10 Epic Ideas for an 80s Theme Party
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Go all out with an 80s theme party that will transport your guests back in time. Transform your party into a retro 80s extravaganza with neon décor, nostalgic props and 80s themed food. Start planning now for a totally rad experience!
Dust off your shoulder pads and break out the Aqua Net as we dive into all the fun things most of us remember from the 80s, and how you can use them to create a truly outrageous party.
Whether you are throwing a 40th Birthday party, a Halloween party, or just a fun 80s theme party with your friends…these tips will ensure you leave your guests longing for more 80s nostalgia.
1. Choose an epic 80s theme party niche
While you can focus on everything 80s, you may also want to consider picking a niche theme for your party. What is a niche theme? Something specific from the 80s that you can theme your party around. It should be something that you love or remember fondly. The cartoon “Jem and the Holograms” was the niche theme that I coordinated my 40th birthday party around.
80s theme party niche ideas:
- Your Birth Year. You can coordinate everything around what happened and what was popular that year, including food, toys, movies, and music.
- Movies. Everyone likes 80s movies and there are so many classics to choose from. Pick your favorite (or a few favorites) and theme the party around that movie. Some great ideas would be E.T., The Goonies, Back to the Future, or Ghostbusters.
- Arcade Games. An 80s arcade theme is a great way to have some fun with classic games that most guests will remember. Check out my Pac-Man themed party for more inspiration.
- Toys. There are some memorable toys that we all remember from the 80s. Cabbage Patch Kids, Nintendo, My Little Pony, Care Bears. You can theme the party around one toy franchise or make the whole party about toys. Your guests will feel like a kid again.
- Cartoons. Did you watch Saturday morning cartoons? Some of my favorites were Jem and the Holograms, Care Bears, He-man, Gi-Joe, and Smurfs. You can easily find cartoon-themed party accessories like paper plates from some of the most popular 80s cartoons.
2. Design 80s theme party invitations
Now that you’ve picked your theme, start designing your invitations.
Design your invitations around your theme colors. Be sure to download some fun 80s-themed fonts to use as well. I created my “Halfway to the 80s” logo using a free Back to the Future font and used my theme colors to tie it all together.
My favorite design platform to use is Canva. They offer pre-made templates, hundreds of fonts, graphics, and stock images to create just about anything. They have some great 80s theme templates and fun neon fonts to use to bring it all together. It’s super easy to use and the free version is very robust.
Once you’ve created your design you can opt to send it digitally or print directly from Canva and send it out via snail mail like we did in the 80s.
3. Set your 80s theme party table
To match my Jem and the Holograms theme I scoured eBay for some vintage paper plates and party favor bags. You can find all sorts of ideas just by searching for “vintage 80s party plates”.
I used these party plates to establish my theme colors: Neon pink and blue with yellow accents.
Finding neon pink party accessories is relatively easy. These neon pink candy containers worked perfectly for my candy bar. I also used them to corral the neon pink and yellow cutlery.
I used coordinating plastic lunch trays as the anchor pieces for the tablescape and an added punch of color with some retro school lunch vibes.
With my custom logo, I printed up some inexpensive cocktail napkins to match the rest of the partyware.
I used a vintage shiny brass frame (thrifted) to display some fun pop-culture facts from 1983.
I found 80s pinback buttons on Etsy that featured iconic phrases from movies and pop-culture. These were scattered on all the tables for guests to pin on.
4. 80s theme party decorations
Party decorations are one of the most important ingredients for creating an amazing experience for guests. Choose décor pieces that will make a big impact to establish your 80s party theme.
I wanted to create an amazing focal point to grab my guests’ attention the moment they stepped inside, so I ordered a custom “1983” Neon sign in hot pink to hang above the candy and beverage table. You can easily customize your year or any word and the color to fit your theme. I was really happy with the quality of the sign and highly recommend it.
One of the easiest (and cheapest) ways to transform a room is to hang foil fringe curtains. To really make the pink neon sign pop I installed silver fringe curtains as the backdrop for the candy and beverage table. The reflection created and amazing pink glow throughout the room.
Tips for hanging foil fringe curtains:
- For darker colors against a light wall (and vice versa) I recommend 3 layers of fringe. This will adequately cover the wall and you’ll have less white spots showing through.
- Plan on having a minimum of two layers to cover your wall properly.
- Trim the bottom of the fringe to just hit the floor. If it is too long it won’t hang straight and create gaps.
To tie in more silver, I also used silver sequined tablecloths for all of the tables. This really fit the rock star “Jem” theme and let the rest of the colors really pop.
Posters
This is one of the easiest ways to fill up your wall space with your 80s theme. I picked some of favorite 80s movies: E.T., The Goonies, Dirty Dancing, and Back to The Future. Hang them at various angles for a dynamic effect.
5. Outrageous 80s theme food ideas
Have some fun with the food options at your party. Creating foods to match your theme are a great way to tie everything together for a cohesive experience.
I chose to keep the food light and focus on a candy bar with iconic candy from the 80s, including candy featured in classic 80s movies. Who can forget Chunk sharing a Baby Ruth bar with Sloth in the Goonies? Or Elliot leaving a trail of Reese’s Pieces in E.T.? Can you guess which 80s movie had a Twinkies cameo?
For a reprieve from all the candy, I procured an epic Cabbage Patch Doll veggie tower from my Mom. She did an amazing job dressing that little cabbage patch with lettuce and veggies!
Easy 80s theme foods that are crowd-pleasers:
- Hot Pockets (1983)
- Bagel Bites (1985)
- Cool Ranch Doritos (1986)
- Lunchables (1988)
- Burger King French Toast sticks (1985) for a fun sweet snack.
- Shrimp Cocktails. Make mini versions that guests can grab and mingle with.
- A colorful Jello Salad Mold. A staple dessert for 80s mom’s.
- McDonalds Chicken Nuggets. Stage these with vintage McNugget buddies to delight your guests.
6. Totally Tubular 80s theme drinks
No party is complete without fun party drinks. You can concoct a signature drink to match your theme or offer a variety of beverage options that were popular in the 80s.
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I made The Blue Lagoon cocktail my signature drink. Stunningly electric blue and oh-so refreshing. While this wasn’t invented in the 80s…it was popularized in the 80s partly due to the movie of the same name. Don’t forget the hurricane glasses for an iconic 80s look!
For a fun drink accessory, I commissioned a custom swizzle stick from Etsy featuring my logo in neon pink. This paired perfectly with the Blue Lagoon cocktail to keep within my color scheme.
More Drinks that are iconically 80s:
- Squeezits (1985). The original have been discontinued, but there is a pretty good alternative from Kool-Aid.
- Snapple Iced Tea (1987).
- Wine Coolers (1981). Bartles and Jaymes anyone?
- Punch. While punches have been around for a long time, no party or potluck in the 80s took place without some form of punch (that usually had sherbet in it).
- Woo Woo Cocktail. Made with Vodka, Peach Schnapps, and Cranberry Juice. Woo Woo indeed.
- Harvey Wallbanger. Vodka, OJ, and Galliano. Delightful.
- Sex on the Beach. Seductive and sweet. Need we say more?
This throwback “Barrel of Fun” water jug from Igloo is a perfect vessel for batch cocktails, punches or just plain old water for those who need to re-hydrate.
7. It’s all in the details
Adding little flourishes of vintage 80s nostalgia will engage your guests and evoke smiles that bring them back to “the good old days”.
Use vintage and replica 80s toys, games, movies, and even appliances to spark a “hey, I remember that!” conversation. You can pick up cheap vintage VHS tapes and cassette tapes at garage sales and thrift stores. If you are doing an arcade theme, the replica Missile Command and Dig Dug mini arcades are perfect for décor and entertainment.
We set up a display of vintage TVs and streamed 80s commercials for some fun entertainment.
80s theme party lighting:
This detail cannot be overlooked and is arguably one of the most important aspects of a party atmosphere. You don’t have to spend a lot of money to get some great color effects either.
You can use RGB color strips to add a fully customizable color experience to your party theme. I used them behind bookshelves to give a blue glow to the space. These were very affordable and easy to install.
Another easy trick is a Bluetooth RGB light bulb. I used these in lamps throughout the party and was easily able to customize the color for each one or control them together.
8. Entertainment for your 80s theme party
Whether you are planning a dance party or a rousing game of Pictionary, the entertainment should always be present as an option when guests have had their fill of Bagel Bites and awkward conversation.
Music
Consider creating a playlist on YouTube of your favorite 80s music videos and have this running on a TV in the background for some non-committal entertainment.
You can also use a retro 80s-inspired Boombox to rock your favorite tunes and encourage guests to dance. The Studebaker is a solid choice and features a multi-colored LED equalizer to add an exciting visual to your music. Guests will love it!
Games
Games are perfect for smaller groups or when you need to keep the kids out of your hair. We had a collection of retro kids games to play with as well as 80s trivia cards. We displayed these on a table covered with a yellow plastic tablecloth that guests could doodles drawings and quotes on.
If budget allows, a full-size cocktail arcade table will provide ultimate 80s fun. This arcade table boasts 3500 games and has provided hours and hours of retro entertainment for our family.
Creative Arcades also offers a fun “Barrel” style arcade which I absolutely love. Reminds me of the ones they used to have at pizza parlors.
More 80s theme party games:
- UNO
- Balderdash
- Scattergories. A classic from 1989 and perfect for an intimate 80s get together with a few friends.
- Pictionary. A party favorite since 1985 and perfect for larger groups.
- Simon. Make this one a challenge, with a prize for the guest that makes it the longest.
- Rubik’s Cube
- Hungry Hungry Hippo. This one will keep the kids entertained, with nostalgic fun for the grown-ups too.
- Connect Four
9. Dress to impress with 80s theme party outfits
Dressing up isn’t for everyone, but it sure does make the 80s theme feel complete. Encourage your guests to wear 80s clothing…any style they are comfortable with.
I settled on a vintage hot pink sweater embellished with leather, studded details, and of course shoulder pads…one of the most iconic fashion staples of the 80s! I also found some vintage Jordache acid-wash jeans with ankle bows on eBay.
Classis 80s theme party outfit ideas:
- Fanny Packs
- 80s Sunglasses (think Hollywood from Mannequin)
- Large Colorful Earrings
- Acid-wash Jeans
- Neon anything
- Pastel Men’s Polo Shirts (with the collar flipped up)
- Leg Warmers
- Fingerless Gloves
- High-waisted Mom Jeans
- Oversized T-shirts (that hang off the shoulder)
10. Don’t forget the 80s Favor Bags!
Be sure to thank your guests for coming with a souvenir party loot bag. You can keep these neutral and stuff them with snacks or customize them for guys and girls.
I stuffed my Jem bags with Big League Chew, Hubba Bubba Bubble Gum Tape, Pop Rocks, and 80s Pinback Buttons. The ladies also received a set of scrunchies, and the guys got retro arcade Coin Slot Keychains that light up.
I hope I have given you some fun and inspiring ideas for your next 80s theme party.
Party On Dudes!!
-Jessica
