Looking for Party Ideas for Graduating Seniors

My sister-in-law threw my niece a pretty nice party. She rented a hall, hired a DJ and had a buffet. We have a HUGE family, so a lot of us pitched in and helped with the food. The kids had a great time dancing and celebrating and just hanging out with each other.

My mom's friends gave me an ice cream Sunday party.

My senior prom had a great after party. It was at a rec center and you could play sports or silly games the parents had -- fun let your hair down. They also had prizes donated.

Things to keep us busy: karaoke, basketball courts, swimming, make a crazy hair contest with shaving cream, dance contest, etc. Make it fun and silly and most kids that age will let their hair down. It was one a few times the cool kids and noncool kids played together.

Hope this helps.

My brother and friends rented swimming pool and room at the country club 4 times in different years with fajitas and BBQ catering included DJ band after 7pm during the week night after graduations for his senior children and friends!! They had like Hawaii and Mexican theme. It was fun to stay cool at the pool and dancing under the stars!! Good luck and have fun!!

I am not sure what part of town you are in but we rented Jax Grill on Shepherd.

It has indoor and outdoor space.

Our Daughters senior class has a party on Grad night. They hire casino tables. The kids love Texas hold em.. I bet some of the dads could be the dealers..

Bingo is something that the kids played all night long. They are given a bag of m&m's or skittles to use as their dobs. Each game has a winner that wins $5. Once an hour there is a game that the winner wins $20.

Rock band can be set up. Karaoke is still popular.

Baby pictures are fun. Have the kids bring their baby picture. The kids have to guess who they are, the person that guesses the most wins.

We also had Caricature artist to draw the kids.

We had a roving photographer (junior yearbook photographer) who took candid s all night. At 2:00 am, I took the photo card to Walgreens and they printed doubles of all of them in an hour.. I was then able to lay them out on a table and the kids took home whatever photos they wanted. At the end of the night. I had a couple of Disc made, so that the class President could hold onto it for their future class reunions.

I also suggest you have at least 1 physical thing for the kids to do. We hired a group to bring the big Sumo Wrestling outfits so the kids (guys) could let off some steam.

You could do contests.. Most flexible, Limbo, largest hands etc.. give out prizes.

Are you looking for a theme?

I'm hosting a masquerade ball for a 20th-birthday party. It was his idea. I haven't gotten the menu together yet. Last year, we had different stations--DJ and dancing, Wii sports, volleyball out back, croquet out front. He loves nachos, so I built a menu around that. We put all that stuff in play, and the entertainment took care of itself. We didn't have to worry about who might not be enjoying the party.

Every graduation party that I've been to has been outside. The inside venues are usually for more of an open house/family situation and quite a bit more formal. You can replicate outdoor themes inside though.
I would stay very low key. (Preparations=homework)Casual dress, that lets the kids come without needing to get dressed up, or go buy an expensive outfit. A luau, carnival, or picnic themes are usually good options. Frisbee games are fun if there is enough room; flag foot ball, pie or watermelon eating contests. Door prizes of things to help with the dorm room (gift certs, laundry baskets of house hold items like paper towels, cleaning supplies, pens, pencils, paper, laundry detergent, personal hygiene) Something simple that lets them blow off some steam and relax and enjoy their friends before the part ways.
Good favors can include frisbees with the year on it, commemorative t-shirts, key chains, metal water bottles, or disposable cameras. Shutterfly.com allows you to upload photos and make free websites that everyone can upload and share their photos. After the party, this is a great way to let everyone share their pics or the events. As the owner of the site, you can edit and delete anything that you might need to.

Hi HBP,

I have attended graduation parties where the parents of the Seniors would set up individual tables of the Senior which displayed pictures mostly and some mementos of the Senior's life up until then, i.e. kindergarten pictures, sports photos, etc. significant events. It was neat to see the photos of the past. Perhaps some parents would like to donate cakes to have at the party and the cakes could congratulate the parents' graduating child.

H.

Not sure where you are located, but I have a GREAT cake lady in the Tomball area!! Great prices and EVERYTHING from the cake to the icing is HOMEMADE!!! MMMMMM good. She just made a diamond ring cake for a jewelry show I held. So beautiful. There is also a HUGE rental hall in tomball on 249 owned by a company called chilico's. I heard it is a great place. Also, what about renting the place Main Event for a lock in type thing. Just an idea.
S.

Verify if your school has a project graduation party. I help out with the one for Judson. If you are in the San Antonio area I can help you with ideas and fundraising ideas to make this financially feasible. Judson has been doing a project grad party for the past 20 years and is the largest and longest running party in Texas. In this time we have not had a death or major incident with our graduates. My kids actually graduated years ago, but it is worthwhile cause that saves lives. Thank you for wanting to plan this party and keep the youth safe.

Hi,
My husband does custom DVDs for all occasions @ a very affordable price. He can put together a video of all the seniors and then play it at your party on a large screen. If anyone is interested in having an individual video you can contact him ###-###-#### and also view some videos allready produced by him here is a couple of links from his Youtube samples he can also post the finished video on Youtube,DVD,Ipods and he has free pickup and delivery. You can copy and paste the links in your web browser if thay dont automaticly open up.
Congradulations

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HFoSboFL45k

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4wa8f9DZen8

And here is a link to his web site demo page

http://www.silverimagedvd.com/demos.html#top

My HS rented out a ranch. There was casino tables and games set up. With prizes etc. The tickets where like $25 and then the bussed us tere so we could not leave so late at night. It was really cool.

If not look into renting a club house and have BBQ around the pool.

I just ran into this guy who has a place by Nachodges and 410 and it is night club place rents out to privite parties ( very cool place for this) and indoor/outdoor feel. Comes with DJ/lights etc. The guys rents it out ( nto sure on price) to raise money for charities. Strickly for fund-raising. Go by and check it out. It is perfect.

It is called "The Rooftop"

I remember at my all night graduation party we had a DJ and some space for dancing. A spot for temporary tattoos, a person who drew caricatures, a spot where you could dress up and take crazy pictures. Maybe you could rent cuts outs of famous people and do digital prints or polaroids. We also had a room where the graduation video was playing on a loop. We had pizza and soda and chips and snacks. It was a blast! We also had a lip synch contest that was a lot of fun. Maybe you can rent a karaoke machine since that is all the rage now.

Good luck!

not sure what you have rented but we have a facility in roundrock that is in and outdoor that you ould have games outside we also do cakes and catering.good luck
B.
www.620cafeandbakery.com

We do Project Graduation for our kids. (300+ Sr.)

This year we are taking them to Austin Park and Pizza. Last year we took them to a small water park in our local area. (Isn't there one on I-35 going into SA?)

We let them do basically what ever was allowed in the park, and they ate, took pictures, danced, and in the end.... Cried. They had a complete blast. We then took them back to the high school and fed them breakfast, gave away some gift certificates, a couple of lap tops, and even a new car.

Good Luck!

Hello HBP:

You definately want to have a schedule to break down the events of the night. Maybe a slide show of their own personal memories, dance contest or a Soul Train Line. Choose leasders of the bunch that are willing to participate and influence the crowd. Tables set up for games (cards, dominoes, checkers, Taboo), limbo stick is always good for "Limbo Time." YOu may want to try a major theme such as "Hawaii Action" or "Hawaii Luo" and they would have dress accordingly. "White Jacket and Jeans" This is just to get them excited so that you have full participation. You may want to ask them about music and other things that nay benefut the party- so that at least you will be giving them things that they would enjoy. I hope this helps!