“Get your sneakers and bobby socks ready and dust off your old Poodle Skirt!”
Invites
- There are plenty of websites that offer fun invitation for sock hops. Check them out for more examples or design your own…
Decorations
Records - LP's of any kind...place them on the walls or use them as center pieces.
Stick with basic colors: red, black and white (red table cloths, black streamers, white balloons)
When we threw a surprise for my mom, we found all kinds of CHEAP decorations from the dollar store, and party store. Record decoration, scarves, 50’s looking wall hangings, etc. So, look there first, it was GREAT!
Create an i-pod list with all those “sock hop” songs and set that on “Shuffle” throughout the party. No need for an expensive DJ or Band. You may need to start the dancing for people to join in, but who can resist “THE TWIST?”
My sister –in- law collected pictures from my mom’s life and created a CD slide show for the event complete with complementary music. We showed it after everyone ate and before they danced. Look for a “handy” person in your family and assign this task. Or do it yourself, it’s very fun and brings back so many memories! Of course, my mom cried and that was her favorite part of the party!
Of course, dress the part. Everyone comes in there 50’s outfits.
  
Table centerpieces: You can grab “records” at your local thrift store. Put them on the middle of the table and place flowers on top of them. If you are creative, hang mini-records from the leaves of the flowers or sprinkle “sock hop” confetti on the record and flower.
Have a drink list geared toward your event. Hire a friend to be the bartender (no need to pay…they can work from tips) if people aren’t paying for drinks, they will be sure to “tip” your bartender. See below
Featured “SOCK HOP” Drinks
“LP Collins” – gin, sour mix, club soda and cherry
“Judy Juice” – vodka, cranberry, orange
“Sock Hop Special” – vodka, tonic and lime
“Spike the Punch” – rum and coke and lime
Also on the menu:
Wine (red or white)
Miller Lite (on tap)
Please welcome our featured 50’s bartender
“Awesome Andy!” He will mix things up for you!
Favors/ Prizes
Make certificates on your computer and put clear contact paper over them. They look store-bought and people will appreciate them!
Prizes can be something little. For example, $10 Gift Cards to a book store, liquor store, convenient store, etc.
Favors: Buy a bunch of pairs of white socks. Fill them with goodies (candy, little trinkets, etc.) Tie them with red, white or black ribbon to make them look pretty.
Games
Hula Hoop contest – Grab several people to enter the Hula Hoop contest. See who can hula hoop the longest or fastest (from experience, men are very funny in this competition.) Give Hula Hoop certificates or bottles of champagne as prizes.
50’s music trivia Give the centerpieces or certificates as prizes!
How well do you know the guest of honor? Create a quiz about the guest of honor. Pass out the quizzes to all the guests and see who knows the birthday person the best. To make it more funny…put the birthday person on the spot. Have them answer the questions in front of the group.
Guess the age: Create a poster board with pictures of the guest of honor. Have people guess which age the birthday person is in each picture. NOTE: You will need to number each picture and have entry forms for this.
Your favorite memory: Pass around index cards (or have them already set up at each seat.) Ask the guests to write their favorite memory of the birthday person! Make sure you place a box somewhere so the guests can place them in the box. Your guest of honor will cherish these forever. The guests will have fun “remembering” their friend or family member!
Notes
The key thing for this party is the music! Make sure you have plenty of music for this event!
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Sock Hop
