Car Theme Party Ideas for New Grads of Automotive Schools

Graduation day is upon you. Soon, you will be forced to separate from all the wonderful people you have met on your auto mechanic course. Automotive schools can help mark this bittersweet transition by hosting a party for new graduates, before they disperse into the big wide world of life after automotive technician training. Suggested theme: cars.

Music for Automotive Schools Graduation Parties

There are so many songs - new and old - about cars. Have fun with your choices. Hire a DJ or ask a student volunteer to draft a car-themed playlist.

Some ideas of songs for a brand new auto mechanic: 'Course, you'll have your own suggestions.

• Anything by Mike and the Mechanics


• Melancholy Mechanics by the Red Hot Chili Peppers


• Riding In My Car by Woody Guthrie


• Get Outta My Dreams, Get into My Car by Billy Ocean


• Behind the Wheel by Depeche Mode


• Mustang Sally, you choose your favourite version


• I Drove All Night by Cyndi Lauper


• Little Deuce Coupe by The Beach Boys


• Big Yellow Taxi by Joni Mitchell


• Pink Cadillac by Bruce Springsteen


• Little Red Corvette by Prince


• Mercedes Benz by Janis Joplin


• My Hooptie by Sir Mix-a-Lot


• Drive Like I Never Been Hurt by Ry Cooder


• Safe and Sound by Hawksley Workman

Attire for Automotive Schools Graduation Parties

There are different approaches you could take to dress code, depending on the desired vibe. One suggestion is to mix it up:

• black tie and trucker caps


• automotive technician training coveralls and top hats

Ambiance for Automotive Schools Graduation Parties

• silently project Steve McQueen race scenes onto the wall


• hang black and white racing flags around the bar


• have the emcee speak into a CB radio


• write "pit stop" on the bathroom door

Food for Automotive Schools Graduation Parties

• combine peanuts, cereal squares and pretzel bits with Worcestershire sauce to create the classic Nuts and Bolts party mix


• serve salad with dressing (salad dressing is a "suspension")


• serve Sidecar and Cable Car cocktails at the bar (Remember to encourage auto mechanic course classmates to drink responsibly. Make sure your event is accessible by public transit, or negotiate a deal with a local taxi service, if necessary.)


• for novelty, arrange an engine-block cooking demo in the parking lot of your auto mechanic course party


• serve ice cream in miniature sundae glasses decked out with mandarin oranges to look like car race trophies

At the end of the evening, see all the new graduates of your auto mechanic course out the door with a carbon credit in their hand (to offset the emissions created during the event). Next challenge: planning your first automotive technician training reunion!