Themed Holiday Parties: Fun for All Ages

If you’re planning a party to include folks who don’t know each other particularly well (or you just like to engage people in a party setting), a themed holiday party may be just the ticket. Try these themes on for size:

1 – Holiday Costume Party

No, we’re not talking about dozens of your closest friends all dressed as Santa Claus. Creative costume party themes might include: come dressed as your favorite gift; a “tacky” party where a prize is given for the tackiest attire; come dressed as your favorite holiday food; a pajama party; a red and green party; etc.

2 – Gift Exchange

Instead of hosting a traditional gift exchange where each person brings a gift of a set value and everyone draws names and gifts are assigned accordingly, why not kick it up a notch? Host an ornament exchange, a cookie exchange, a “white elephant” exchange, a liquor exchange, or a handmade item exchange. To make the event even more fun, try a gift swapping game like this one (White Elephant Exchange) or this one (Yankee Swap).

3 – Progressive Dinner

Several couples or families get together to create a progressive dinner. Essentially, it works like this – each family or couple is responsible for one course in the meal. The meal starts at the home responsible for “appetizer” and progresses from house to house for course to course, ending with dessert. Best to skip the alcoholic beverages on this event unless the houses are all within walking distance.

No matter what kind of fun holiday gathering you’re planning this year, spice it up with a projector rental from Projector123.com. Showcase holiday photos, your favorite holiday movies, or a slideshow of past holiday gatherings and events. Click here to rent a projector now.

There’s no question — the holidays are a time to celebrate, and what better way than with a gathering of friends and family? Here are some simple ideas for putting together a fast and easy holiday soiree’.

1 – Keep the menu simple.
When planning your menu, remember that less is more. Stick to a few very tasty crowd-pleasers instead of setting out a 20-item buffet. Better yet, consider hosting a potluck — most people are happy to bring a dish or pick up something to contribute en route to the party, and it takes a heap of the pressure off you. You can further minimize your menu by carefully choosing a time for your event — for example, a mid-afternoon party (where folks are likely to have eaten lunch before arriving) or an evening gathering that starts at 8PM or so sends a subtle message: dine or grab a snack before you arrive, as a full dinner won’t be served this late in the evening. When you’re planning for drinks, be sure to include non-alcoholic beverages as well, and you can cut back on expenses by providing beer and/or wine while inviting folks to BYOB.

2 – Ask for help.
One of the biggest stressors in planning a gathering is thinking you’ve got to do it all yourself. Consider hiring a professional cleaning specialist to scrub your home before the party, and don’t feel you must say “no” to guests to offer to assist in picking up at the end of the party. If everyone picked up just a few plates or cups, the cleanup goes a lot smoother and quicker than if you dismiss offers for help and insist on doing it all yourself.

3 – Keep the guest list small.
Intimate gatherings require a lot less planning, preparation, and clean-up than larger parties, and yet they can be just as much fun as a full-scale event. The key is to keep it simple, invite folks who mesh well together (or already know each other), and remember to relax.

Holiday gatherings don’t have to be complex! What matters is the quality of the conversation — not the quantity of guests or the elaborateness of the food. Keep it simple, have fun, and everyone is sure to have a wonderful time. And be sure to include a projector rental for a photo montage slideshow from Projector123.com.

Have you captured funny moments like these in real life? If so, maybe it’s time to create a family slide show DVD. Share your memories at the next family gathering, reunion or milestone celebration with a family photo/video montage and a DVD projector rental from Projector123.com. Weekend rental rates start at just $99 — get started today and rent a projector.

The holiday dates back to 1882, when the New York City Central Labor Union decided to create a day off “for working citizens.”  A dozen years later,  Congress designated Labor Day an official U.S. holiday, just two months after the May Day riots of 1894.

Many Americans consider Labor Day to be the official “end” of summer (even though many parts of the country continue to experience warmer weather well into September and in some parts of the U.S., children return to school as soon as early August).

Currently, many cities and towns celebrate Labor Day with a local parade, and in other areas, Americans enjoy barbecues, relaxation and oudoor gatherings with friends and family.

Looking for something special to do this Labor Day? September 7th is coming up quickly…why not order a projector rental online from Projector123.com? You could create a family movie fest, an outdoor block party, a swimming pool drive-in theater, a gaming tournament, etc. The possibilities are virtually endless — and with weekend rentals starting at just $99, DVD projector rentals provide affordable fun for most anyone.

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