between 0.05 and 1.2%) and fewer calories, too.”
For many people, partying is inseparable from consuming alcohol. Peterson argues that “alcohol can make even the dullest parties seem fun and exciting, so when you take it out of the equation, can sober partying really be the same?” According to him, the short answer is yes, “but you’ll have to be creative.”
#8
Nerf guns
#9
I can’t recommend the JackBox game series enough for this
Mad Dragon 2 years ago
You can play all in the same room, or screen-share and play each in your own house. It's so much fun!
#10
Cards against humanity
heather7d@yahoo.com 2 years ago
You haven’t truly laughed until you’ve played Cards Against Humanity with your grandma! My grandma was 92 when we got her playing and OMG, nothing’ funnier than hearing what comes out of her mouth and the kick she got out of her own self!
“Instead of opting for a house party or a night on the town, choose a venue or activity that is already fun and enjoyable,” Peterson said. Think comedy nights, game nights and karaoke.”
“You could even nurture your inner child with a trip to the bowling alley or the roller skating rink... my friends and I do an '80s roller skating night every year and it's a BLAST!”
#11
I invited a few couples over (some of them pretty religious and don’t drink) but we played adult mad libs. It was hilarious seeing them break out of their shells and just belly laugh at some of the things we all would come up with in that game.
Firstname Lastname 2 years ago
Most nights my boyfriend and I do a madlib before bed so that our dreams have something funny to dwell on instead of all of the negative bits of life. Now I want to get these adult ones for him.
#12
Those trivia app games you can connect to your tv. Karaoke. Good snack, mock tails, and good friends
#13
Get a giant roll of blank paper, like the back of wrapping paper, and tape it to the back of the bathroom door. Hang a sharpie marker near it. Everybody who uses the bathroom gets to anonymously write graffiti. Make it themed, like it has to be poems, or for a good time call ___, or as a host, don't say a word and see what happens naturally. When I was in college, we did this and some comments turned out to be f-ing insanely hilarious.
Another tip from Peterson is if you live in an area with hills, you could go ice block racing. “That's where you buy large blocks of ice from the local grocer, sit on them, and race your friends down a grassy hill. Get some pool floaties and go float in a river or lake.”
“Or, go the fancy route, save up your drink dollars and indulge in a reservation at a fancy restaurant that you wouldn’t usually attend or an event you’ve wanted to tick off for a while,” he said.
Peterson reminds everyone that most importantly, “if you’re doing these things with people you love and enjoy being around, anything can feel like a party!”
#14
The right type of people. People that can have fun without alcohol make alcohol free parties fun:)
nana pancha 2 years ago
I am trying not to drink because I usually can't control myself after s few drinks, but it's super difficult since all my "friends" (who I don't think they are actually) drink and it is pretty difficult. I hate drinking but I love having fun and I am addicted to that, alcohol has made me see a place where I can be quite funny and people like me a lot! Because of that I haven't made a deep and real relationship with someone besides my bf and it sucks because I am quite young
#15
Music. Music gets me as high as booze.
#16
Bubbles. They're so fun, and I even want them at my wedding.
Helen Bennett 2 years ago
We had them at our wedding! My dad had the fantastic idea of handing all the children - hell, and any adults who wanted them - a bottle of bubble mix, and party squeakers. It was great! Heartily recommended. I have a lovely memory of a professional-good student brass player who happened to be there (some guests' family member who happened to be staying with them) blowing a party squeaker slowly, carefully, with great care and control, to reach out and tap passing dancers on the back. And little kids running around blowing bubbles. It was a lovely evening and the bubbles got the vibe going amazingly well.
#17
Nerf gun war.
Im talking pillow forts. team captains. Strategy. Stealth.
The whole 9.
#18
I went to this party with go-karts, and they made a whole racetrack with disco lights, music, and hay, and it was honestly the best party I ever went to.
#20
Cards and board games. The one time we were on a tea shop my cousin brought a game, I think it's called Resistance if I remember correctly. That's still one of my fondest memories ever and we stayed at that shop until it closed at midnight. It's so good we didn't noticed the time.
#21
Bad movies.
Making fun of bad movies is always fun.*The Room*, *Red Sonja*, *Samurai Cop 2*.
We also love *Flash Gordon*, which is an absolute masterpiece and I will hear nothing to the contrary.
#22
I'm putting together a Halloween party this weekend with at least two dozen people coming over. This is the fourth year we've done it and it's always a rager, and probably still would be if there weren't drinks.
I clear out the entire garage. We put a few chairs out, but really only enough for the people who really need it. If people are standing, they're mingling around and making new friends. If they're sitting down, they're probably just going to be introverted and quiet.
The garage is also emptied out because we want people dancing later. We put in the sound bar that usually sits beneath the TV, because it gets loud enough for EDM music and such but isn't so loud that it will annoy the neighbors. We also put in a smoke machine, a blacklight, and a few laser machines. Turn out the regular lights and it might as well be a club in there.
We also have a few DJ's come mix music live. This year it's a good buddy of mine and myself doing a few hour's worth. Sometimes you put on chill stuff so people can talk, sometimes you play harder stuff so people jump around and dance. The real trick is because there's low lighting with just lasers and stuff, people's inhibitions just drop because they can be idiots and have fun without feeling like everyone's looking at them. One of the tricks I've discovered is finding house / wubz remixes of songs that people will already know. If you've got a crowd of thirtysomething's, put on a modern sounding remix of Britney or Get Low and people will lose their mind.
The real thing to think about is the social aspect of stuff. How do you make people come out of their shells and just stop caring that they might look stupid? Figure that out, and you have a fun party.
Phobrek Taz 2 years ago
Besides being full of good ideas, this post really highlights the point of removing pressure from people so they can be less inhibited. It reminds me of this time I went to a record release party in San Francisco. The club had some guy dancing on a pedestal in the middle of the dancefloor, dual-wielding flashlights he'd shine all over potential dancers. Everyone stood as far from him as possible. It was like his own personal force field. Eventually he got tired and left. Dancefloor filled, everyone danced.
#23
Themed! Whether it's themed food, costumes, decor... doing something out of the ordinary helps!
Edited to add: for those with friends unlikely to put the effort in - make a low effort option available (cheap masks, silly hats if costumes)
#24
Cards, board games, karaoke, games like Mario cart or vr games, building competition (jenga, dominoes, gingerbread houses, toothpicks and marshmallows), hot pot dinners, appetizer party, make your own pizza party, tie dye, costume party, gift competition, shrinkydinks, pictionary, marbles, Jack's, working out, games like mafia (among us, whose the killer, murderville), full virgin bar for fancy dyi sober drinks, book club, rage music with lights and glow sticks and streamers, dance party, guitar hero, yoga, cookie icing competition, your mom, mind puzzles (wooden puzzles, iron puzzles,ext.) Amauture stand up/campfire story sharing, jigsaws puzzles, and everything inbetween.
#25
Some friends left some Post-it Notes and a pen in the bathroom and encouraged everyone to stick their 'hai-poos' (haikus) to the back of the door. Some of them were out-of-pocket funny, and people were coming out of the bathroom laughing.
#26
Games and good food.
OmBoyGanesh 2 years ago (edited)
For my birthday this past week, a bunch of friends flew into town with their gaming PCs, Xboxes, PlayStations and Switches for a slumber party weekend & a video game console LAN party. We’re all over 40/50-something years old. 16 of us with a bunch of gaming devices, food, music & movies for 3 days! The best party I’ve ever had!!!
#27
Get some cheap pumpkins and let everybody chop them up with a sword. Super fun if you throw the pumpkin at them and they hit it with a sword midair. Did that at our pumpkin decorating party last weekend, it was a hit.
#28
Wii sports
The Blinking Duck 2 years ago
We did this at our last family gathering and had to buy a new TV after our #2 child threw the controller through the screen. We laughed our asses off!
#30
Karaoke machine. Strip poker. Or you can even combine them for 'strip karaoke.
What do you think ?
Bec 1 year ago
Idk. I was reading and thinking I am glad I don't get invited to parties because this all sounds pretty stressful to me
Load More Replies... Daniel Atkins 2 years ago
My family plays a game called Pictionary gossip. It is like the game telephone (someone whispers to the next person a sentence and it goes around the circle and you see how close it is to the original phrase). In Pictionary gossip you give everyone a stack of papers that are the same in number as the people in the group. The more people you have the better. Everyone starts by drawing a picture on the paper on the top of the stack. Then when done they pass it to the left. That person looks at the picture and writes a description of the picture and puts the picture on the bottom of the stack and when through passes it left. Now you draw a picture based on the description and put the description on the bottom of the pile. No one can look at anything but what is on top. The game goes on alternating between drawing pictures an writing descriptions until you get to the picture you drew. Now read and share what happened to your picture with the group. Lots of laughter.
Shane S 2 years ago
If you have a game night and invite everyone to bring a game, KNOW your friends. I did this and one of my very nice but brainy friends brought over a ‘nerd’ game with gnomes and construction that totally killed the vibe of the party. Lesson learned. Either select the games yourself, or know what kind of games your friends will bring. Also, nothing wrong with nerds or nerd games if all participants are into them. Mine were not.
Bec 1 year ago
Idk. I was reading and thinking I am glad I don't get invited to parties because this all sounds pretty stressful to me
Load More Replies... Daniel Atkins 2 years ago
My family plays a game called Pictionary gossip. It is like the game telephone (someone whispers to the next person a sentence and it goes around the circle and you see how close it is to the original phrase). In Pictionary gossip you give everyone a stack of papers that are the same in number as the people in the group. The more people you have the better. Everyone starts by drawing a picture on the paper on the top of the stack. Then when done they pass it to the left. That person looks at the picture and writes a description of the picture and puts the picture on the bottom of the stack and when through passes it left. Now you draw a picture based on the description and put the description on the bottom of the pile. No one can look at anything but what is on top. The game goes on alternating between drawing pictures an writing descriptions until you get to the picture you drew. Now read and share what happened to your picture with the group. Lots of laughter.
Shane S 2 years ago
If you have a game night and invite everyone to bring a game, KNOW your friends. I did this and one of my very nice but brainy friends brought over a ‘nerd’ game with gnomes and construction that totally killed the vibe of the party. Lesson learned. Either select the games yourself, or know what kind of games your friends will bring. Also, nothing wrong with nerds or nerd games if all participants are into them. Mine were not.
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