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Rock Around The Clock

A 50s Theme New Years Eve Party

Ah, The Fabulous Fifties. America was prosperous, optimistic and confident. Wait, we can use some of that in 2009. For your New Year’s Eve party why not go back in time to the Fabulous Fifties!  You and your guests will rock around the clock (well past when it strikes midnight!) at this fun, high energy New Years party.  

50's New Years Rock n Roll Invitations

Send your guests fun and colorful personalized Juke Box invitation from Creations For You.  Or choose a fun New Years Eve party invitation. 

If you're feeling creative, design your own 45s, and make each invitation a different song from the 1950s. On the front of the record, write all of the party information using a silver paint pen. Send or hand deliver to your guests. This will be like no party they've been invited to before. If you can track down real 45s or have them in your basement, still, make custom labels to stick over the existing label. Mimic word placement and language.  9" Plastic records make the perfect invitation, too. Use a permanent silver or gold metallic marker to write all of the party details on the record.

Send your guests their invitations and party favors all in one batch. A Rock and Roll CD is a very cool idea.  Attach a piece of paper with the pertinent party information to the front of each CD or make your own label to stick on the cover. Or have Creations For You design a personalized CD and CD label! You can have a custom cover made for a mix CD with 8-10 songs of your choosing.  Don't forget to include a few New Years songs.

If you really want to make things festive, ask your guests to dress in their favorite 50s gear, whether leather coats and blue jeans, poodle skirts, cinch belts and saddle shoes, or bowling shirts and capri pants. Of course you will be wearing a 50's poodle skirt or T-bird leather jacket to compliment your look.

Rock n Roll New Years Decorations and Party Supplies

Welcome guests with music from the 1950s in the background to get the party started. You know, Fabian, Frankie Avalon, Dion, Bobby Darrin, the Platters, the Del Vikings - can you hear it now? Greet your guests with candy cigarettes and lifesize cutouts of the host or hostess dressed as Elvis or wearing a poodle skirt!  Include a speech bubble saying, "Thanks for Rockin' Around The Clock til 2010!"

Set the mood (and fill a wall) with Rock & Roll jukebox scene setters and 12' music note banners.  Hang a sign that says, "Fabulous 50s" in the doorway to welcome your guests as well as a 6' Rock & Roll banner. Decorate the walls with records. Make "Guys" and "Dolls" signs to put on your bathroom doors.

Don't forget a few New Year decorations; we love 2010 prismatic swirls and they are so bright and fun they match everything else perfectly!

For "le piece de resistance," place an inflatable jukebox where everyone can look and admire. Hang fuzzy dice everywhere. 

Add a balloon arch over the DJ or band with jukebox mylar balloons and guitar balloons -and you're set for one rockin' good time!  Or if you're not having a DJ or band, have balloons bouquets around the room weighted down by jukebox balloon weights.

For great rock n roll decorating ideas, visit 50s Rock n' Roll Decorating411

Table Decorations

Here's an easy centerpiece.  Place a music note hat upside down on the table and fill it with New Year's confetti horns.  The New Year LED hat has a clock that lights up and is perfect for your rock around the clock theme.  Poke a small hole in the top and put a balloon weight inside the hat and add Rock and roll theme balloons coming out of the hat.  Colorful New Year beads make great napkin rings!  The LED jukebox centerpiece is also great fun. Use plastic records as chargers under each place instead of a plate!

Throw music note confetti all around the centerpiece for festive decoration. Mini chocolate records are an even tastier way to decorate the table around each centerpiece. If you only have one table to decorate, make a collage of blow-up instruments. Set them up like a band about to play. Tie balloons off the base in bright colors. Bobby sox should be at every seat in multiple colors for people to wear while they dance!

Another fun way to decorate the center of the table is to rent a mini jukebox. Place it in the middle of the table, and let the guests choose their own music. 

Sunglasses were hot in the 50s, so place a set of 2010 glasses at each place. 

Rock Around The Clock Menu

If you're using paper goods for this party, choose a fun rock and roll theme design.  We're big fans of the jukebox paper goods.  Very 50s!  Decorate bars with Rock N' Roll table skirts.  You can also hang rock & roll dangles or 2010 string decor.

Go for drive-in fare like cheeseburgers, fries and root beer floats. Appetizers can be pigs in a blanket, Velveeta cheese and Ritz crackers, etc.  You can see where this is going.

For drinks, in addition to the soda shop favorites, serve Manhattans, Grasshoppers and Martinis, too.

Rock Around The Clock New Years Activities

You'll want to count down to midnight using fun and colorful New Years party supplies.  Go for traditional looking New Year glitter tiaras and cone hats.  Here are some other fun favors that will help you ring in the New Year:

• Inflatable Guitars
• Champagne Maracas - any noisemaker will work, but these scream "New Years!"
• 50's Safari Shades
• Guitar Beads - mix in some colorful New Years beads as well!

Here are some other fun 50s theme activities that will be a hit at your party.

• It wouldn't be 50s party without checkers, Mr. Potato Head®, Parcheesi, and dancing. Have a game competition or dancing contest. Music is a great social activator.
• Have a lip sync contest using all of your Rock & Roll favorites from the 50s. Make sure to swivel your hips if you sing a song by "Elvis the Pelvis!"
• The hula-hoop is a 1950's favorite. Make sure to have more than one hoop handy so the guests can compete to see who can hula for the longest amount of time.
• Have a treasure hunt (if the kids are invited!). Kids love these. Click here for a treasure chest full of fun toys and stuff from the 50s.

Party Favors & Prizes

A Rock around The Clock New Years party gives you the best chance to do some creative and fun 50s theme party favors and prizes.  How about some comic books?  Pinwheels, or rainbow coils not only fit the theme, but give your guests something to play with immediately.  My personal favorite is a yo-yo. Everyone will have fun "walking the dog" or going "over the falls."

Mr. Potato Head is another favor/game that will have your guests laughing and bring back some great memories. 

Send your guests home with a yummy treat as well.  Personalized candy bars are a sweet way to thank them for attending.  All the Daddy-Os and Hip Cats will think your party is the Bomb! Happy New Year!