How to Throw a 1970s Themed Party

Who doesn’t love a great retro celebration? We certainly do! So why not take a step back in time and embrace the vibes of the 1970s? Hosting a 1970s themed party is a fun and (for any of you who were there!) nostalgic way to bring friends and family together to celebrate.

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So, channel your inner dancing queen and join us as we embrace 70s-style fun, food and fashion, accompanied of course by the unforgettable hits of the decade.

Send out the 1970’s themed invites!

Your invitations should set the tone, so consider using vibrant colours and psychedelic designs. You can either send digital invites or stay on theme with retro-style paper invitations. But, whichever you choose, don’t forget to mention that guests should come dressed in their favourite 70s attire; bell-bottom jeans, afro hair styles, tie-dye shirts, platform shoes, aviator sunglasses, leisure suits or even hotpants – anything 70s goes! Encouraging guests to embrace the bold, carefree spirit of the era will ensure your party has a lively and authentic atmosphere.

70’s Décor

Go all out with the decs and transform your space into a groovy 70s hangout! Whether small or large, a disco ball is essential for creating that quintessential dance floor vibe. But, if you’re struggling to find a suitable hanging space, mini disco ball string lights (Amazon UK) are a great alternative. Other décor options include:

Posters featuring popular 70s bands –Bee Gees, Saturday Night Fever, Queen etc.
Beaded curtains
Lava lamps
Colourful balloons
Streamers
Vinyl records
Plants in macrame holders

The Music

Curating a fabulous disco play list is the most important element of any 70s themed bash!If you want your 1970s party to really rock, you’ve got to have the right tunes playing in the background. We suggest you get groovy with these iconic 70s hits:

‘Stayin’ Alive’ (Bee Gees)
‘Le Freak’ (Chic)
‘Bohemian Rhapsody’ (Queen)
‘Night Fever’ (Bee Gees)
‘Y.M.C.A.’ (Village People)
‘Dancing Queen’ (Abba)
Summer Nights (Olivia Newton John)

For the ultimate 70s experience, why not consider hiring a professional DJ or a live band? With someone else in charge of the music you can enjoy yourself to the max!

You can book a professional DJ or 70s style band right here on the PartyWizz website.

Party Food

The 1970s were a time of culinary experimentation, resulting in a mix of classic comfort foods and innovative dishes that reflected the era’s eclectic tastes. To help you, we’ve come up with a list of foods, including hot dishes, that you could serve to recreate a classic 70s buffet:

Savoury items

Quiche (served hot or cold)
Cheese fondue (dip items including rolled ham, gherkins, small tomatoes, apple slices)
Savoury vol-au-vents (mushroom, prawn, chicken)
Mini prawn cocktails
Sausage rolls
Cheese straws – puff pastry sprinkled with parmesan, twisted and baked.
Devilled eggs
Prawn, cucumber and cream cheese canapes
Cocktail sausages on sticks
Silverskin pickled onions on sticks
Cheese and pineapple pieces on sticks
Cheese and pineapple hedgehog – use a foil wrapped, halved potato or grapefruit as the base. Place cheese and pineapple pieces on cocktail sticks and arrange to make a hedgehog. Leave a gap at the front for the face and create using grapes or olives for eyes and nose.
Crisps
Rice salads
Beef stroganoff
Vegetable lasagne

Sweet items

Black Forest gateau
Trifle (style with sprinkles on top)
Chocolate profiteroles
Carrot cake
Angel delight – add sprinkles!
Moulded layered jelly – add fruit or simply change colour/flavour of layers

Whether your guests are dipping into a pot of melted fondue, reminiscing over (or laughing at – it’s age dependent!) the cheese and pineapple hedgehog, or simply enjoying a bowl of trifle, these iconic 70’s foods are sure to impress and transport everyone back to the disco era.

Drinks

Let’s not forget about the drinks! This is a great opportunity to whip up some classic 1970s cocktails like a Harvey Wallbanger or a Tequila Sunrise to keep the party going strong. And for the non-drinkers, consider serving up some refreshing mocktails like a Shirley Temple or a virgin Piña Colada, or why not provide a Soda Stream machine for that authentic 1970’s experience. Don’t forget to garnish your drinks with plenty of fruit and cocktail umbrellas for an extra touch of retro flair.

Confectionery cart

Treat guest to an authentic sweet tooth experience from the 1970s. There are several online suppliers selling retro sweets. Introduce guests to the delights of iconic seventies sweets like sherbet dabs, flying saucers and foam shrimps. Arrange your selection in small jars or dishes, add labels and enjoy!

Games and entertainment

Photo booth

Ok, so photo booths weren’t a thing at 1970s parties, but don’t let that stop you! Set up your photo booth with 1970s themed partprops. Think oversized sunglasses, ‘peace’ signs, afro wigs, floaty scarves and bold, statement jewellery such as ‘gold’ chains and large hoop earrings. A photo booth not only ensures your guests enjoy an interactive experience, it also allows them to personalise their memories. You can hire a photobooth right here on our website.

1970s themed party Karaoke

Transform your living room into a disco paradise with a karaoke session! If you can hire or borrow a record player and records, this will help to create an even more authentic experience. Guests should be encouraged to dress in retro outfits to get them into the spirit of the party as they channel their inner rock stars. Providing props such as feather boas, oversized sunglasses or funky hats will help them loosen up and embrace their inner diva. And why not add an extra element of fun by awarding a prize for the best dressed or most entertaining performer?

70’s Trivia quiz

Prepare a trivia game with questions about popular movies, TV shows, music and cultural events from the 1970s. Guests can be split into two or more teams and compete to see who knows most about this groovy decade.

Name that 1970’s tune

Play short snippets of 1970s songs and get guests to guess the title and/or artist.

Dress-up relay race

You will need two boxes, or suitcases, and a good selection of 1970s style clothing which should be large enough for all players to get on, if not actually do up! Place the boxes of clothes at one end of the room and line your guests up in two teams at the other. Guests must take it in turns to run to their team’s box and dress themselves (over what they are already wearing!) in 70s inspired costumes complete with accessories. Once dressed, they must quickly remove their outfit, replace the items in the box and head to the back of their team’s line. The remaining players repeat the sequence until everyone has had a turn. The first team to finish wins.

You may wish to vary the game a little by taking photos of each team member before they return their clothes to the box. Warning! This game will inevitably cause great hilarity and may, therefore, take much longer than anticipated!

So that’s it – a guide on how to throw a far out 1970s themed party! Embrace the funky tunes, psychedelic decorations and retro costumes, give your imagination free rein and let the good vibes flow as you groove your way through the night!