New Year's Eve ‘80s Retro Party

By Mindy Kobrin

Dress for '80s Success!

Sweet Dreams are made of these! With walkmans in hand, jive with Duran Duran and MC Hammer while you pop the champagne at a New Year's '80s Retro Party.

Munch on sweet popcorn treats and watch great '80s flicks - Sixteen Candles, anyone? This party promises to raise the roof higher than your retro shoulder pads!

Setting the Scene

Movie Night Requirement from The Popcorn Factory

Set the mood and plaster the walls with classic 80s memorabilia like posters from Teen Beat and Tiger Beat magazines; concert ticket stubs from Duran Duran, MC Hammer, Pat Benatar; Rubik's Cubes and Cabbage Patch dolls.

Serve munchies on decorative gold and neon colored paper cups and plates, wild animal prints or dizzying black-and-white geometric patterns.

If you have space, create an 80's game room. Transport your guests back to their misspent youth, and play retro arcade and floor games including Pac-man and Twister.

Cut the rug before the ball drops with nostalgic tunes from everybody's favorite decade.

Retro Music

Alphabet Street - Prince
All Night Long (All Night) - Lionel Richie
Burning Down the House - Talking Heads
Stray Cat Strut - Stray Cats
Super Trouper - ABBA
Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This) - Eurythmics
Some Like It Hot - Power Station
Luka - Suzanne Vega
Notorious - Duran Duran
Wild Wild West - The Escape Club
Relax - Frankie Goes to Hollywood

Midnight Retro Movie-thon & Munchies

Afterward, pop in a few great 80s flicks and munch on some of the best cheese and caramel popcorn delivered straight to your door from The Popcorn Factory. And, of course, an '80s movie-thon post-party guide is not complete without mentioning retro candy like Nerds, Chiclets, Pop Rocks, Charleston Chews and Candy Necklaces.

With the fond memories of Jennifer Beal’s triumph on ice to Molly Ringwald's realized crush to the clever bantor between Harry and Sally, your party promises to leave each guest quoting films and delirious with laughter!

Mindy's Favorite '80s Flicks

Flashdance
Footloose
Sixteen Candles
The Breakfast Club
St. Elmo's Fire
When Harry Met Sally

Drinks and Nibbles

To get the party started, make sure to grab pouches of Capri Sun, Cans of 7-Up and Fresca. Serve up some of my favorite taste of the '80s like Wine Coolers, and Rice Crispie Treats.

80's Wine Coolers (serves 4)

Flavor Numero Uno: Tropical

16 oz. white wine or Chablis
24 oz. 7-Up soda
2 oz. grapefruit juice
2 oz. pineapple juice
2 oz. lime juice
2 oz. lemon juice

Mix fruit juices together in a glass. Pour 4 ounces white wine into 4 wine glasses, then add 6 ounces 7-Up to each glass. Divide the juice mixture evenly, and serve.

Flavor Numero Dos: Peach

16 oz white wine or Chablis
24 oz 7-Up® soda
8 oz peach juice

Pour 4 ounces white wine into 4 wine glasses into 4 tall wine glasses then top with 7-Up. Add peach juice, and serve.

Rice Krispie® Treats

Ingredients

3 tablespoons margarine or butter
1 (10 oz.) package regular marshmallows*
- or -
4 cups mini marshmallows*
6 cups Rice Krispies®

Preparation

Melt margarine in large saucepan over low heat. Add marshmallows and stir until completely melted. Remove from heat.
Add Rice Krispies cereal. Stir until well coated.
Using buttered spatula or waxed paper, press mixture evenly into 13 x 9 x 2-inch pan coated with cooking spray. Cut into 2-inch squares when cool. Best if served the same day.

Note: For best results, use fresh marshmallows.

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Click here for more New Year's Day party ideas and fun, like a Pajama Party or a Good Fortune Party.

Happy New Year!