For many students, Greek life is one of the best parts of college and a great way to make friends after high school. Fraternity parties and sorority events play a big role in creating lifelong memories. If Pinterest and crafting aren’t really your style, these few tips and ideas will definitely help you throw the perfect frat party, whatever the occasion.
Fraternity Party Themes
Whether you’re planning your annual formal, a fundraiser for your philanthropy, or just throwing a good old-fashioned Friday night party, picking a theme is a good place to start. For formal occasions, you’ll want to plan for themes that allow for refined attire. For casual college party themes, consider setting the tone with something goofy or allowing for full creativity. Regardless, it’s all about having fun, so consider your crowd and the event type and what will ensure a good time for all.
Keep it laid-back
If you are going for a casual theme, there are plenty of options to choose from, ranging in levels of silly. Of course, there is the classic toga party or the seasonal ugly sweater party, but go beyond the basics with these casual frat party themes.
📦 ABC Party (Anything But Clothes): Get creative and fashion attire out of unconventional materials, resulting in a night of inventive and often humorous outfits.
🐆 Jungle Theme: Venture into the wild with a jungle-inspired setting featuring lush greenery, animal prints, and adventure-inspired attire.
🕺 Decades Party: Embark on a nostalgic journey through time by dressing up in iconic fashion trends from different decades, from the hippy style of the 70s to the neon colors of the 80s and 90s.
🎬 Dress up as Your Favorite Movie Character: Transform into the star of the show by embodying a beloved movie character, from superheroes to cinematic legends.
🛌 Pajama Party: Take a page from the sorority parties with this laidback theme. Stay cozy and carefree as you gather in your comfiest sleepwear for a night of relaxed fun.
Keep it classy
When planning a formal party, consider a theme that is more elegant and allows guests to dress their best in a refined environment. Consider these sophisticated themes that add a touch of elegance and class to the festivities.
🤵 Black Tie Affair: Elevate the evening with a black tie dress code, complete with tuxedos and ball gowns, for a night of refined glamour.
🎲 Casino Night: Roll the dice and try your luck with a thrilling evening of gambling, complete with card tables, roulette wheels, and the glitz and glamour of a Las Vegas casino.
🍾 Great Gatsby Party: Step into the opulent world of the Roaring Twenties at a Great Gatsby party, where champagne flows freely, jazz fills the air, and guests dazzle in glamorous attire reminiscent of the era’s extravagance.
🎭 Masquerade Ball: Encourage guests to don elaborate masks and elegant attire as they dance the night away in true Venetian style.
🤍 Wear White Party: Illuminate the night in an elegant sea of white attire, creating a chic and sophisticated ambiance.
🏫 You might also like: 20 Great Event Ideas for College Students
Decor and Party Favors
Depending on your party theme idea, you will want to customize certain aspects of your party decor and favors to match. However, you can invest in creating or purchasing certain decorative items that can be reused for multiple frat parties.
Go big or go home
Make your party look like the biggest of the year by creating large-scale decorations. For instance, design your own welcome sign with beer cases, create customized balloon decor with university or Greek letters, and recycle your solo cups to use for wall art.
Light up the party
Set the vibe of the party with lights. Purchase custom neon signs, replace your boring light bulbs with laser bulbs or black lights, and create your own solo cup string lights.
Give out fraternity-themed mementos
Send your guests home with a souvenir of their good time at your fraternity party! Order customized can coolers, bottle openers, or plastic cups with Greek letters and emblems that will undoubtedly remind them of the best frat around.
🎓 You might also like: Throw the Ultimate College Dorm Party on a Budget
Entertainment and Games
Take your frat party to the next level with live entertainment and creatively customized games. Certainly, your fraternity party will be the talk of the campus with these unique ideas.
Hire professional musical entertainers
Skip the boring playlist. Instead, hire a DJ or book a party band to create a lively mood. There is nothing better than carefully curated music to really set the tone and get people on the dance floor. Find musicians that will fit your themed party perfectly and energize the crowd.
Book unique performers
Go beyond the music and book unique service providers and entertainers to spice up your college party. For example, book photo booths to create a photo op, a comedian to start the party off with a laugh, or a fire performer to heat things up.
Customize your games
Create customized games for your parties that you can reuse year after year. Paint your own beer bong table or cornhole board, or purchase a customized giant Jenga game. You can make them specific to your school, fraternity, or general interests.
Food and Drinks
A party is not complete without tasty food and drinks. However, keep it simple with finger foods and things that are easy to make in batches. Prepare a few beverages that you can make in large quantities to serve to create variety.
Serve up savory snacks
Make something savory for your guests to snack on as they party. Sliders, cauliflower wings, and queso are all simple food items that are also easy to make in large quantities and can please a lot of different tastes.
Sweeten up the soirée
Prepare a few sheet pan desserts that will appease any sweet tooth. From monster cookies to rice crispy treats to fruit pizza, these only take a few ingredients to make, yet they’re still incredibly delicious.
Mix-up batch beverages
Add some delicious drinks to your party with easy-to-make batch cocktails that can be made ahead of time (with or without alcohol). Combine these with a few coolers of other choices, and you have everything you need for an awesome frat party.
As you dive into planning your next fraternity party, keep in mind that the real magic happens when you bring together great friends, killer tunes, and a vibe that’s all about having fun. Get ready to create some epic memories that’ll be the talk of campus for weeks to come. Here’s to the good times ahead! 🍻
Looking for entertainment or services for your frat party? Check out your local service providers on GigSalad.
Matt Holland is a Customer Happiness Agent at GigSalad. With 10+ years of experience performing as a jazz drummer, he has gained insights into the life of a gigging musician as well as what makes an event go off without a hitch. Outside of work, he enjoys traveling, hiking, reading, cooking, and watching the newest TV shows with his wife.