Last Minute Holiday Party For Teenagers
Decorations, Food and Activities on a Budget and Time Limit
Dec 18, 2008
The holidays seem to have snuck up on everyone this year, prompting hurried shopping sprees and quick-ordered cards. Teenagers, however responsible, are notorious for often leaving certain things to the last minute. What to do when a teen announces that ten of his or her friends are coming over for a last-minute holiday celebration? These easy tips are fun and pleasing and will result in a fantastic party.
Decorations
It’s easiest to stick to a color theme – white and silver is often used to create a winter effect, and it also doesn’t delineate between holidays. String silver and faux pearl beads around the room and look for any glittery silver decorations to add. As cheesy as it may sound, even paper snowflakes sprinkled with glitter can look pretty when hung from the ceiling or walls.
Optional centerpieces for tables include styrofoam snowmen, snow globes or clear bowls filled with candy. Forget spending money on fresh flowers – they’re expensive and most teenagers won’t notice.
Food
Appetizers, especially “finger food”, are the most fun for a party because they allow guests to mingle and munch throughout the soiree. Mix holiday favorites with year-round favorites, such as:
- Cheese and crackers, or cheese-filled pastries
- French fries with various dipping sauces
- Potato pancakes (latkes) with sour cream and applesauce
- Vegetable platter with dip
- Non-fish sushi, such as avocado rolls with soy sauce
- Bruschetta with toasted bread
- Artichoke dip
If the party is more of a dinner theme, a way to combine food and activity is to have guests create their own pizzas. Purchase pizza dough at the supermarket and provide toppings such as various grated cheese, tomatoes, mushrooms, onions – whatever the heart desires.
For dessert, holiday cookies and pastries are always a hit.
Activities
The key to a successful party is to have enough activities to keep guests entertained. For starters, have each guest bring one wrapped gift for a present exchange. It’s simpler than figuring out a Secret Santa beforehand.
Plan a few raffles (random drawings or based on who can answer the most trivia questions) for throughout the party.
If it’s a small enough group, team board games can also be a hit. They get everyone into a festive party mood.
Music
Blend Christmas carols with some non-holiday music so no one overdoses on Jingle Bells. Songs from the 1930s and 1940s have a way of sounding festive for the holiday season without being Christmas-themed.
Parting Gift
Party favors don’t need to be expensive – choose something memorable such as miniature beauty products (mostly for girls, but there are guy-friendly products too, such as lip balms), keychains or tiny games. Don’t forget to add a little candy!
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