Approximately 35.1 million Americans move every year. The moving process is known for being tedious, stressful, and exhausting. But once you set up your new place just the way you like it, that ‘new home’ bliss sets in and you can explore endless entertainment possibilities. One of the first gatherings many people have in their new homes is a housewarming party. A housewarming party is different than other themed parties because hosts have so much creative freedom and can do just about anything they want! With that in mind, here are some clever drink and game ideas to help you host a housewarming party that’s just as creative as you are.
Getting Giddy With Games
The amount of devices that connect to the internet is expected to rise from about 13 billion to 50 billion by 2020, and while you certainly don’t have to plan games and activities for your housewarming party, why not get your guests away from their phones and engaged in some real-life fun? One great game idea is to hide two pairs of keys around your home (real keys or toy keys, your call). Have guests search for them throughout the night, and whoever finds them and brings them to you first wins. If you’re playing this, just make sure the keys are well hidden!
Another innovative idea for getting your guests’ gears turning is to create a scavenger hunt in search of answering some specific details about your home.
“There are a couple of ways you can do this. The first would be to send teams on a scavenger hunt to find and take pictures of specific items in the house (e.g., your beloved t-shirt quilt) and the second would be to send them on a scavenger hunt to answer questions (e.g., how many windows are in the house, what brand is the lamp in the guest room),” writes PlayPartyPlan.
Have fun with jumbo board games:
With these giggle-worthy games, you’re bound to make some memories to last a lifetime. One final note: it’s a good idea to have a small prize for the winners, like a gift card. Some suggest home-themed gift cards, such as a hardware store or craft store.
Crafting up Creative Cocktails (And Mocktails!)
Spending for cocktail hours has risen to 76% from 69% in 2010, and there are plenty of super simple drink recipes you can make in bulk that’ll satisfy your guests all night — or all day, depending on the time of your party. If it’s an earlier or mid-afternoon gathering, consider offering tea and coffee: the average U.S. coffee drinker consumes just over three cups per day, and if guests really want to put a skip in their step, it’s never a bad idea to keep the ingredients for Irish coffee in close range. Bloody Marys are also a surefire crowd pleaser.
For gatherings taking place later in the evening, big batch cocktails work perfectly and are versatile to suit non-drinkers as well. Try this recipe for a pomegranate lime rickey, provided by CheatSheet. It contains pomegranate juice, sugar, club soda, and lime juice to create a wonderful and aroma-filled ‘mocktail’ that can easily be turned into a traditional cocktail with just a splash of gin.
“Think of this vivid pink drink as a more sophisticated version of a Shirley Temple…you essentially make your own grenadine with pomegranate juice and sugar. Once the syrup is cool, add the club soda and some lime juice,” writes CheatSheet.
Hopefully, these fun ideas helped to give you some direction when it comes time to plan your next housewarming party!
Leave a Reply