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For other uses, see .
"Pool party" redirects here. For other uses, see .
(1888) by , a painting portraying an artists' party in 19th century Denmark
A September 1945
in Selborne Road, , celebrating victory in the
A party is a gathering of people who have been invited by a
for the purposes of , , , or as part of a
or other commemoration of a special occasion. A party will typically feature
and , and often
or other forms of . In many Western countries, parties for teens and adults are associated with drinking alcohol such as ,
Some parties are held in
of a specific person, day, or event, such as a birthday party, a
party, or a
party. Parties of this kind are often called celebrations. A party is not necessarily a private occasion. Public parties are sometimes held in , , ,
or , and people attending such parties may be charged an admission fee by the host. Large parties in public streets may celebrate events such as
or the signing of a
ending a long war.
"Birthday party" redirects here. For other uses, see .
with lit novelty candles
Children at a birthday party
party is a celebration of the
of the birth of the person who is being honored. The tradition started in the mid-nineteenth century but did not become popular until the mid-twentieth century. Birthday parties are now a feature of many cultures.
In , birthday parties include a number of common rituals. The guests may be asked to bring a gift for the honored person. Party locations are often decorated with colorful decorations, such as
and streamers. A
is usually served with lit candles that are to be blown out after a "birthday wish" has been made. The person being honored will be given the first piece of cake. While the birthday cake is being brought to the table, the song "" or some other birthday song is sung by the guests.
At parties for children, time is often taken for the "gift opening" wherein the individual whose birthday is celebrated opens each of the gifts brought. It is also common at children's parties for the host to give parting gifts to the attendees in the form of "goodie bags". Children and even adults sometimes wear colorful cone-shaped .
Birthday parties are often larger and more extravagant if they celebrate someone who has reached what is regarded in the culture as a milestone age, such as transition from childhood to adulthood. Examples of traditional
celebrations include the North American
and the Latin American .
"Surprise party" redirects here. For other uses, see .
A surprise party is a party that is not made known beforehand to the person in whose honor it is being held.
Birthday surprise parties are the most common kind of surprise party. At most such parties, the guests will arrive an hour or so before the honored person arrives. Often, a friend in on the surprise will lead the honored person to the location of the party without letting on anything.
The guests might even conceal themselves from view, and when the honored person enters the room, they leap from hiding and all shout, "Surprise!" For some surprise birthday parties, it is considered to be a good tactic to shock the honored person. Streamers, , and
may be used for this purpose. Evidence of a party, such as decorations and balloons, are not made visible from the exterior of the home, so that the honored person will suspect nothing.
A buffet (Sm?rg?sbord) set for a party onboard a Swedish ship for Christmas 1990.
A dinner party is a social gathering at which people eat
together, usually in the host’s home. At the most formal dinner parties, the dinner is served on a dining table with . Dinner parties are often preceded by a
in a living room or bar, where guests drink
while mingling and conversing.
is usually served throughout the meal, often with a different wine accompanying each course.
At less formal dinner parties, a
is provided. Guests choose food from the buffet and eat while standing up and conversing. Wo men may wear .
At some informal dinner parties, the host may ask guests to bring food or
(a , a , a , or ). A party of this type is called a
or potluck dinner. In the United States, potlucks are very often held in churches and community centers.
A garden party is a party in a
or a . An event described as a garden party is usually more formal than other outdoor gatherings, which may be called simply parties, , , etc. A garden party can be a prestigious event. For example, invitations by the
are considered an honor. The President of France holds a garden party at the
in Paris on .
Main article:
A cocktail party is a party at which
are served. It is sometimes called a "cocktail reception". Women who attend a cocktail party may wear a . A
is sometimes worn as a fashion statement.
An outdoor tea party in Australia (between 1900 and 1910)
Main article:
In Anglo-American culture, a
party is a formal gathering for . These parties were traditionally attended only by women, but men may also be invited. Tea parties are often characterized by the use of prestigious , such as
and . The table, whatever its size or cost, is made to look its prettiest, with cloth napkins and matching cups and plates.
In addition to tea, larger parties may serve punch or, in cold weather, hot chocolate. The tea is accompanied by a variety of easily managed foods. Thin
or tomato, , , , and
are all common choices.
Reception at an art exhibition opening
Formal receptions are parties that are designed to receive a large number of guests, often at prestigious venues such as , the
or . The hosts and any guests of honor form a
near the entrance. Each guest is announced to the host who greets each one in turn as he or she arrives. Each guest properly speaks little more than his name (if necessary) and a conventional greeting or congratulation to each person in the receiving line. In this way, the line of guests progresses steadily without unnecessary delay. After formally receiving each guest in this fashion, the hosts may mingle with the guests.
Somewhat less formal receptions are common in academic settings, sometimes to honor a , or to celebrate a special occasion such as retirement of a respected member of staff. Receptions are also common in
settings, as an environment for attendees to mingle and interact informally. These gatherings may be accompanied by a sit-down dinner, or more commonly, a stand-up informal
Receptions are also held to celebrate
or . The featured artist or artists are often present, as well as the
who organized the exhibition. In addition or instead, a celebratory reception may be held partway through or at the end of an exhibition run. This alternative scheduling allows guests more time to see the exhibition in depth at their own pace, before meeting the featured guests. Some food is often served, as in academic gatherings.
Refreshments at a reception may be as minimal, such as coffee or lemonade, or as elaborate as those at a .
party, , USA.
Main article:
A dance is a social gathering at which the guests dance. It may be a casual, informal affair or a structured event, such as a
or a charity ball. Dances usually take place during the evening. An afternoon dance is formally known as a . Some dances feature specific kinds of dancing, such as .
is a large formal party that features . W men wear .
Main articles:
A block party is a public party that is attended by the residents of a specific city block or neighborhood. These parties are typically held in a city street that has been closed to traffic to accommodate the party. At some block parties, attendees are free to pass from house to house, socializing, and often drinking .
At a , guests wear
to conceal their identities. Guests at a
or a fancy dress party wear costumes. These parties are sometimes associated with holiday events, such as
culture during the
season, it is traditional to have a Christmas caroling party. People go from door to door in a neighborhood and sing . Some popular Christmas carols are "", "", "", "", "", "", "", and "".
In Spain, this type of party is called El Aguinaldo. It is the same as in England and the United States, but the only difference is that the children who sing the carols are given tips. Christmas songs are called villancios in S they are mainly sung by children at small parties.
supported by a live
are gatherings in bars or community centers where the guests dance to , , or . The music for dance parties is usually selected and played by a .
A spin-off of dance parties, the
involves dancing to loud , , or . Rave parties may be attended by as few as a score of people in a basement or, more likely, by a few hundred people in a club, to as many as thousands in a large warehouse, field, or even tens of thousands in a sporting arena, amusement park, or other large space. Raves are associated with illegal drugs such as
is a party where a large group of people get together at a private home to socialize. House parties that involve the drinking of beer pumped from a
are called keg parties or “keggers.” These parties are popular in , the , and
and are often attended by people under the . Sometimes, even older party-goers run afoul of the law for having provided
to . Arrests may also be made for violating a
ordinance, for , and even for operating a “”, an establishment that illegally sells alcoholic beverages.
Outdoor parties include bush parties and beach parties. Bush parties (also called “field parties”) are held in a secluded area of a forest (“bush”), where friends gather to
and talk. These parties are often held around a . Beach parties are held on a sandy shoreline of a lake, river, or sea, and also often feature a bonfire.
A pool party is a party in which the guests swim in a .
School-related parties for teenagers and young adults include
and , which are held in honor of someone who has recently graduated from a school or university.
A singles dance party and mixer is a party which is organized for people who are not married and who want to find a partner for , , or .
Usually a “mixer game” is played, to make it easy for people to meet each other. For example, each guest may be given a card with an inspiring quotation on it. The game is to find a potential partner who has the same quotation. Couples who have matching cards may be given a small prize.
These parties are sponsored by various organizations, both non-profit and for-profit.
A fundraising party, or fundraiser, is a party that is held for the purpose of collecting money that will be given to some person or to some institution, such as a , , , or . These parties are usually formal and consist of a dinner followed by speeches or by a presentation extolling whatever the money is being raised for.
It is very common to charge an admission fee for parties of this kind. This fee may be as high as several thousand dollars, especially if money is being raised for a .
In some places, parties to celebrate graduation from school, college or university are popular.
Wedding Feast in front of a Farm by Flemish artist
(aka UK: Australia: Bucks Night)
(aka hen night, hen party)
A shower is a party whose primary purpose is to give gifts to the , commonly a
or a mother-to-be. Guests who attend are expected to bring a small gift, usually related to the upcoming life event, like getting married or having a baby. Themed games are a frequent sight during showers as well.
Main article:
A housewarming party may be held when a family, couple, or person moves into a new house or apartment. It is an occasion for the hosts to show their new home to their friends. Housewarming parties are typically informal and do not include any planned activities other than a tour of the new house or apartment. Invited family members and friends may bring gifts for the new home.
A welcome party is held for the purpose of welcoming a newcomer, such as a new club member, a new employee, or a family's new baby.
In many cultures, it is customary to throw a farewell party in honor of someone who is moving away or departing on a long trip (sometimes called a bon voyage party). Retirement parties for departing co-workers fall into this category.
A cast party is a celebration following the final performance of a theatric event, such as a , a , or an . A party of this kind may also be held following the end of shooting for a
(called a “wrap party”) or after the season’s final episode of a . Cast parties are traditionally held for most theater performances, both professional and amateur.
Invited guests are usually restricted to performers, crew members, and a few others who did not participate in the performance, such as sponsors and donors who have helped fund the production.
A pre-party is a party that is held immediately before some event, such as a , a , a birthday party, or a . These parties are usually of short duration and sometimes involve getting ready for the event (e.g., the guests may put on makeup or costumes). Guests usually leave at the same time and arrive at the event together. Often people engage in
or drinking before an event or a night out, especially if the event lacks access to alcohol.
"Afterparty" redirects here. For Cool Kids of Death album, see .
An after-party is a party that is held after a musical or theatrical performance or after some other event, such as a
or a . Guests are usually limited to friends of the host.
Main article:
A Party in the Open Air by , c. 1590
International
(Melbourne metropolitan region only)
aka Tag der Arbeit
aka Rose Monday, highlight of the
Iran and other
New Zealand
United Kingdom
United States
, aka the Fourth of July
, the night before the
A steampunk airship
built by the Airpusher Collective at
People posing at an outdoor party in
A social gathering during which the guests play
A party that involves multi-player computer games and uses a .
A form of , in which a party is used to sell products (for example, a
A party that is hosted in a private home for the purpose of supporting a particular candidate, political party, or ballot measure, or to share information and opinions about an upcoming .
, also called a pajama party or slumber party
A party for which the guests are invited to stay overnight at the home of the host. These parties are usually for
or young children.
A party in which the guests wear .
Children at a birthday party
A house party in
Beach party - Haifa, Israel (2011)
Young adults at a pool party
Korab, Holly. . LAS News 2012.
. HGTV 2012.
. Merriam-Webster.
. don Quijote.
“While it affects all adults who buy kegs, the proposed law is aimed at the 21-to-23-year-old crowd, particularly college students, who don’t think twice about buying a keg or 10 for a weekend bash. Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, .
Wikimedia Commons has media related to .
Tung, Jennifer (2005). In Style Parties: The Complete Guide to Easy, Elegant Entertaining. New York: Melcher Media, Inc.  .
: Hidden categories:Party Games for Kids Birthday Parties
Party Games
Sleepovers
Party Ideas
Activities
Birthday Party Games for Kids
A collection of our all time favorite
kids party games for kids to play.&
The games on the
following pages have all been tested and are approved by kids
and Moms.&
These are the best of the best birthday party games
and have stood the test of time.&
The kids party games have been
divided into age appropriate categories for your convenience.
The best party games categories include 1st birthday, 2,3 and 4 year olds, 5 and
6 year olds, 7,8 and 9 year olds, tweens - 10, 11 and
There are also pages of birthday party games
for boys, girls, swimming pool, carnival, scavenger hunts, sidewalk
chalk, water balloon, bubbles and sleepover.&& There is also a page
filled with ideas and games for a 1 year old birthday party - full
of unique ideas for
activities, time capsules,
how to include family and friends and
Copy down a few of the fun party games or print the whole list
to have on hand for your birthday.&
Tip: Choose at least 2 more of our best party games
then you think
you will need - just in case you need to fill time.
Kids Party Games By
Party games for one year olds that friends, siblings,
parents and guests can enjoy also.&
Great for two, three and four year olds
Fun party games that let five and six year olds socialize and have
The best party games
that allow for a little more competition while still being fun
for everyone.
Great ideas for the preteen and in between ages of ten, eleven and
Boys and Girls Party Games
Great ideas to keep boys busy and having
fun during the whole party.&
Birthday game ideas just for girls.&
Summer and Outside Fun Games
20 Fun party games that kids love to play at birthday parties using
balloons!&
Over 30 ways
to play with bubbles - great for parties or anytime you need
some activities for one or more children.& Print out the
list and keep it handy on a hot summer day!&
Dodge Ball, Capture the Flag, Foursquare, Jump
rope rhymes and Jacks.
Fun swimming pool games for kids, tweens and teens.
Lots of fun scavenger hunts& with free lists to print out!&
There are 2 free items lists for the Neighborhood scavenger hunt
and the Nature, Animal Shelter and Holiday themes each have
their own free item list.&
30 ideas, games and activities for
playing with sidewalk
Over 50 great ideas to do with water
balloons!& Keep the kids
cool with some outside fun!
Sleepover Games
and activities, crafts and more for slumber parties.
that are G rated and free to print
Would You Rather Game
Fun party game for kids, tweens and teens! Over 200 fun questions!
Icebreakers
- fun ways to get the
party started.& Use an icebreaker game while guests are
arriving.& This gives the kids something to do and lets
them interact and feel comfortable with each other before the
party starts.&&
- Fun party
games for Carnival themed birthday parties.& Our favorite
games that have been tested at carnivals and children's
festivals and proven to be the favorites.
Fun birthday party games for kids for the 1st, 2nd, 3rd,
4th, 5th 6th, 7th, 8th, 9th, 10th, 11th, 12th& birthday and beyond!&&&&&
(C) Kelula 2007 - 2016