27 Raddest 80s Theme Party Ideas for 2024

Love it or hate it, the 80s were an iconic decade, which makes an 80s theme party a classic option. The music, the movies and the fashion all contributed to an unforgettable culture that people still love to emulate today. This brightly colored decade is sure to create the setting for a fun party.

What is an 80s party? This theme is meant to encapsulate the feeling of the 1980s from the style to famous pop culture moments. An 80s theme party is an overarching theme, so you can narrow down the focus however you like. Guests can come as their favorite celebrity moment or emulate their favorite movie or music video. 

Whether you’re throwing a birthday party, getting some creative time capsule ideas or planning a themed get-together on a Friday night with your friends, an 80s party is sure to be the most fun event you’ll host or attend all year.

Play your favorite tunes and bring out your brightest eyeshadow, we’ve rounded up the 27 raddest 80s theme party ideas that you can use for your next themed gathering.

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• Creative 80s Theme Party Ideas
• Foodie 80s Theme Party Ideas
• 80s Theme Party Games
• 80s Theme Party Decorations
• 80s Theme Party Outfits

Creative 80s Theme Party Ideas

1. 80s Dance Party

One thing the 80s is known for is the music. From rock and roll to pop to hip hop, this decade has turned out some classics and favorites. So what better 80s theme party idea than one centered around music and dance?

Try dance classes in San Francisco, dance classes in Orlando, dance classes in Seattle and dance classes near you where an expert dance instructor will teach you the basic moves to your favorite musical genres. Some will even let you host your own dance party!

Join online dance classes for your 80s theme party if you want to dance the night away in the comfort of your own home.

2. 80s Craft Night

Get creative with an 80s theme craft party. Book a paint and sip in Washington, D.C., paint and sip in Chicago, a paint and sip in Los Angeles or a paint and sip near you to be taught by expert artist instructs with easy-to-follow step-by-step instructions while you sip on your favorite drinks.

Or attend pottery classes in Houston, pottery classes in Boston, pottery classes in Chicago or pottery classes near you in your best 80s dress and craft something out of clay under the guidance of expert artist instructors. You’ll leave both of these art classes with unique pieces that are filled with memories.

3. 80s Icons and Celebrities

Another fun 80s theme party can surround pop culture. Take some clippings from the news as the inspiration for the party or for your Decades Day outfits ideas and have everyone come as icons and celebrities.

Think Princess Diana’s wedding or Whitney Houston winning her first GRAMMY. Find the original photos and newspaper clippings and use them as décor to set the theme for the party.

4. Neon Everything

If there’s one thing the 80s theme parties are known for, it’s the vibrant colors. These neon shades dominated everything from interior design to clothing, so this is a great party theme that can subtly encapsulate the decade.

All of the décor can be bright shades and guests can come in neon colors. You can also find inexpensive neon signs to add to the ambiance of the party. The bright rainbow colors of the 80s can also be a fun spin for Pride party ideas!

5. Come as an 80s Movie Character

From Heathers to The Goonies to Sixteen Candles, the 80s produced some of the most iconic movies and cult classics. A great 80s theme party is to have guests come as their favorite 80s movie characters.

As guests arrive, it’ll be fun to guess who they’re dressed as and from what movie they’re from. Add bonus points if they have a few famous lines memorized.

6. 80s Fashion Show

Many look back on the 80s as a time of the best and worst fashions. Make an 80s theme party that’s all about the trends of the decade. Guests can come in a mismatch of patterns, big hair, scrunchies, acid-wash denim, among other favorites of the decade.

Feature original 80s clothing ads and looks straight from the runway as décor. For the ultimate 80s theme party, you can combine multiple of these themes to really encapsulate the decade.

Foodie 80s Theme Party Ideas

7. Throwback Food Night

Have a night where you can enjoy some of your favorite foods that were considered delicacies in the 80s, like Pizza Rolls, pudding pies and frozen yogurt.

If you want to learn how to make elevated versions of your favorite 80s food, try taking cooking classes in Austin, cooking classes in San Diego, cooking classes in Atlanta or cooking classes near you.

Cooking classes make fun birthday surprise ideas that the guest of honor will remember forever. You can also enjoy crafting tasty treats in your own home with online cooking classes.

8. 80s Cocktail Night

Wondering how to have an 80s theme party to remember? You can’t forget drinks. Make cocktails inspired by the 80s with flavors, colors and names that harken back to the decade.

Online mixology classes taught by expert mixologists are a great way to improve your drink-making skills. Or try virtual wine tasting, where expert sommeliers will teach you the basics of drinking and tasting wine along with the terminology. Both of these activities make for fun 40th birthday party ideas and girls night ideas.

9. 80s Candy Bar

There are tons of candies that 80s kids loved to eat, like Bottle Caps, Razzles and Big League Chew. When was the last time you had these? If you’re an 80s kid, an 80s candy bar is one of the best tasty and nostalgic theme party ideas.

If you were born after the decade, you can get a taste of what the 80s had to offer. Head to a retro candy store or look online and find some of the favorites from the decade. Then you can set up a bar at your party for your guests to snack on or fill a goody bag to enjoy later.

10. 80s Bar Crawl

One of the most fun things to do on your birthday is hop from bar to bar to see what your city’s nightlife has to offer. Plan an 80s bar crawl where your guests wear 80s theme attire and have a drink at a few different locations in the city.

Choose an area with a high concentration of bars so you can walk from one location to the next and won’t have to worry about transportation. Your fun outfits are sure to turn some heads, and the 80s theme is a great way to make a classic celebration activity even more fun.

80s Theme Party Games

11. 80s Pop Culture Trivia

How do you celebrate 80s day? With 80s trivia games! Try online trivia games led by engaging hosts that will test your knowledge on fun topics, including 80s pop culture.

This is a great 80s theme party idea for anyone who lived through the 80s or simply claims to know a lot about the decade. You can break into teams or fend for yourself as you answer questions about movies, celebrities and 80s news events. 

12. Virtual Game Night

Wondering how to plan a birthday party? Be sure to include lots of games and activities like a virtual game night. Try modern versions of popular 80s activities like a virtual scavenger hunt or try a current favorite like a virtual escape room.

These are great games for all ages and can work into any 80s theme party no matter what direction you go.

13. Old-School Arcade Games

The 80s was the decade that arcades flourished, so why not bring that vibe to your party? Find some old-school arcade games and joystick games you can plug into the television and play during your 80s theme party.

Challenge each other to beat the highest Pac-Man score or see who can get to the farthest level in Donkey Kong. Frogger, Space Invaders and Street Fighter are all classic games many guests are sure to want to play again. MIT Scratch even offers online versions of these classic 80s games.

14. Guess the 80s Song

Enjoy some of the decade's best movies with a guess the 80s song game. In this 80s party game, you’ll play just a few seconds of a popular song from the decade. Guests will have to guess the song title and artist for a point.

If you want to make the game harder or add bonus points, have guests guess the album, the year the song came out or make them sing the next couple of lines. It’s sure to be a party that will have everyone bopping along.

15. Do You Know the 80s Movie Quote?

Similar to the song, you can have guests guess quotes from popular 80s movies. Read out a quote and ask someone to guess what movie it comes from and who said it.

Receive bonus points for guessing the year the movie came out and what awards the movie might have won. Be sure to include both iconic and obscure lines to make the game more interesting.

16. Throwback 80s Childhood Games

Bring back more popular 80s activities and have a field day of specifically 80s childhood games. You can play games like Red Rover, Four Square and Double Dutch.

These classic playground games make for great 50th birthday ideas. It’s a great way to feel like you’re back in the 80s and reconnect with favorites you used to play at recess.

17. 80s Karaoke

Brush up on the lyrics to your favorite song — it’s time for 80s karaoke. Singing along to these fun songs makes for one of the best 80s party games.

Put the lyrics up on the television or rent out a room in a karaoke bar so someone can perform and everyone else can sing along.

80s Theme Party Decorations

18. A Neon Color Scheme

Wondering how to decorate for your 80s theme party? As stated, the decade is all about bright and fun colors, so go for a neon color scheme. Choose balloons and wall decorations in neon green, yellow, and pink for a perfect 80s color party idea.

Plates and cups can follow similarly bright shades. In the 80s, it’s the brighter, the better, and there’s no such thing as clashing colors.

19. Boomboxes, Rubik’s Cubes and Retro Games

There are so many iconic items from the 80s that you can use as inspiration to decorate for an 80s theme party. Boomboxes, Rubik’s Cubes and 8-bit games are all popular images that evoke the decade.

You can find paper wall décor and decorative objects shaped like these items and more to be accents for your 80s theme party.

20. Mix Up the Prints

Beyond the bright colors, the decade was known for bold and crazy prints. Use the decorations as an opportunity to mix up the prints, which include wild graphics and geometric shapes often inspired by post-modernism.

Tablecloths, plates and cups are only a few of the options that can take on these wild patterns. The more prints, the better to fit a true 80s theme party.

21. Go for the Glow

Have an 80s theme party rave and glow up the night. Look for glow sticks, LED lights and neons for a glow-in-the-dark party theme.

Turn off the lights in the venue and allow the colorful glow set the ambiance. Plus, with brightly colored clothes, your guests’ outfits will also shine.

22. Movie Posters and Record Covers

Make an 80s theme party that’s all about movies and music. Have posters of your favorite films and records from the 80s printed out and serve as the décor for the event.

You can also use iconic items from the movies and records for the accenting pieces, like a boombox from Can’t Buy Me Love or the paper hats from Fast Times at Ridgemont High. They’ll be fun things guests can try to match to the movie or album.

80s Theme Party Outfits

23. 80s Hip Hop

80s hip hop is a defining feature of the decade. Go for 80s theme dress — go for oversized athletic wear, fuzzy bucket hats and gold chains.

You can go thrifting for authentic 80s pieces and put together your own hip hop character or emulate a popular celebrity from the decade’s music scene.

24. 80s Mall Rat

The mall was the place to be as a teenager in the 80s. Have an 80s theme party that’s all about the mall rats. Guests can come in their best trendy 80s theme dress and have bags of all the cool stores of the decades.

Or challenge them to go to thrift stores and find the real deal pieces. Don’t forget to complete the look with trendy hair and makeup.

25. Aerobics Instructor

Aerobics was one of the most popular 80s activities, so why not have an 80s theme party centered around it? Tell guests to come in their best neon spandex workout gear.

Think patterned leggings, high-cut leotards and leg warmers. Don’t forget to put your hair in a high ponytail and secure it with a scrunchie.

26. 80s Celebrities

Celebrity culture ruled in the 80s, and this decade churned out icons that are still beloved today. This 80s theme party will have guests coming as their favorite celebrities.

Have them recreate their personal style or iconic moments. Madonna, Micheal and Janet Jackson, and Brook Shields were all known for their iconic styles during the 80s.

27. Go Alternative

Alternative styles were a popular but sometimes overlooked aesthetic of the decade. Mix up the typical 80s theme party by having everyone come in their best rock attire.

Take inspiration from rock and metal subcultures like glam and hair metal. Tease your hair and wear your tightest jeans. Be ready to thrash and headbang to some of the wildest music of the decade.

The 80s was one of the most iconic decades with fun movies and catchy music. And while time travel hasn’t been invented for us to go back and enjoy it, we can have 80s themed parties to relive the decades.

Have friends and family come in the brightest throwback clothes, recreate celebrity moments and listen to their favorite tunes. These 80s theme party ideas are a great way to celebrate a special occasion or put a spin on your typical Friday night get-together.

For even more fun party ideas, check out other experiences happening on Classpop!