The 1980′s was a magical time…and we don’t just mean the drugs, greed, and overall self-absorption that ruled the decade. The 80′s were an amazing decade for cartoons, and we think a party is in order to honor Thundercats, He-Man, She-ra, the Snorks, Heathcliff, the Smurfs, Pound Puppies, Rainbow Brite, Voltron, and the hundreds of other animated delights that rocked the airwaves through those ten years.
INVITATION TYPE
- Snail Mail – we didn’t have online invites in the 1980s!
DECORATIONS
- Decorate with bright, primary, and kid-friendly colors. Pretty much picture what a ten pack of crayons would look like if it exploded all over your living room, and you’ll get the idea for what balloons, streamers, banners, and other paper goods to purchase.
- Use any and all images you can find of 80′s cartoons and plaster them all over.
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Do you have any memorabilia? Perhaps some GI Joe action figures or a slew of Care Bears? What about a first edition Jem doll? Have them out, and encourage your guests to bring any cartoon swag they may own. This will come in handy later on as well.
FOOD AND DRINK MENU
Our menu is inspired by Saturday morning cartoon watching eats:
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Sugary cereals: Lucky Charms, Cookie Crisp, Count Chocula, Frankenberry, Fruity Pebbles.
Offer a wide variety. Hometown Favorites stocks tons of items that are hard to find or may no longer be available.
- Breakfast Pastry: Pop Tarts, Donuts, and more.
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Candy: Nerds, Charleston Chews, Fruit Roll Ups, Candy Cigarettes
Opt these and similar 80′s friendly treats.
- Soda-pop: “Fruit” flavored sodas in a variety of colors, er, flavors will go nicely with this theme.
Need food with a bit more “substance?” Have a pizza place on speed dial and TRY to include some salad with your order.
ENTERTAINMENT
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Play any and all cartoons you can find! Old videos, taped episodes, DVDs, you tube videos, etc.
GAMES
- Have a toy swap! Have your eye on that She-ra lunch box and willing to part with your Transformers? Now is the perfect opportunity to trade toys with your buddies.
- Create a trivia game with lesser known 80′s cartoon images. This 1980′s gift basket would make an amazing prize for the winner.
- Whip out classic 80′s board games – Hungry Hungry Hippos, Connect 4, Battleship, that game with the pop-o-matic bubble, and more.
- You’ll earn extra points with your buds if you have an Atari 2600 game system.
ATTIRE
- Come in costume! Not sure who to be? Check out 80s Cartoon Central for a full database of characters and shows.
- Not feeling the costume? Why not rock a retro ‘toon t-shirt?
LAST MINUTE TIPS
The sugary, kid-friendly fare may do wonders on your adult stomachs, so have some Tums, Pepto Bismol, and other stomach aides on hand for your guests.
And as always, remember to bring your camera!
