Host a Winter Olympics Party

Host Bee on Wednesday, February 3rd, 2010

Host a Winter Olympics Themed Party!

Opening Ceremony

The 2010 Winter Olympics will begin in Vancouver on February 12th with the Opening Ceremony at 6:00 p.m. PST on the NBC network!

Check the Schedule of Events and Plan Your Celebration

It’s time to get excited about this event that only comes around every four years and promises fabulous family entertainment! The Olympics are also a wonderful excuse to have a party, whether you choose to celebrate while watching the opening or closing ceremonies or a specific sporting event! You can check the Olympic television schedule to find the events that you enjoy most and then take a look at Busy Bee’s ideas for celebrating with both kids and adults!

Choose Your Color Scheme First – Patriotic or International!

One quick note, before you get ready to start planning your party, I think it’s easiest to choose between a red, white and blue patriotic color scheme or an international theme, incorporating the five colors of the Olympic circles! Once you make your decision, invitations and decorations will be a breeze!

Olympics Party Invitations

Gold Medals - Make or purchase gold medals, attaching the party details on a small card. (Medals may be purchased at Oriental Trading for $3.99/dozen: Torch Award Medals)
Patriotic Personalized Invitations -
order personalized patriotic invitations like these cute and reasonably priced die-cut stars and stripes invitations from Polka Dot Design. (pictured)
Olympic Ring Clip Art – Print your own on card stock using Olympic ring clip art .

Unique Personalized Invitations – order personalized invitations from Party 411, a fun site that offers invitations including a back stage pass (pictured) and a “ticket!”

Great Wording – Great wording includes: “Let the Party Begin!” and “Official Party of the Winter Olympics!”

Olympics Party Decorations

For a Patriotic Color Theme

Red, White and Blue – If you’ve decided to take the patriotic route, red white and blue decorations are in order!
Patriotic Decorations – Balloons, American flags and paper goods are all easy ways to set a festive mood! (Oriental Trading Patriotic Decorations)

For an International Color Theme

Fabric Flag Centerpiece – For an international theme, create a centerpiece with small fabric flags from countries around the world. At the United States Flag Store, you can select the countries of your choice at a terrific price!
Balloons – Pick up balloons in the five colors of the Olympic rings (red, black, yellow, green and white – each color representing one of the world’s five continents!)
Candy Decoration/Party Favor – Gather five clear glass serving containers and fill each with a candy in the Olympic colors for a decoration and party favor in one!

Olympics Party Menu – All American or Around the World!

All American

Red, white and blue decorations demand an All American menu!
Serve hamburgers and hotdogs, chips and pretzels and end with apple pie and ice cream!

Around the World

Alternately, take your guests on an around the world tour, incorporating foods from as many countries as you’d like! Here are some suggestions:

France: mini quiches
Switzerland: cheese fondue
Canada: fish and chips
Italy: pizza or pasta
China: egg rolls
Japan: sushi
Greece: spanakopita or feta cheese with olives
United States: hamburgers or sliders

Olympics Party Activities

Olympics Party Games

If children are invited to your celebration, you might like to set up your own Olympic games for them to compete in!
Consider relay races, obstacle courses and party games like charades with Olympic themed clues or a gold medal treasure hunt!

Olympics Party Crafts

There are also some terrific crafts for kids including the DIY versions and some from kits!

From Kaboose! (A fabulous resource for families!)

Craft Kits

Olympics Party Favors

Adults enjoy a party favor just as much as children and there’s no need to disappoint at your Olympic viewing party!

Color Themed Candy – If you create the candy buffet in the colors of the Olympic rings as mentioned above, cellophane bags with ribbon ties will be a perfect favor!

Other ideas include:

Olympic Themed CD – A CD burned with Olympic theme songs through the years! An amazing assortment of Olympic CD’s are available through Amazon and here are just a few!

Chocolate Gold Medals – purchase fun chocolate medals at Amazon.

Sugar Cookies - these adorable sugar cookies are shaped like snowflakes and ice skates! (pictured)