5 Great College Party Themes

Imagining the parties you’ll get to frequent each weekend can really get you through a tedious and exhausting week of school. But there’s nothing worse than realizing the weekend lineup is the same as every other week — dull parties with repetitive themes, the same bad punch, and that one guy who has terrible taste in music refusing to give up the aux. If you want to have an incredible party lineup, consider organizing your own gathering with some of the following college party themes.

1. Rave

Rave outfits are notoriously insane: bright colors, skimpy designs, fishnets, colorful body paint, and more. The crazy look might not be for everyone, but you don’t have to be a die-hard raver to have fun indulging in the culture for just one night. A rave party makes outfits and music easy. If you’re hosting, consider covering the walls in black tarps or trash bags and providing guests with glow in the dark body paint stations and glow sticks. From there, colorful strobe lights and EDM music or techno music from the 1990s if you want a classic rave vibe are essential. Guests will love looking at each others’ outfits and the music will keep the atmosphere lively.

2. House of Horrors

Halloween costumes shouldn’t only be worn one day a year. Bring the festivity of a horror-themed college party any month and people are sure to get on board. To throw a house of horrors party, tell guests to dress up as horror movie or book characters or mythological creatures and ghouls. This night of dress up should not include fairies and princesses — the more shocking the outfits are, the more entertaining the night becomes. Decorate with blood splattered posters, red punch in skulls, and as much discount Halloween decor you can dredge up from the dollar store.

3. Greek Party

Tired of Greek life parties in deeply unclean frat houses? Throw your own Greek party, complete with Greek food, pristine white outfits (that will stay that way!), and Greek white sangria. This classy day-time party can either be arranged as a dorm party or a bigger get-together if you can secure someone’s house as a venue. Make Greek platters filled with rolled Deli meats, mozzarella cheese, olives, hummus, and whatever other traditional Greek food you might like. Buy white wine, brandy, and orange liquor to make your own white sangria and invite your guests to your destination college party.

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4. Seven Deadly Sins

People love to dress up for a college party, and there is so much they can do with a seven deadly sins theme. This theme allows people to be fun and playful with their outfits or incredibly dark, and you get to spend all night guessing which sin someone has come as. From the sloths showing up in baggy pajamas or lingerie, the prides wearing anything from Superman costumes to politicians’ get-ups, and the gluttons coming with their own supply of food, the night is sure to be as surprising as it is entertaining.

5. Jail Break

Finally, consider getting creative with a criminal themed party. Guests can show up in handcuffs, all black outfits, or dressed as famous gangsters/mob bosses. If you want to add another dimension to this college party theme, you can also have some people come as police officers and create drinking games based around these tensions. Officers can force criminals to drink, but if criminals get away the officer has to drink instead. You can also have designated jail areas with black streamers as decor and do not cross tape across all of the walls and hallways. Get everyone to post their mugshots on Instagram before the night ends!