Is the guest list the same for every party? If so, maybe not have them as often?

I'm finding we enjoy ourselves at parties when there is a chance to sit and catch up with some of the other invitees because we haven't seen one another for awhile. Or are given the chance to meet new people.

My parents were big pinochle players and they had regular nights with members of the family or friends to get together and play cards after dinner. Sometimes they'd be running "tournaments" with 4 tables going and someone went home with first prize and someone went home with the booby prize. In the summer, they'd have picnics with volley ball and soft ball and kick ball and horse shoes. They never could understand how people would just get together and sit around and talk. One GF has puzzle night with her family where they all sit around and chat while they work on a jigsaw puzzle. Another GF has game night where they all play board games or other games.

I'm still in the sit and chat mode...so far, it seems to work for us. But I think it's because we don't get together that often. If it's a regular thing, then some kind of activity would probably be welcome. A game that everyone could participate in like Heads Up perhaps.

Naked Twister?

(Slinking off now.)

I deliberately didn't use "adult" in my heading for a reason!! ;)

I think you've hit on something maddielee, which is that I may need some fresh blood at these parties! It's a little hard to meet people to 'gel' with my friends group which is largely comprised of very nice people who were really into the alternative music scene before we all stopped going out so much.

And continuing that thought Annie, I think I might try to get some activity based nights going with the regular group. I personally love card games, many board games, and I do love heads up! DH haaaaates most board games but I think he'd be happy to be bartender and chef.

I love games like pictionary or charades especially adult versions.

How many people do you typically entertain at once? I tend to shy away from theme parties, because they remind me too much of kids' birthday parties, or baby showers. I feel like if I was going to enjoy a group puzzle or game night, it would probably need to be with people whom I know well. Not sure why I feel that way.

What about interactive food events? We get together once or twice a year with dear friends and their kids/SOs for sushi night. There usually end up being about 10 of us, and we spread all of the fixings out on the kitchen island. Each person gets a chance to make their own concoction, while everyone else stands around and drinks wine. Then we plate it all and gather around the table to eat. I think that (or any hands-on thing) could be fun for a small group. I guess I'd want it to be people who I know have good sanitary habits!

If it's a large group, I agree with the poster who said it's nice to catch up with others, or maybe to meet new people. I think just having a nice variety of food/drink, and comfortable spots to sit and chat make it enjoyable. And maybe a hostess/host who know enough tidbits about the guests that they can introduce people with a common interest.

I just went to a fun "eff you winter" party that involved raclette (similar idea to fondue) and delicious mulled wine. A little too delicious, actually. So it was an assemble-it-yourself type of meal and very enjoyable!

Rarely would I be able to entice more than...say...20-25 people over. Usually more like 14-18 people (big group) or 8-10 (core group). If there were to be an activity I would definitely make it known WELL in advance!

If you like wine, consider hosting a wine and cheese party. You can do a "vertical tasting" and choose appropriate cheeses. We have had lots of fun with that theme. Another one is a "blind tasting" and people are given a score sheet to vote on their favorites. You could take this concept and apply it to other foods/beverages.

Mostly, I find that people just enjoy getting out and having good conversation. The menu does not matter as much we might think.

i have had a few of the mystery dinner parties (a puzzle store that was going out of business had a big sale yrs ago!) which are always fun... they're only good for smaller groups tho- about 10 people in total. you get to dress up and be in character if you want most of the night, which can be fun...

i love parties, but also would get tired of fairly frequent parties where everyone just sat and chatted... i think it all depends on how large your parties are- if you typically have 25-30 people, it's hard to really organize much of anything else i would think except maybe dancing, but if you usually invite only 3 or 4 other couples over, it's easy to do game nights, play cards, bunco, or just shoot pool or darts or have pingpong tournaments, etc... maybe even all cook together?

Music and dancing?

I don't go to theme parties and hate those where i have to play a game. Our parties revolve around good food, lots of wine, and good friends and with that mix we never seem to run out of things to say.

I agree with blfenton. I don't go to theme parties and when the games start, I head for home at the earliest opportunity. Good (and plentiful) food, good wine and smart people with diverse interests other than their children.

It's the people! You need one very high energy person and one harmless fool who is borderline obnoxious but funny at every party (gives people someone to talk about).

"....with diverse interests other than their children." and may I add "or grandchildren".

I would never spring games or themes on unsuspecting victims. Although I do like most of them personally. A board game café opened up here recently and it has been a huge success! And not just with nerds!

I think I have the type of personality that would really relish a longstanding card game night. Here in Nova Scotia in rural communities there are often cribbage, 45s or tarbish nights. People travel all over Cape Breton Island for 45s nights.

Kswl...not sure if it's regional, generational, or just the people I know but rare is the house party that features dancing in my crowd. I love dancing myself. And other people I think have real kitchen parties complete with music and singing, boy I love that but it too seems to belong mostly to an older generation.

I really don't like party games. I'd rather be there, converse with folks, eat good food, listen to good music ( not so loud we can't converse), maybe if it is the season, watch a good roaring fire (indoors or outdoors), perhaps go on a short hike with folks there, if this is a place amenable to that. And even before I broke my leg, my dancing days were over. Singing could be fun -- and I've loved parties where people brought musical instruments and played - and the rest of us could listen and enjoy.

I go to a biannual party where the host is a classical musician, and he brings in a bunch of other classical musicians -- and they just have fun with strings and piano, and those of us who don't play can hang back and listen.

I go to another party, yearly, where people bring guitars and play folk and bluegrass, and I just hang back and enjoy, and sing along where singing is appropriate.

The other thing I do -- I belong to a club where everyone cooks -- we have theme get togethers -- the upcoming one is Peruvian food -- everyone makes something Peruvian and shares it. The meeting after that is a demo class for making Polish perogies -- we participate in the perogie making, and after that, on that day, we will share Polish pot luck.

It's always the people, no matter if you have games or dancing. Have a card table w/a deck of cards set out and you can have a running card game all night with people taking turns.

When we moved here I couldn't wait to find someone to play Bridge with. Except no one played Bridge. Only Spades and Pitch. I haven't played Bridge in years. People are afraid to learn it for some reason.

fun adult games?

We seem to host a fair number of parties and often have themes. On a lark, we had a ping-pong party last year with about 6 or 7 couples. It got very competitive (in a fun way) and everyone wanted to do it again, so we have done it 3 times now. I think we will continue to do it with the same group 3-4 times a year. More than that, and I think it would get less fun. Everyone brings a snack or app, we have an assortment of beer/wine. It's very casual and there's a lot of cheering and jeering. Last time, each couple chipped in $20 and the winner took all. That added a fun element.

We have had Halloween costume parties a couple of times. Very fun.

We have had gatherings where couples brought their favorite wine or craft beer to share.

I love group games. Cards Against Humanity is hilarious but can be very inappropriate so it depends on your group! LCR (dice game) is fun. Scattergories, Loaded Questions, Catch Phrase, Apples to Apples, Pictionary -- we have played all of these with groups of friends.

We have a dinner group that has been getting together for 12 years, about every 3 months, and we always have a theme. I feel like I have seen every dinner party theme there is by now! There are 14 of us. Some themes have been: Halloween, St. Patricks Day, kids' birthday party (we played typical kiddie party games, it was hilarious), various ethnic-food themes, disco party, breakfast for dinner, "retirement" theme (we all came dressed as our older selves), cruise ship (the hosts hired dance instructors to teach us ballroom dancing!), and lots of game nights. We also do a yankee swap every year after the holidays -- people give either a gift they got for the holidays that they don't want, or a joke gift. This one is always funny.

Games do not preclude great conversation, that's a misconception. I love a good game night and host/attend them frequently. Great food, great friends, and great conversations are always a part of such a gathering.

There's a discussion about Cranium in another forum; that's a fun game! Several of us play Trivial Pursuit regularly, and also go to clubs to play trivia with big crowds. Pictionary is fun and so is charades. For cards, we all love poker....any rendition of that game is fun.

Oakley, the trouble with bridge is that one must pay attention, so not a lot of laughter and conversation. Imo, it's a wonderful game, but not for a fun and laughter type of party. We've had fun with poker, hearts, etc. after dinner, and corn hole in summer. That one is nice for pre dinner apps and drinks time. Enjoying all these ideas. I used to love trivial pursuit. Wasn't aware there was a more up to date version. ......but then, questions beyond the 80's would probably stump me!

When we have a group we often play "left center right". Sue mentioned it her post. It's a super easy chance game that has minimal set up. It doesn't require concentration so it is a good game to play while socializing.

The game comes with chips but we have played with quarters, hershey kisses, whatever we can find around the house, Everything needed for the game is stored in a small plastic test tube sized container.

left center right

What really makes a party fun is the right mix of people and good food.

I enjoy most of the games mentioned above. I think mixing it up and not always playing a game, and certainly not always playing the same game, keeps it interesting. Years ago we attended a big party that had different games taking place in different rooms. IIRC, after each round there was an option to switch rooms and games. It was great.

When we play Loaded Question or Apples to Apples, we only use the cards and don't move pieces around a board (if there is one, I can't even remember).

Well, back in the day we used to play Dungeons and Dragons... pretty much throwing out most of the rulebook and being creative. I could see doing that again once in awhile with the right crowd.

Bridge would be hard unless everyone is playing or unless there's a separate room for the bridge-players. They get pretty intense about it. (I've watched my parents. It was the only endeavor that allegedly provided them pleasure that they simultaneously got intense about.)

I'll echo bfenton, no themes (except food) or games. If you are always having the same people over, that's the problem. Invite new people or people who don't make it to every party.

We have a club gathering about 3 times a year in a restaurant and after everyone eats, we play LCR with dollar bills. Lots of fun. Anyone can play from 4 yr old kids, drunks, everyone. You don't need to know what to do, everyone else will tell you!

But at a party at someone's house? Probably not. Maybe Christmas Eve with family.

I don't know what LCR is sushipup1, but your reference to the fact that drunks can play it did make me chuckle.

LeftCenterRight, as deee described it. Babies, old people, drunks, everyone can play.

We love Apples to Apples, and after a few drinks it can become an adult version fairly quickly. lol If you invite guests who can be shy, may be religious, can't handle a foul mouth or 'raunchyness' in any form, do not play this game! I've played it with my adult children, their spouses, and other adults, ages late 30's to early 70's and it's a blast, but we're very open and don't embarass easily.

I guess I am the odd man out. I haaaaaate parties where the only plan of action is to eat, drink, and visit. I would go once, escape when it's polite, and not go back again. Give me some structure!

Remember that Everybody Loves Raymond episode where his wife was the social butterfly at a dance and Raymond was left stuck at the table watching everybody's coats and purses? That's me. A structured party provides me with an avenue to participate.

Robo... That's a shame, there is nothing like a dance party with Carolina beach music!

Kswl, are you a Shag dancer?

Whenever we have a get together, we always have the 'tunes'(that's what my kids call it!)going. My DD's are the ring leaders, and it's usually just the women, but this Christmas one of my SIL's really got his 'groove on'. Only wish I would have captured it on video. Oh, my DD's get their love of dance from their mama~I have no reservations about gettin' my dance moves on! ;)

Yes :-), just for fun, informally at parties and dances. I love the music.

Thank you all so much for the great suggestions! I think I'm going to try a well advertised card party next. The good news is some people might come who aren't even into games since my husband isn't either, so he'll be available for additional hosting duties. Perhaps it's time my circle of friends embraced our heritage as Nova Scotians and got into the card game auction 45s.

Of course, I had a secret motivation in posting this thread, which was my husband's 40th birthday party this past weekend. Mind you, he was very clear on what kind of party he wanted, which most definitely included no games and no cheesy themes (I am fond of cheesy themes). I did, however, invite some "new blood" and that worked very well. Husband was in charge of the snacks and prepared enough to feed an army, and overall the party was a success. of course the entire group congregated in the kitchen and dining room despite a cozy fire and comfortable seating in the adjacent living room. Some things just don't change with age!

I'm not a party theme person either. We manage to laugh and enjoy friends without. However, my DH has hosted a "Hollywood Game Night" (you know, the TV show with Jane Lynch) at a local bar a few times and it's pretty fun.

Great food, libations and talking are what happens at our parties. We have a ping pong table and I swear that is where everyone hangs out! It is in our garage. We also have an infinity pool which sits high above the hills and the lake. When it is warm people often swim.

I need to check out Apples to Apples! Sounds fun.

aktillery- lol... whenever we had outdoor pool parties, it seemed like hardly anybody ever swam, unless the kids were included!! :(

apples to apples is a lot of fun and easier to play than CAH for older adults! tho the group of kids are always laughing like crazy when they play!

will be a carolinian in the future, so probably should learn to shag!! looks fun! i am most comfortable bopping to classic rock- need to widen my dance scope!

glad the party was a success robo! happy bday to your hub!