How to Throw a Beatles Birthday Party

If you have a real Beatles fan in your home, then a Beatles birthday party may be just what you need to give your family member the birthday-of-a-lifetime. For some HELP! planning your party, read the article below for some Beatles birthday ideas.

Instructions

1. *Make and Send Invitations

   For Beatles party invitations, buy Beatles postcards or draw a yellow submarine on the front of a plain white card. On the inside, write, "Help! us Celebrate [name's] Birthday!" Include all necessary information including time, date, and how to RSVP. Request that guests wear "mod" clothes or dress like one of the Beatles.

2. *Create a Theme Table

   One of the most important things to know about hosting any party is that the details are what's important. To bring your theme together, create one central "theme" table where the party can come together. From there, branch out and include small details to make your party special.

   Cover your table with some funky "mod" or "modern" fabric or find a mod tablecloth for the occasion. Choose bright yellow, orange, and lime green paper plates, napkins, and flatware to complement the tablecloth.

   Make a daisy chain using fresh white-and-yellow daisies to hang over a chandelier or light fixture hanging over the table. Add a vase of daisies to the table. Additionally, cut peace signs out of black or mod patterned papers and hang from the chandelier.

   Include a lava lamp on your table as well as the birthday cake, which should be a large square chocolate cake with "Beatles" spelled out in colored frosting flowers in order to make a Sgt. Pepper's Cake (it should look like the flower "bed" at the bottom of the album cover).

   If you have room, place your food table next to your theme table or expand to make one large table. Purchase colored bottles of soda and place in a bright lime green or yellow tub filled with ice.

   For food, serve a large submarine sandwich on platters decorated with "yellow submarine" written in script with yellow mustard.

   Place "record bowls" on your table. Make them out of old record albums (NOT Beatles ones, for heaven's sake!) and clean and fill with chips and other side snacks. For directions on making record bowls, see links below.

   Make a "strawberry field" by lining up strawberries on a platter.

   If you can find mini British flag "picks", use them for olives and pickles on a garnish tray.

3. *Purchase and Make Other Decorations and Plan Games

   Play Beatles music in the background of your party, and also rent one or two Beatles movies to have running on a TV nearby (without sound). When the cake is brought out to the guest of honor, be sure to play the song "Birthday" from the White Album.

   If possible, set up the Beatles Rock Band for Wii, Playstation 3 or XBox 360. Allow guests to play the game during the party and offer prizes for the best scores.

   Find British flags or fabric prints and cover coffee tables and side tables with them; decorate tables and counters with Beatles albums, CDs, and pictures. Decorate walls with posters of the Beatles, peace signs and British flags.

   Make a Beatles trivia game using the following ten questions; present a Beatles t-shirt to the guest who answers the most questions correctly.

   Beatles Trivia Questions:

   1. What "numbered" song is featured on The White Album? (Number 9)
   2. What was the last album released by the Beatles before their breakup? (Let it Be)
   3. What is the name of the record label started by the Beatles (Apple Records)
   4. What is the name of the drummer that Ringo Starr replaced? (Pete Best)
   5. What was the name of the Beatles' famous manager that John Lennon once called the "fifth Beatle"? (Brian Epstein)
   6. On what TV show did the Beatles give their first live American performance? {The Ed Sullivan Show}
   7. What was the name of the Beatles' first film? (Hard Day's Night)
   8. What Beatles album took over 700 studio hours to record? (Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band)
   9. In what year did the Beatles give their final live performance? (1969)
   10. What book was Mark David Chapman, John Lennon's killer, carrying when he shot and killed John Lennon? (The Catcher in the Rye)

   Play an Eleanor Rigby recall game by asking guests to list as many actions of both Eleanor Rigby and Father McKenzie that they can remember. Give a prize for the most correct answers. (If desired, play the song once through before the game starts, but don't tell the guests that a game is to follow.)

   Answers: Eleanor Rigby--picked up rice; waits at window with face in a jar; died at church and buried along with her name; Father McKenzie--writing words of sermon; darning socks; wiping dirt

4. *Create Party Favors

   Give peace necklaces, Beatles buttons and smiley face items for favors; use 60s print bags and tie dye tissue to hold favors.

   Purchase tie dye equipment (fiber reactive dyes, squirt bottles, rubber bands, fixer, and a tie dye design book} and white tee shirts. Have each guest make a psychedelic t-shirt for a party favor; wash and deliver to guests after the party is over.

   Stage an "Abbey Road" scene for pictures; use the album cover to create a street scene out of paper. Photograph guests imitating the Beatles on the album cover.

   Throwing a Beatles party is a fun way to celebrate a birthday--or it's a fun excuse just to have a party! If you like, give prizes for the best costumes of the night and make 60's era foods (bundt cakes, casseroles). There are lots of ways to incorporate the Beatles into different party games. You may have so much fun that you'll decide to make the party an annual tradition!

Tips & Warnings

• For additional Beatles games, see Liverpool Museum link below.

Resources

• Liverpool Museum Beatles Games
• How to Make a Record Bowl