1980s & 1990s Theme Parties: Candy Treats

Decorate and Create Party Favors from Nostalgic Candy

Sep 7, 2009

Take advantage of online candy stores to stock your 1980s and 1990s parties with retro treats.

Were you a grade school student in the 1980s who couldn’t wait to sort through your Halloween candy windfall? Do you remember the sound that a new box of Nerds made when you shook it up and down like a maraca? Well, if you were a child of the '80s, chances are good that you do and that you would enjoy a Wicked Good '80s party, complete with party favors associated with your childhood memories.

The perfect party goody could be a Star Wars figurine --- an original Darth Vader, not the Annakin Skywalker/future Darth Vader of The Phantom Menace episode – or something as simple as a certain candy that floods your mind with memories of the 1980s. Nostalgic candy is an easier, inexpensive way to transport guests to your chosen decade and it’s a fun way to let your guests take home a piece of the party!

Party Favors from 1980s Candies

You can complement your Wicked Good 1980s party with an awesome party favor that is reminiscent of the fads and fashions of this decade. For a quirky take on the characteristic “Flashdance” and “Fame” styles of the mid-1980s, fill a black plastic tumbler with the themed 1980s candies listed below. Scrunch a legwarmer over the tumbler.

You can use a real legwarmer for this craft, or simply cut the foot off of an old, mismatched sock and tuck the raw ends under. Expose the top inch of the black tumbler, to create the effect of a slouchy legwarmer. Next, wrap the entire arrangement in clear cellophane and tie the top with a torn strip of sweatshirt fleece to invoke the image of Jennifer Beal’s ripped sweatshirts in Flashdance.

While the 1990s is almost too recent to use as a theme for your party, you may wish to create a special birthday table setting for your children born in the 1990s. Imagine the tablescape filled with images from the birthday person’s year of birth. These pieces of memorabilia could be great conversation starters for the entire evening. You could include images or references of the Lillehammer Olympics, the Nancy Kerrigan/Tonya Harding soap opera, Kurt Cobain, Nelson Mandela, the OJ trial, and many other news worthy items. Fill candy cups with the following pieces of 1990s candy for a sweet ending to your birthday party!

The copyright of the article 1980s & 1990s Theme Parties: Candy Treats in Entertaining is owned by Janice Benoit. Permission to republish 1980s & 1990s Theme Parties: Candy Treats in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.