Score The Winning Touchdown With Your 2001 Bowl Parties
Football, friends, food and fun -- what better excuse to throw a great party when the gang gathers to root for their favorite team. Phyllis Cambria and Patty Sachs, authors of The Complete Idiot's Guide to Throwing a Great Party, (Alpha Books, 2000) offer ideas to help you reach your goal-- a great gathering.
Since every good party starts with a fun invitation, what could be more appropriate than to mail your bowl game invitation in a bowl? Here's how:
- Trace a disposable bowl's lid on paper. Cut out two pieces for each invitation.
- On one slip of paper, write the party particulars and glue to the inside of the lid. On the other, write the recipient's name and address. Glue this to the lid (or use self-stick labels).
- In the invitation, suggest that your guests bring the bowl with them to fill up with snacks at the party.
- Encourage guests come dressed in their favorite team colors or wearing the team's insignia.
- Seal with clear tape for mailing. Mail a sample copy to yourself first so you can judge how long it takes for invitation to arrive and in what condition.)
An alternate idea would be to use clip art to design your invitation in the form of a ticket.
To help get the gang ready to cheer by setting the mood:
- Drape your den with throws, tablecloths, shirts, jackets, hats and other team paraphernalia or items in team colors.
- Add team and player posters, football equipment, pennants, photos and programs to further decorate the field of fun.
- Use white tape or chalk to mark off the yards from the curb to your front door.
- Cover chair backs with sports jerseys and use striped referee shirts for the hosts.
- As a last touch, add a sign welcoming your guests to such as the Smith Stadium, Fisher Field, Arnold Arena—using your last name.
- Get the kids involved in making pom-poms with lengths of crepe paper, tape and wooden dowels.
While most of the action will revolve around the game here are some pre-game, post-game and half-time activities you and your guests will enjoy. Prize drawing entry slips are given for various activities and later used to win souvenirs.
- Set up a friendly football pool using cash wagers or prize drawing slips.
- Use clip art, stickers or team colors to make up name tags. Have guests choose the team they are rooting for. To help spark the crowd, at the end of each quarter, the guests whose team is leading should receive a prize drawing slip.
- To add individual competition let each guest draw a player number (use duplicates of top players) from a hat. As their "player" makes a good play (judged by the football experts in the crowd) guests are awarded a prize drawing slip, or on a bad play a slip is taken from them.
- Play football trivia at half-time awarding prize drawing slips for correct answers.
- Gather the non-football fans into a cheering squad to perform an impromptu half-time routine. Or set up a TV in another room for them to enjoy recently-released movies during the game.
- Video tape a show of fan fashions and vote for the most original, most loyal or funniest. Air the video after the game.
- Collect all drawing slips and hold your prize drawing.
No gridiron gathering would be complete without snacks for the bunch to munch on. Try one or more of these fan fueling ideas.
- Create a special drink concoction served from the "Super Shot Bowl"
- Design your buffet to resemble a concession stand to dispense gourmet game goodies.
- Use items like clean football helmets, shoulder pads, etc. to hold baskets or bowls of food.
- Place Astroturf on your buffet to substitute for a tablecloth.
- Create mini goalposts from covered or painted paper towel tubes. Place one at the end of your table and hang your napkins on it.
- Buy sports theme serving dishes, paper and plastic tableware products.
- Attach football trading cards to ponytail holders for use as napkin holders.
- Arrange flowers in a football helmet and add pom-poms and pennants for hurrah-getting centerpiece.
- Oscar Mayer® Super Bowl Party Recipes
- More Super Bowl Super Recipes
Check out www.thepartyworks.com's Round Layered Party Sub. Instructions and pictures - great for groups!
No matter whose team comes out on top, your guests will all feel like winners if you send them home with one or more of the following awarded as football favors or prizes :
- Football motif magnets, pens, key chains, mugs
- Auto flags, bumper stickers and decals
- Instant photo in souvenir football-themed photo frames
- Team shirts, hats or other garments
- Books, videos, magazines or football-related sports cards
Visit the PartyPlansPlus.com catalog for books, reports, products to give your party plans a boost. Or want to track down the absolute perfect book for your event? Check out our Best Books Page.
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