Party Themes and Ideas by Katie Elzer-Peters

Katie Elzer-Peters is our resident party princess, and hosts several big "to dos" at her house in North Carolina throughout the year. She's most famous for her annual Kentucky Derby Party, but she's game for anything. Recent gatherings have included Thanksgiving for 20, Easter for 25, and a Baby Shower for 30. She's had too many girl's nights to count, as well as book groups, barbeques, Super Bowl parties, and Sangria nights.

Katie is a perfectionist when it comes to party fun. She aims to ensure that every guest leaves happy, and she finishes the party still glad that she had it. It's an art. One that she's thrilled to share with readers of Theme A Party!

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You can't have a Mardi Gras party without cajun or creole food. Wait, didn't we just write that you can't have Mardi Gras without a King Cake? Well, both are true! Celebrate Fat Tuesday with a Mardi Gras party full of delicious Cajun recipes. But first, learn how Mardi Gras and creole favorites like Jambalaya became inextricably intertwined. History of Cajun and Creole Food in New ...

You can't have Mardi Gras without a King Cake. Where did these traditional pastries come from, and why are they so popular? And why are they always covered in gold, green, and purple sugar? Unlock the mysteries of the Mardi Gras King Cake and incorporate this sweet treat (or a version of it) into your Mardi Gras celebration.

Would you like to turn the arrow the other way on cupid? Gather your friends for an Anti-Valentine's Day party! From black decor to burst balloons, Bloody Marys and tainted love, here's how to throw a top-notch broken heart party!

Fan of the New England Patriots? Then throw the ultimate NFL football theme party! With the Pats in the Super Bowl, now is the time to party. Check out these ideas on food, decor, and trivia.

Celebrate your child's 1st birthday with farm animals! All kids love animals, and though they may not have seen real farm animals (yet), there are delightful decoration options for a barnyard party theme. Here's how to get the moost out of your farm party.

A surfing themed birthday party is one gnarly way to spend a summer day stoked about turning a year older. Making some of your own party props will personalize this gathering, too. Even if it's just in your backyard, you can still go surfing. Let's go!

You can make your decorations do double-duty as party favors and vice versa.  A themed party is always more fun when everyone at the party is dressed up.  Decorations can be more than just "icing on the cake," they can be part of the parting gifts for the guests.  They can also be incorporated into the activities of the party.  Here are some ideas for integrating party decorations as part of the party favors. Tropical-Themed ...

It's your child's birthday, and you want to send some treats to share to daycare.  You need to stay away from nuts--one of the most common food allergies.  But, there are some other issues to be aware of, too.  Food that's easy to eat.  Being aware of choking hazards, and staying away from too much sugar.  (Some daycares and schools have no-sugar policies.) You always want to check with the daycare, itself, for their specific rules.  ...

In the spring, everyone holds graduation parties. How can you make your child's or young adult's party memorable and unique among the hundreds of other events happening around the same time? Here's some great ideas.

Some of our favorite foods are difficult to translate into party-sized portions.  Have you ever tried to eat macaroni and cheese while standing up?  How about a full-sized hamburger?  It isn't easy.  If you want to serve some of your favorites at your theme party, but want to cut down on the mess, here are some ideas for how to do it. Mini-Mess Here are some ways to make smaller versions of some of your favorite ...