Make reading cool with a book-themed party.
"The Series of Unfortunate Events" is a popular children's book series featuring three precocious children who always end up encountering something unfortunate. These books center around the Baudelaire children who, recently orphaned, have found themselves under the guardianship of Count Olaf, who is desperate to get his hands on the family fortune. By throwing an Unfortunate Events themed party, you can allow current fans of the books the opportunity to join together in some literary fun, and entice non-readers to pick up one of the Gothic tales that make up the series. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
1. Set the tone with decorations. The Series of Unfortunate Events novels are full of dark, Gothic settings. Carry this theme through in your decorations by selecting dark streamers in black, purple or maroon. Cover table surfaces with richly colored table clothes. Hang some cobwebs in the corner of your room to finish out the spooky setting.
2. Fill the room with creepy music. Well selected music can add another layer to your decorations. Play the original soundtrack from the "Series of Unfortunate Events" movie, or select another musical selection that features foreboding music rich in deep tones and organ playing. Play the music throughout the party.
3. Invite guests to arrive in costume. While no setting date is ever given for these novels, the characters dress in a Gothic Victorian fashion. Encourage guests to come dressed like one of the Baudelaire children, or even the creepy Count Olaf. Offer a prize to the party guest who dons the best costume.
4. Serve thematically appropriate food. Make numerous lemon dishes, to pay homage to the attributed author Lemony Snicket. Whip up some Lemony-ade, and pair it with Lemony bars. Scatter chewing gum, the lunch time treat for the Baudelaires, around the dining table for guests to enjoy.
5. Make Unfortunate Event posters. Allow guests to show their love of the books by making posters to represent their favorite titles. Gather together books from the series, and place them on display so that party guests less familiar with the plot and characters can reference them. Give each guest art supplies and large sheets of poster paper, and encourage them to create a decoration that is reminiscent of one of their favorite titles. Hang these guest creations up around the party space. Allow guests to take them when they leave.
6. Play poetic hide and seek. The Baudelaire's neighbor, Isadora Quagmire, is the resident poet of the series. Follow this poetess's lead, and create a game by composing rhyming couplets. Print out pictures of the Baudelaires and Count Olaf on thick card stock. Hide them around your party space. Compose a couplet to describe the location of each hidden object. For example, if you hid a picture under a chair, your rhyme could read "This is where you put your rear; look under me if you have no fear."
When time comes to play the game, read the clues aloud one at a time, and encourage guests to race about the room looking for the hidden pictures. Give a prize to any party guest who successfully finds one of your hidden images.
7. Give book copies or merchandise as a party favor. Allow your guests to take something with them by presenting each visitor with a book or a Series of Unfortunate Events themed prize. There are an assortment of merchandise options that you can select from when seeking the perfect party gift.
Tags: Unfortunate Events, Series Unfortunate, Series Unfortunate Events, Count Olaf, Allow guests, Baudelaire children