1950s Party Ideas

Visit old second hand record stores and buy old 45s. Cover the label with the details of the Sock Hop party - where, when, RSVP, etc. Use these as invitations. Or, if you can't find the real thing, cut records from black poster board and add your own label.

For a sock hop party, Ask your guests to wear their craziest socks and give prizes for craziest design, brightest color, funniest, etc

If a larger party or Corporate Sock Hop event - ask each guest to bring a brand new extra pair of socks and donate them to charity!

Slogan Ideas:
"Let's Go to the Hop"
"Sock Hop"
"Sweet 16 - A Dreamy Teen"
"Fun in the Fab Fifties"
"Big Bopper Bash"
"Shake, Rattle & Roll

Try attaching a note to a pair of sunglasses with pink curling ribbon. Tell your guests to wear them to the party along with their saddle shoes, leather jackets and poodle skirts.

Rock & Roll decorations are a must: inflatable instruments, juke boxes and cutouts. Save yourself tons of dishes by using matching sock hop/1950s paper party products.

Entertain your party guests with a Balloon Drop!

A jukebox/or fifties music is a vital part of any fifties party. Rent a jukebox or create a pretend jukebox for looks and spin records on a stereo.

Create balloon arches with white and pink balloons. Dangle 45s/records from the center.

Some great cars were introduced in the 1950s, a 57' Chevy, real or constructed can be a good focal point. Print out great pictures of fabulous 1950s cars on your printer and place around the party room (on walls, ceilings, in frames on the food table, etc). Give it the diner look by having them hung around the tables and chairs.

Hang giant records/posters on the wall with your favorite artist from the fifties.

Create pretend soda shop billboards and place your actual menu for the party on it.

Using black construction paper, create large musical notes and adorn your walls with them. These can be made by downloading a picture of a musical note and creating a stencil (heavy cardstock or a manila file folder work great). Then trace onto black construction paper (or any color to match your theme) and hang on the walls, attach to back of chairs, dangling from the ceilings.

A dance contest, once it gets going, is always good for lots of laughs. Start with easy dance steps and encourage everyone to try. "The Mashed Potato", "The Bop" and "The Twist" are a few favorites of the era.

Play Name That Tune using old fifties songs - extra points are given to the team that can name the title and the artist/group.

Have a car hop relay. Divide your group into two teams. Give each team a tray with french-fries, a hamburger, a bottle of Coca-Cola, and an ice cream sundae. Each guest must run down to a car window, touch the car, and run back - all without spilling any food. Once they are back, they hand the tray to the next person and so on. The first team to complete the "car hop" wins!

Set up a great photo opportunity with a 1950's Car Standee or 50's Photo Stand-In. Don't forget to personalize the license plate for added memories.

Use a Rock n' Roll Game for an easy activity. Guests attach records with 50's celebrities names on them to their backs and ask other guests questions to figure out what name is on their back.

Create a list of products - ask guests to guess its price now Vs the price in 1950s. The team with the closest guesses wins.

How about a hula hoop contest for some hilarious entertainment?

Set up a drive-in movie theater in your back yard and watch Grease under the stars!

For older children or teens, have female guests make poodle skirts. Using felt cut the material into a circle. In the center of the circle, cut a second hole for the waste. Use a pin to secure the size of the waste, or attach a piece of wide elastic using a sewing machine. Have the girls cut out records and write on names, or cut out fuzzy poodles (check old dog books for poodle designs). Attach the cut outs with a low-temp glue gun or fabric glue.

Pull out the pink bubble gum and have a bubble-blowing contest!

Get your 1950s Sock Hop off to the right start by providing your guests with the ultimate 1950s sock hop feast! Nothing beats a good hamburger and basket of fries - unless of course it is a good hotdog and a basket of fries and onion rings. Keeping the meal simple - similar to a soda shop - can ease the stress in the kitchen.

No 1950s sock hop party would be complete without a float/shake/malt of some kind. Get the blender out and whip up some tasty treats. Or pour root beer over vanilla ice cream. Simple and rewarding. Don't forget the cherries.

For a large crowd, try a Buffet style menu or finger foods. Whenever possible choose food that can be prepared a few days prior to the party, or hire caterers, and purchase prepared food from restaurants, delicatessens, and food service markets.

1950s Sock Hop Buffet ideas:
Burgers and hot dogs
Built-your-own Tacos or Nachos
Mini pizzas
Mini eggrolls
Chicken wings
Giant deli sandwiches
Chicken strips (offer several sauces for dipping)
Meatballs, either Swedish or BBQ
Veggies and dip
Water chestnuts wrapped in bacon
Sandwiches made on mini buns (about 3-4 bite size).
Make everything ahead of time. Store hot items in a warming tray or in 200 degree oven. Place bowls of munchies around so your guests can mingle and snack.

Create a Fifties drive-in and serve popcorn and boxes of movie candy. Set up a concession stand where guests can choose their snacks before a classic Fifties movie.

Make a record cake for a 50's party celebrating a birthday or other special occasion. Bake a double layer cake in any flavor. Frost the entire cake with chocolate frosting. Drag a fork around the top of the cake several times until the fork lines resemble the grooves of a record in the frosting. In the center of the cake, add a pink circle of frosting and write with a decorator's tip, "For the record, Abby is 6!" or another Fifties themed slogan.

YoYos
Slinky's
Jacks
Bubbles
Bazooka Gum
Sunglasses
Personalized Cola Glasses
Comic Books
Personalized Frames
Personalized CDs
Candy Bars with personalized wrappers
Plush Dice