21 Awesome Party Food Themes for Adults and Children

Theme parties can be a great excuse to do something different and have fun with your friends and family. Whether you’re celebrating a birthday or just throwing a casual bash, carefully planning your get-together is key. But what kind of party will you host? Sometimes, the hard part is choosing a theme. Fortunately, this list of 21 party food themes is here to get you inspired.

10 adult party food themes

Consider these fun themes for the next party you plan just for adults.

1. Casino night party

Casino-themed games go well with classy drinks like a whiskey on the rocks. For the main course, serve the famous Las Vegas entrée: prime ribs.

2. Breakfast for dinner

Pancakes, waffles, eggs, bacon, and sausage make for a delicious theme party menu.

3. Taco party

Taco parties have some of the best food out there. From tacos to chips and salsa to pork carnitas, there’s plenty to choose from.

4. Sushi bar night

Put out sushi rice, nori, fresh salmon, tuna, avocado, and cucumber so your guests can make their own rolls.

5. Italian-themed dinner party

Host a culinary trip to Italy with beloved dishes like risotto, penne all’arrabbiata, and ossobuco.

6. High tea party

Tea parties are elegant and classy. Serve cucumber sandwiches, crumpets, scones with jam, and different types of teas.

7. 1950s retro bash

Turn your home into a ’50s diner with rock-and-roll music, juicy burgers, fries, and milkshakes. Don’t forget the rock-and-roll music and a retro dress code.

8. Cheesy fondue party

If you have a fondue pot, you can throw a fun party. Have guests dip bread, veggies, and meat in the cheese—and don’t forget the beer!

9. Tropical theme party

Margaritas, piña coladas, Hawaiian sliders, and pineapple upside-down cake make an excellent party menu.

10. Wine and cheese night

Cheese and wine are a great pairing. Serve pinot noir with gruyère, sparkling wine, and brie, or come up with your own combinations.

11 party food themes for kids

Kids love themed parties just as much as adults. These ideas are bound to keep them entertained for an entire day.

1. Ice cream theme party

Ice cream sandwiches, banana split, and ice cream cake will make any child’s delight on a hot summer day.

2. Dinosaur party

Make the party menu all about dinosaurs: pterodactyl (chicken) wings, dinosaur (deviled) eggs, and dino-shaped cookies are just some of the foods you can serve.

3. Princess theme party

Princess-themed parties are very popular. You can serve strawberry lemonade, glitter-covered cookies, and crown-shaped PB&J sandwiches.

4. Beach party

If you can’t go to the beach, bring the beach to you. Fill up a pool, a sandpit, and serve the best beach snacks out there: goldfish, watermelon wedges, ice cream, and juice.

5. Do-it-yourself pizza party

Pizza parties are a lot more fun when kids get to make their own. Let them roll the dough, choose their toppings, and help them bake their creations.

6. Slime theme party

Green jello cups, fruit dipped in colorful chocolate, and jello poke cakes are all great foods to have on a slime party menu.

7. Pirate-themed party

Hide fruit “sword” skewers, boat-shaped cookies, and chocolate-covered “cannon” cake pops in the party room. Then, give your guests a treasure map so they can find the treats.

8. Carnival and circus party

Decorate the room like it’s a circus. Then, offer classic carnival foods, such as popcorn, corn dogs, deep-fried pickles, and pretzels.

9. Outer space party

It’s easy to host a party that’s out of this world. Serve meatballs (asteroids), pigs in a blanket (shaped like a rocketship), and star-shaped apple slices.

10. Rainbow unicorn party

Host a magical party by bringing unicorns to life through decor and a special menu. For instance, you could dip cake pops in white chocolate and sprinkles, make colorful bark with chocolate and candy melts, and bake a rainbow cake.

11. Kid’s disco party

Disco parties are all about fun, bright colors—both in the decor and menu. You could serve cupcakes topped with neon icing or colorful jello cups to keep the kids singing and dancing at the party.

How to plan a successful themed party

These tips will help you throw a great party, no matter what theme you end up choosing.

Send themed invites

Sending themed invitations to your loved ones is a great way to get them in a party mood. Tell them if there’s a themed dress code and if they need to bring food or drinks.

Serve enough food

Count how many guests you will have over and make sure you have enough food for your party. And don’t forget drinks!

Decorate your space

Let the theme you chose shine through the decoration. Get creative with homemade or store-bought decor.

Set the scene with music

Set a playlist in advance that goes with your party theme to put your guests in a good mood and free you from DJ duty.

Plan how you’ll entertain guests

There are loads of activities you can plan to keep the party lively. From karaoke to card games to a movie, all you have to do is find a way to fit them into your theme.

Make your job as a party host easier!

Planning a party everyone will love can be a lot of work, but there are things you can do to make the tasks easier. For example, you can skip the grocery trips and order all you need via Instacart. Add your party essentials to the cart and have a professional shopper deliver them right to your door. Thanks to same-day delivery, you can still throw an awesome party even if you left things to the last minute.

Grab it now on Instacart:

Pace Chunky Medium Salsa (16 oz)

Sushi Chef Nori, Toasted, Seaweed Sheets (5 ct)

Swissmar Zurich 3‑in‑1 Electric Fondue Pot, 11-Piece Set (each)

True Lemon Strawberry Lemonade Drink Mix (10 ct)

Store Brand Plastic Sword Picks - 40 CT (40 ct)

Ff Corn Dog (8 ct)

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