How to Host a Southern Living Party

Fried foods, including fried chicken, have become a staple of Southern cuisine.

The people of the Southern United States have provided the world with popular music, fashions, literature and food. The distinct culture of the South has made its mark and provides a colorful backdrop for any theme party. For your next party, consider focusing your decorations, menu and activities on a Southern Living theme. That way, you can honor the rich cultural heritage of the South and enjoy yourself with friends as you eat popular Southern cuisine and take part in Southern-themed party activities.

Instructions

1. Invite your guests to the party by asking them to come dressed up as whatever incarnation of a famous Southerner they can come up with. For example, people can dress as anything from a Southern belle, like Scarlett O'Hara to Larry the Cable Guy.

2. Decorate your party space to look like a Southern living space. This includes hanging quilts on the walls and over your furniture, attaching metal barn stars to the walls and placing various cowboy hats, confederate flags and farm-inspired decorations around the general party space.

3. Play a variety of Southern music during the party to set the tone. Older country music like that produced by Hank Williams and Patsy Cline, as well as bluegrass and current popular country songs work well for the party theme. Play Southern rock bands, as well, including Lynyrd Skynyrd and ZZ Top.

4. Serve Southern food throughout the party. For snacks, give everyone fried green tomatoes, pork rinds and a helping of grits. Treat your guests later to a dinner full of Southern favorites like a spicy hot chili con carne with some salt pork, cornbread and fried potatoes on the side. Or, give them a dish filled with fried chicken, potato salad and black eyed peas. Serve drinks like sweet tea and lemonade for the children attending and whiskey sours and mint juleps for the adults. For dessert, serve apple fritters with a side of vanilla ice cream. Or, give each guest a slice of your homemade pecan pie.

5. Participate in activities and games that integrate the Southern theme. Trivia games using questions only pertaining to the South and its culture will determine the most knowledgeable person on Southern lifestyle at the party. Play other more physical games like horse shoes and wheelbarrow races, as well. Dance to the Southern music playing during the party and have your guests compete against each other in a southern karaoke contest.

References

• Garden and Gun: 100 Southern Foods