When you become a new homeowner, one of the major perks is having a comfortable and private place to entertain your loved ones. If you’re thinking about inviting friends over for a housewarming party or just for an excuse to order catered food, spice things up a bit by hosting a Philly-inspired get-together. Here are a few entertaining ideas inspired by the city of Philadelphia and its rich heritage.
Founding Fathers Party
The Declaration of Independence was signed on or about July 4, 1776 in Philadelphia, and since then we celebrate our nation’s independence every year on that exciting day. If you want a great Philly-themed party at any time of the year, throw a Founding Fathers party at your home.
Image Source: Flickr/Marion Doss
The Decor:
Decorating your party room for this type of occasion is fairly straightforward — just take a few cues from one of the iconic paintings of the founding fathers. Start with large, dramatic floor-sweeping drapes around each window of the home. You can probably find these drapes at a thrift store. Get a large Betsy Ross flag, which was a widely accepted version in 1776 (13 stars and 13 stripes). Place a few American eagle statues around the room. Feature a scrolled replica of the Declaration of Independence at the center of the room.
The Entertainment:
Serve food that was popular with the American Founding Fathers. Ideas include ham and corn chowder, clam chowder, crab cakes with curry mayonnaise, and roast turkey recipes. Have each guest dress to the theme, even if they only wear one item from the period, like a tricorne hat, breeches, or a powdered wig. Ask each guest to sign the document replica with a feathered pen so that you’ll have something to keep in remembrance of the special affair.
Rocky Themed Fight Party
Rocky is one the movies that really put Philadelphia on the international map. It is the classic story of the underdog coming out on top. Celebrate this treasured piece of Philly history by hosting a Rocky party.
Image Source: Flickr/Kristin Wall
The Decor:
Make every effort to decorate your party room as close to the appearance of a boxing ring as possible. Remove all furniture and place four secure pole balances at each corner of the room. Encircle the “ring” with thick rope in shades of red, white, and blue. Hang red boxing gloves from the rope and place them on your food serving tables.
The Entertainment:
Play Rocky-style music throughout the night from the soundtrack, including “Eye of the Tiger,” “Hearts on Fire” and “Living in America.” Challenge your guests to Rocky trivia and reward the winner with a prize, like a faux championship belt.
Cheesesteak Tasting Party
Philadelphia is known the world over for its cheesesteaks. One of the ongoing disagreements that residents have is “who makes the best cheesesteak in town?” To christen your new Philly home, why not have a cheesesteak tasting party?
Image Source: Flickr/Phil Denton
The Main Attraction:
You don’t have to do anything special for this type of party — clearly, the cheesesteaks are the main attraction for this Philly inspired party. Purchase cheesesteaks from at least 10 of the most popular shops in town and cut them into bite-sized pieces. Provide voting cards for each steak. At the end of the party, the votes will be tallied and everyone will finally know for sure where they can get the best Philly cheesesteak.
There is so much wonderful culture that comes from Philadelphia that it’s easy to come up with entertaining ideas inspired by the city. Use these fun ideas to throw an unforgettable party at your new Philly home this year.
Main Image Source: Flickr/JasonParis
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