How to Throw a Gone With the Wind Party

“Gone With the Wind:" the title evokes thoughts of warm summer nights, elegant southern mansions, cool iced drinks and filling southern foods. A party with the "Gone With the Wind" theme is sure to impress if it allows guests to experience all of the above. The party tasks can be divided into three distinct parts – location and decorations, food and drink, and activities.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Horseshoe pitching equipment
• Deck of cards
• Costumes
• Big Screen TV or movie screen

Location and Decorations

1. Rent a location that is similar to an elegant antebellum southern home. A large staircase within the front hall or living room is always a plus as it reminds one of Tara, the fictional plantation in "Gone with the Wind." Be sure to arrange the location in plenty of time for the party, at least two to three months ahead of the desired date of your theme party.

2. Purchase decorations, such as tapered candles with candelabras and small lights placed on trees and bushes outside. Place greenery swags around door and window frames. The decorations should be simple but elegant.

3. Use flowers as centerpieces on tables. Even simple flowers such as daffodils or wildflowers would be a nice touch.

Food and Drink

4. Arrange for the food to be served at your theme party. The south is known for its wonderful home cooking so the food for your party should reflect that. A buffet would be easiest for a party of this magnitude. Foods on the buffet should include but not be limited to fried chicken, turnip greens and homemade biscuits. Other foods that could be included would be sweet potatoes, green beans, or okra.

5. Keep desserts simple with a selection of cakes and pies, including red velvet cake and pecan pie, two southern staples.

6. Serve sweet iced tea as a non-alcoholic drink along with mimosas and mint juleps as alcoholic choices.

Activities

7. Offer outdoor games such as horseshoes if the yard of the location offers enough room.

8. Play card games such as bridge or rummy.

9. Hold a costume contest for your guests who would like to participate. While you may not want to have the theme party include costumes, it would be fun for the guests who choose to participate.

10. Show the movie. If you have a big screen TV or a movie screen available, play the movie for your guests and offer food and drinks during the intermission.