Lobster Fest Party Ideas

Set out plenty of melted butter and lobster crackers.

There are few better ways to entice guests to your party than by promising them lobster. This sweet, succulent dish can be the centerpiece of anything from a backyard barbecue to an upscale beach gathering. No matter the setting, a lobster party takes a bit more preparation than a low-key gathering, but with the proper decor and food, your guests won’t want to leave.

Decorations

When it comes to decorating your party, keep it simple with two colors: bright red and white. These colors paired together are crisp, clean and slightly nautical, all of which are ideal for a lobster party. Cover the tables in red cloths, which will hide butter stains better than white, and use white plates and napkins. Hang white and red banners throughout the space. Beach decor also is fitting when you’re feasting on seafood. Sprinkle sand in the center of the tables, and arrange seashells and starfish on top.

Involve the Guests

Your guests will appreciate their lobster all the more if they have a hand in preparing it. Getting guests involved in preparation also serves as party entertainment. Set fresh lobsters in a tank and let each person choose not only his own lobster but his method of preparation. Heat up a grill and boil several pots of water so guests can choose between boiling and grilling, and place someone who knows lobster preparation at each station to assist. Guests will get not only a tasty meal, but a lesson in the proper way to cook a lobster.

Food and Drinks

While lobsters are surely the star of your party, your guests will need other nourishment as well. Since the main course is rich and filling, consider offering a variety of light side dishes. Make a tomato salad dotted with pieces of fresh mozzarella cheese and prepare some corn on the cob and coleslaw with an acidic dressing. Continue the breezy summer feeling by serving iced tea and lemonade. Set out chardonnay and ice cold beer for the over-21 crowd. If you’re serving dessert, keep it light and cold -- think fruit sorbet.

Favors

Just because the lobsters are gone doesn’t mean the fun has to end. Send the guests home with party favors that continue the lobster theme. Track down recipes that call for lobster, such as lobster bisque, lobster rolls and lobster salad, and type them up on index cards. Make a copy for each guest, punch holes in the cards and secure them with a metal ring. Lobster-themed sweets also are ideal at the end of a savory feast. Buy chocolates or gummies in the shape of lobsters, and package them in takeout boxes.