Happy 80th Birthday John Williams - Da-Ah Dum, Da-Ah Dum!

It says a lot that five single notes almost eclipse any specific memories of a film. I’m betting that most of you can remember the five note call played between the humans and the alien spaceship in Close Encounters of the Third Kind. Got it? Thought so. But I bet you can’t remember who played the lead role, or any of the lines from the script! (Incidentally, it was Richard Dreyfuss, and one memorable quote is “Well they’re not moon burns, goddammit.”

If you’re planning a party we can’t help you with your moonburns, but we can help you when it comes to decorating for a music inspired event. From Rock Star to High School Musical, and from musical instruments to an edible electric guitar cake, we can help you deck the halls with a great selection of musically themed banners, posters and other decorations.

We know children love making music, which is why we have a whole heap of very affordable musical instruments for giving away as party prizes or in party gift bags. Sorry parents, we don’t sell ear plugs or volume controls – our advice is always that if you can’t beat them (with their instrument) then join them! After all, it can’t be much worse than some of the X Factor contestants!

What it also shows you of course is yet another way in which the Parteaz stock can be put to good use. In this case, face painting. We recently highlighted our wide selection of free face painting guides for children which, somewhat bizarrely, didn’t include any of the members of Kiss. However, feel free to use this video above to:

1. Be inspired to place an order for black and white face painting kits in order to dress up as Kiss and show us your own tribute
2. Show your kids who will be paying them a visit if they don’t tidy up their room. Right. This. Minute.

We should note that no video cameras were harmed in the making of this video, and that free counselling was made available to all crew members.

Once again the sofas have been pulled forward to allow for shorter members of the family to enjoy watching the TV series safe in the knowledge that no evil creature in the known universe has yet been able to fathom a way of getting through a Chesterton.

Whether your little ones are into David Tennant, Matt Smith or one of the previous incarnations of the most famous Time Lord in the universe, a Dr Who party can be a fabulous opportunity to get out the masks and have some fun. We have some fantastic Doctor Who Masks, including Cybermen and gas masks (from that particular creepy episode, ‘The Empty Child’ – just wait until all the children shuffle around asking ‘Are you my mummy?’)

We also have a whole heap of Doctor Who themed balloons, all of which are ideal for filling up with helium to really help your party take off. Choose from Daleks, the Tardis or a general themed balloon. We even have Dr Who party gift bags, ideal for handing out a few alien surprises.

If you’re having a Doctor Who party then why not theme the games too? Rather than pinning the tail on the donkey you could have pinning the plunger on the Dalek. ‘What’s the time Mr Wolf’ could be ‘Time to be deleted’ with everyone wearing Cybermen masks, and of course musical statues (using the Doctor Who theme tunes of course) just has to be ‘Musical Weeping Angels’ – very scary!

The only thing we can’t help you with unfortunately is managing to make your living room bigger on the inside than the outside!

A Harry Potter party is all about the magic. You want to be sure that you set up your party supplies, your party confetti, and even your Harry Potter party invitations in a cloud of magical clout. Bring broom sticks and wands and gather your friends for the magical opening of the latest Harry Potter movie that will keep us abreast of the growing trends.

Your Harry Potter party doesn’t have to involve real magic, although if it does all the better. Just remember to label the pint glasses as magical potions, mix up some green tinged drinks, and bake up some magical biscuits that will make your curious guests want to try them, after they see someone else eat them first.

With a little eye of newt and wart of frog you and your adult friends can ring in the new Harry Potter party with the usual summertime enthusiasm and the joy that most of us experienced as children when we were about to see something truly special. For Harry Potter party fans, a simple reason like the movie release is most definitely enough of a reason to hold a party. Don’t hold back. Let your Harry Potter juices flow and set up a Harry Potter party that will knock the magical socks off your most creative friends

Some people have gathered a collection of Michael Jackson music over the years to include in the tribute party. Specialty cakes, pinatas, and tons of party balloons and streamers can make the party a truly honourable Michael Jackson party. While there are still those who are grappling with the idea that one of the biggest icons has passed away, anyone can appreciate the joy that Michael sought every day of his life.

Unique Michael Jackson tribute parties are springing up all over the place and there are even impromptu parties that gather with the sound of a Jackson song. The family is well aware of the vast honouring that is taking place around the world. The Jackson tributes have been everything from mournful gatherings to all out celebrations of the life of Michael Jackson.

Michael Jackson fans have been able to remind the world that a talent like Jackson comes along once in a lifetime. His life, which was spent hounded by media, is revered by so many that he influenced along the way. That is what a tribute party is really all about.

No matter what you’re Michael Jackson tribute party looks like, stock up on those party supplies and gather your friends, family, and adoring Michael fans close to you. Crank up the CD player and “remember the times” with your own Michael Jackson fan club right in your own home.

This classic 90′s TV phenomenon was not just worshipped in our house, however; it was popular worldwide, won a coveted Golden Globe award and ran for seven years. My sister has been delighted to learn that all the Party of 5 series is available on DVD (so she knows what she’ll be getting for Christmas…). I for one, however, will not be rushing to watch again; I’m happy to admit that I prefer the shallower, simpler pleasures of something like Friends, Frasier or Will & Grace. Who wants to be confronted with difficult teenagers, sibling rivalry and the drudgery of family on the television? We have all that at home! I’m looking for escapism from my telly, and Party of 5, whilst many things, was certainly not that.

Obviously when throwing your own movie release party, you are going to need to choose a movie that everyone can watch and enjoy. Keep in mind that the movie release party does not have to revolve around a movie coming out in theatres; it can be a movie release party for a movie that is being released on DVD. Once you have the movie all picked out and ready to go, you need to spread the word and let everyone know about your party.

If you are going out to the movie theatre, make sure you designate a specific time as well as place where everyone should get together and meet. If you are throwing the party at your home, then tell everyone to come over whenever they want! This type of party is easily manageable as well as affordable so you do not have to stress over little details. Once movie night rolls around, all you are going to need to do is pop as much popcorn as you possibly can, turn the lights down low, and enjoy your movie release party! You can of course throw in a few Party Supplies to theme the event and the odd cocktail or alcoholic beverage to loosen up your party guests.

The night before the release is a great time to start building the excitement. We’ve always sent out the invitations for the party on parchment, with a letter inviting our friends to the first night of the New Year (whatever the year is the movie has been released) and a list of things they are expected to bring, like brooms, cauldrons, anything that might add to the atmosphere. Decoration is easy. I have made house flags by getting bolts of fabric in the right colours and printed off the symbols from the Internet and glued them on. Anything else in house colours is perfect. Black party supplies like paper cups and plates, table runners or streamers are ideal. Make sure that your guests show their own personal house pride by dressing up as their favourite characters.

It’s easy to search for recipes on how to make pumpkin juice and butter beer, treacle tart, sausages, and beef stew which have been favourites for us in the past. For dessert, make sure that you top it off with an adorable Harry Potter cake. After having a great feast, we’ve always found it fun to play movie related party games, like Harry Potter Scene it, doing tea leave readings, or playing chess. Large groups need larger scale activities like tug of war between houses, or our own version of Quidditch including riding on brooms while attempting to play basketball and having a designated chaser to chase around a designated person as the snitch.

Over the years the only problem we have found is trying to out do the last Harry Potter party! These parties have become quite popular and we’ve had to think of other fun ideas, but then that’s part of the fun of planning a party isn’t it?

Although the day started out a little bumpy, it ended on a fantastic note. We enjoyed the movie and the company we were keeping. The children were well mannered and all was well in the end. There is nothing like spending time with your family.

My family is not rich with money but we are rich with love. We try to let each other know that we are there through the good, the bad and the indifferent. We have sometimes don’t need a reason to have a party and get together, we just do it just because it is fun to see each other. At the start of the movie we handed out party bags to the kids. Try a movie party with your family, you just might like it.

For your film karaoke party night you can choose a selection of films, to make it a more varied night. There are many compilation DVD’s available with various songs from different musical films. You don’t have to dress up but it may help you with the night, a rocky horror picture show normally means everyone in high heels and stockings.

If you choose to cover the sound of music film, then its nuns and fancy dress and German army uniforms, I think you get the idea! No matter what you choose as your film karaoke theme party the fun should be kept simple to avoid an evening of mishaps. Make sure that your party guests are kept refilled with an assortment of party refreshments served up on paper plates; you could even stick in a few scene setters for a more authentic feel.

As an alternative or even as a variation on the night you could perhaps try a quote based film karaoke party. Something like Monty Pythons Life of Brian would be perfect. No one would have to stand up and sing and be embarrassed, as some may be with a musical karaoke evening. It’s straight forward, just simply shout out the classic lines in unison. It’s a simple evening to set up, it can be arranged in minutes and doesn’t have to conform to any rules or money restrictions.