Roaring Twenties Student Festival Activities
The "Roaring Twenties" era lends itself perfectly to festive parties, especially for students looking for a creative "living history" experience. Young people in the 1920s enjoyed a social freedom unimagined by their elders — but the decade was far from frivolous. Artists pursued new avenues of expression, and milestones were achieved in aviation, engineering and science. Students will enjoy learning about these historic innovations during a 1920s-era festival, complete with music, fashion, food and fun.
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Decorations
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Decorating with 1920s posters and magazine covers adds an authentic touch. The signature look of the 1920s was art deco, an architectural style featuring streamlined geographic shapes; art deco also influenced clothing and jewelry fashions. The art deco look featured prominently in print art and photography of the era, and reproductions of 1920s posters and magazine covers make effective and attractive wall decorations. For a true period look, search flea markets for reproduction food packages, which add a touch of authenticity to a 1920s table decoration.
Costumes
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Old photographs can provide ideas for creative, authentic 1920s costumes. With a little planning, students can come up with quick and easy ways to dress in character for a 1920s festival. A few trips to a thrift shop or flea market can yield treasures such as feather boas, fringe and fans for the girls, while the boys can seek out fedora hats, watch chains and — for the adventurous — pinstriped suits.
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Activities
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A murder mystery theme is a fun activity for a 1920s party. The 1920s were the decade of the Charleston, a dance craze featuring loose-limbed, bouncy movements that showed off the era’s short, above-the-knee women’s fashions. A genuine 1920s festival could include a group Charleston lesson, with prizes for the best dancing couple. Parties of the 1920s often featured a murder mystery plot, and each student could take the character of a celebrity or literary figure of the 1920s such as flier Charles Lindbergh, mystery writer Agatha Christie or fictional detective Hercule Poirot.
Food and Beverages
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Fedoras and pinstripe suits provide an authentic, Roaring Twenties look. Because of Prohibition, soft drinks gained popularity during the 1920s, and manufacturers took flavors to new creative heights: ginger ale became a mainstream party beverage, and cola drinks were often mixed with cherry and vanilla flavorings. Serving these drinks in retro-style bottles or glasses adds a 1920s touch to a festival. A search through 1920s cookbooks — many of which are available online — reveals old favorites such as gelatin mold salad and chicken a la king. Authentic period foods that students are familiar with today are a tasty reminder of why these dishes are classics.
Music
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A 1920s festival isn’t complete without period-appropriate music. Dance bands made their first broadcasts in the new radio medium, and many broadcast and studio recordings of this era have been remastered on CD. These recordings will give your party a genuine 1920s sound, and students may use the CDs to learn more about musical styles from the past.
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References
Resources
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