I was just 10 years old when I attended my first themed dinner party. It was a backwards party, so each guest had to dress with their clothes on backward, sit backwards at the table, and the meal was served dessert first, salad last. We even used silverware in the opposite hand. Although 26 years have passed since then, I still remember the evening being full of laughter, great food, and fantastic conversation.

Adding a theme to your dinner party can create a whole new level of entertainment. But it also creates a lot of work. If you want an easy dinner party, perhaps it’s best to skip the theme. But if you’re in the mood for a little fun, here are my favorite themes:

Disco
Decorate your table with bright colors, candles, glitter, and sequins. Make a CD with your favorite disco music and dance while you’re cooking. Ask your guests dress up in their best 70s duds and show off their stylin’ disco moves.

Who Dunnit
Looking for some intrigue with your meal? Try a murder mystery party. Download a kit that contains everything you need: invitations, character booklets, host guide, and the solution. Assign characters roles to each of your guests and ask them to come in character. During the dinner, clues will be revealed and you and your guests need to find out who dunnit.

Progressive
Want to gather your neighbors together? Have a progressive dinner party. Each household prepares one course – appetizers/drinks, salad, main course, and dessert. Guests gather together at the first house serving the appetizer and then travel to the remaining houses after each course is finished.

Around the World
Try a dinner with an International flair. For each course serve a dish from a different country and have guests guess the origin. Or ask guests to bring a dish that reflects their cultural heritage. Share photos from trips around the world and have each person tell a story about their favorite meal abroad.

Food for All
Next time your and your guests sit down to a splendid meal, give something back. Ask guests to check their cupboards or stop by the grocery store to pick up some non-perishable food. Collect the food and drop it by your local food bank the next day.

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