Updated on: Mar 11, 2024
1960s events such as civil rights protests, the Hippie Movement, and anti-war protests symbolized an era that changed America as we know it today. If you're planning to throw a party that takes you back to the Summer of Love make sure to have the perfect 1960s party ideas. Here are 25 tips for your next groovy 60’s party! Not only do we have your 1960s theme party needs covered but we can also help you in other ways. We have a budget worksheet that can help you stay within your budget as you plan your party as well as other blogs that suggest other adult birthday party ideas!
1960s Party Ideas: Decorations
1. Psychedelic Lights
Go from modern-day to the sixties by changing your light bulbs. Vintage LED Night lights that project peace signs are a great choice too! Don’t forget plenty of lava lamps placed around the room to light up your space with a 60’s flair.
2. Bean Bags
Embrace the mellow atmosphere of the sixties by using large bean bag chairs or pillows instead of traditional seating. These can be decorated with tie-dye designs for a greater psychedelic feel.
3. Artistic Posters
The 1960s has its own unique popular cultures and art styles. Use posters of popular 1960s bands or musicians like The Beatles, Janis Joplin, and Bob Dylan to immerse your guests in the decade. Or create your own posters by printing the symbols and phrases in bubble font onto brightly colored pieces of cardstock.
4. Bead Curtains
A great way to match the 1960s decorating style is to add a bead curtain. Bead curtains were a big fad in the sixties and there are currently many different styles to choose from in all kinds of colors and patterns. A popular choice for 1960s party decorations is a peace sign bead curtain. Hang several of these supplies up in your doorways for an authentic 1960s feel when the guest comes in.
5. Peace and Love Groove Backdrop
Peace and Love symbols is part of the 60s themed party, so have a great backdrop where all your guests can take pictures and remember this 1960's party forever.
EOA 7(W) x5(H) FT Hippie Bus Party Backdrop Peace and Love Groovy 60s 70s Photography Background Graffiti Birthday Wedding Mini Van Backdrop Studio Props
1.Material : Vinyl Cloth, Non Splice, Seamless,Computer-printed. This flower power hippie bus will add fun to your party!
2.GREAT SIZE AND COLORS : 7x5FT (2.1m wide by 1.5m tall), folded, easy storage and carry
3.Advanced digital printed with eye-catching details and lifelike colors, great for photo shoot backdrop
4.Not washable, Roll it up tightly with a cylinder for 3-4 days to remove wrinkles
5.Only Backdrop included
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$19.76
1960's Party Ideas: Favors
6. 1960's goody bags
Purchase some gorgeous 1960s groovy party favor boxes and fill them with popular items from the 1960's. Below we have some ideas, you can include in your 1960's goody bags.
60's Hippie - 1960s Groovy Party Favor Boxes - Set of 12
60’s Hippie Favor Boxes INCLUDES 12 1960s Groovy party favor bags, 12 gift tags and coordinating satin ribbon. Classic favor boxes are a party must-have. Peace and love theme party supplies are great for a prom, bridal shower, bachelorette, birthday party.
60’s Hippie Favor Boxes SIZE 4.75 inches wide x 4.75 inches high x 2.25 inches deep (fillable inside space) with a total height of 7 inches, including the handle. The coordinating gift tags and ribbon makes these 12 1960s Groovy party favor boxes a complete treat bag party kit that everyone will love.
PARTY SUPPLIES: Prom, bridal shower, bachelorette, birthday party favor boxes will hold a variety of treats, prizes and party favors for your guests. Fill them with baked goodies, party trinkets or thank you gifts for adorable 60’s Hippie favors!
PREMIUM PARTY FAVOR BOXES: 60’s Hippie favor boxes are professionally printed on heavy-duty cardstock paper with a photo-like shine. They are hand-folded and individually inspected, then carefully packaged. Favor boxes will arrive flat, partially assembled. Finishing assembly is required but it is easy. Once assembled, add the 1960s Groovy peace sign gift tag with the included ribbon for perfect party favors!
MADE IN AMERICA: 60’s Hippie - 1960s Groovy Party Favor Boxes are designed and manufactured at our Wisconsin facility using materials that are Made in America.
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$19.99
7. Hippie Theme Party Stickers
A good idea is to put Hippie Theme Stickers in the goody bags because it matches your hippie themed party perfectly. Also, it is a great way to decorate anything by putting stickers on it.
8. Water bottle with a 1960s decorative straw
If you want some different pieces include in your 1960s goody bags. here is a good idea. Include a water bottle with a 1960s decorative straw
60's Hippie - Paper Straw Decor - 1960s Groovy Party Striped Decorative Straws - Set of 24
60's Hippie Straw Decor INCLUDES 24 groovy paper cut outs, 25 coordinating paper straws & clear stickers for easy assembly. Yes, you'll receive one extra straw. Hipster DIY party supplies are perfect for a 1960s party.
60's Hippie Straw Decor party kit SIZE 8 peace symbol 2.25” wide x 2.25” tall; 8 “peace love” 3” wide x 2” tall; 8 smiley face 2.25” wide x 2.25” tall; and 25 chevron striped paper straws 7.75" tall.
EASY PARTY DECORATIONS: 60's Hippie straw décor will add a touch of style to your 1960s party tables. Groovy hipster straw décor will also look great at your beverage bar. Use these adorable decades party accessories as straws or swizzle sticks. The paper straws can also be cut in half and used as cupcake picks once the shaped cut out is attached.
PREMIUM PARTY SUPPLIES: 60's Hippie paper cut out straw decorations are professionally printed on heavy-duty cardstock paper with a photo-like shine. They are individually inspected and carefully packaged by hand, along with coordinating paper straws. 60's Hippie Straw Decor will require some easy assembly. Simply adhere the shaped cut outs to the straws using the included clear stickers. Get creative with your DIY 1960s party decoration ideas!
Please Note: Mason Jars shown for display purposes and are not included.
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$14.99
9. Beistle
All 1960s themed parties need a beistle! You can fill this beistle with some candy, stickers, or anything that represent the 1960's theme. The beistle offers a lot of different ideas for whatever you want to put in it.
10. Peace Sign Necklaces
Another idea for the goody bags are putting peace sign necklace in the bag because peace sign was a popular trend in the 1960's.
1960s Party Ideas: Food
11. Space Drinks
Tang became very popular in the 1960s when Gemini was launched into space. Make sure you have plenty of Tang in a variety of flavors at your 60 party.
12. Natural Foods
The hippies of the ’60s inspired a natural foods movement. Celebrate this movement by serving natural foods at your party. A good natural snack idea is granola or bite-sized pieces of granola bars. A natural entrée could be veggie burgers served on whole-grain hamburger buns.
13. Cookies or Cupcakes
You can also serve modern food decorated to fit your 60’s theme. You can frost round sugar cookies or cupcakes with peace signs or smiley faces.
14. Cocktail Foods
Cocktail parties were popular during the ’60s, so serve up some 1960s cocktail party-style foods! 1960s party food and hors d’oeuvres, such as caviar, pates, and cheese-spread balls with crackers are good cocktail foods. Canapés, a small piece of toast topped with cream cheese and salmon, are a great option as well. If it’s a 1960s theme party for adults, you can include 60’s favorites like Tom Collins, Daiquiris, Manhattans, Bloody Mary’s, and martinis.
15. Sixties Desserts
Fondue is another popular item from the ’60s. For dessert, make a pot of chocolate fondue and serve it with plenty of dipping foods like bananas, strawberries, marshmallows, and pretzels.
16. Foods from the 1960s
Serve plenty of foods that originated in the sixties and be sure to label each with the date they were introduced. For example, soda began to be sold in aluminum cans in 1960 while toaster pastries originated in 1964. Granny smith apples appeared in 1960 and canned cheese in 1966.
1960s Party Ideas: Activities
17. Pet Rocks
Allow your guests to be a part of the pet rock fad of the sixties. Purchase or find smooth rocks and scrub them well before your party. Then, set up a table with the rocks, different colors of paint, googly eyes, Sharpies to draw on faces, yarn to create hair, pom-poms to create tails, miniature glasses, miniature hats, and anything else you might want for your pet rock station. Don’t forget plenty of glue!
Googly Eyes Rock with Deluxe Pet Adoption Kit and Adoption Certificate
Trained And Bred In the U.S.A.
Fun Family, Friend And Coworker Friendly Gag Gift
Will Not Piddle On The Floor
Adoption Certificate Included
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$27.99
18. Dance
Make sure you have room for a dance floor at your 60’s theme party. You can hire a 1960s dance instructor to teach your guests classic 60’s dance moves like The Ska, The Mashed Potato, The Monkey, and The Tighten Up. Then, have a dance contest to determine who has the best sixties dance moves!
19. Tie-Dying
Tie-dyed clothing is an iconic part of the ’60s. Let your guests make their own by supplying them with white T-shirts, bags, socks, headbands or handkerchiefs, rubber bands, and several buckets full of different colors of dye. This is just one example of the many creative 1960s activities.
20. Face Painting
Embrace the sixties activities and culture by having a face painting station with symbols like the peace sign, flowers, and happy faces. You can purchase face-painting kits with 60’s-theme stencils. You can also purchase Hippie temporary tattoos so that your guests can be psychedelic from their heads to their toes!
21. Name that 60's tunes
Allow your guest to get in a group and someone play different songs that were popular in the 1960s and the first group to say the correct song title and artist/group wins the point for their team.
1960s Party Ideas: Party Supplies
22. Table Décor
Use brightly colored or tie-dyed tablecloths. You can decorate them in 60’s theme stickers like flowers, smiley faces, or peace signs. Use tie-dyed bandannas as napkins or placemats to add flavor to your 1960s party theme.
23. Hippie Glasses and Headband
Glasses and headband is another popular trend from the '60s. When guests come in, they can grab a pair of glasses or headband.
12 Pieces Hippie Headband Glasses Costume Set, Includes 6 Pieces Multicolor Girl Lady Sunflower Flower Crown, 6 Pieces Round Hippie Sunglasses for Festival Party
Package contents: there are 12 pieces, 6 pieces hippie costume set, each set contains 1 piece sunflower flower crown and 1 piece hippie sunglasses, you will receive a total of 6 pieces beautiful headbands and 6 pieces hippie sunglasses
Colorful choice: flower headbands have 6 colors, including luminous yellow, light pink, mint green, light blue, rose red, purple; Hippie sunglasses have a total of yellow, pink, green, blue, red, purple, 6 colors, helping you make different matching
Size details: the diameter of each spectacle lens is approx. 5.2 cm/ 2.04 inches, the width between each pair of spectacle lens is approx. 2.3 cm/ 0.9 inches, the diameter of each flower is approx. 4 cm/ 1.57 inch, the diameter of flower headband is approx. 10-27 cm/ 4-10.6 inches, the extend part of rope can be extended to approx. 84 cm/ 33 inches, enough long for you to adjust size of wreath or use the headband as a waistbelt
Pretty decoration set: the headpiece is neatly inlaid with 11 daisy flower and durable twisted braided rope to make you look fresh and charming, round hippie glasses with exquisite appearance, whether you make them a part of your personal style or wear them for fun at get together, you'll instantly stand out
Wide usage: it is fun and lovely, suitable for summer parties, Halloween, wedding, outdoor activities, theme parties and activities or daily wear, but also for friends and relatives of delicate gifts, wear them to lift your mood, look cool, and have a fun and happy day
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$16.99
24. Hippie Décoration Plates
A great way to invoke the 60's even more is to have love and peace sign symbols on the plates. Or you can get tie-dyed plates and it will match with the 1960's theme.
Forum Novelties X75803 Dessert Plate | Hippie Decor | 1pc. Paper, Multicolor, One Size
PACKAGE INCLUDES: Hippie Decor Dessert Plate, 1pc.
HIPPIE DESIGN: This Hippie Décor Dessert Plate will make your party shine with its bright colors and fun patterns.
USE ANYWHERE: This Hippie Décor Dessert Plate is a great decor item to add some unity and consistency to your party decor.
MATERIAL: This Hippie Décor Dessert Plate is made of cardboard and features a fun and funky design.
PARTY DECOR: This Hippie Décor Dessert Plate is a great party platter for serving dessert.
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$5.93
25. Hippie Décoration Napkins
Peace sign symbols was a big deal in the 1960's, so have peace sign symbols on napkins, would go with the 1960's theme party.
26. Cupcake Toppers
You can put different cupcake toppers in the cupcakes to decorate them in the 1960's theme.
60's Hippie - Cupcake Decoration - 1960s Groovy Party Cupcake Wrappers and Treat Picks Kit - Set of 24
60’s Hippie Cupcake Wrappers and Treat Picks Kit INCLUDES 24 assorted shaped paper cut-outs, 24 clear treat picks, 24 cupcake wrappers, and adhesive dots for easy assembly. DIY 60’s Hippie cupcake decoration kit is perfect for any prom, homecoming or birthday party.
Plastic clear treat picks SIZE measure 3.5” tall and are packaged in a food-safe environment. 60’s Hippie shaped paper cut-outs vary in size and coordinate well with pick size. Cupcake wrappers are cut with a decorative edge and adjust to fit cupcakes 1.75” - 2.5” Wide. Wrappers measure 1.75” Tall. Wrappers are meant for one-time-use only and should not be baked.
EASY PARTY DECORATIONS: 60’s Hippie Prom, Homecoming or Birthday Party Cupcake Decoration Kit makes it easy to style a groovy theme party. Use the set of 24 to style the perfect dessert buffet or create impressive cupcake tower centerpieces.
PREMIUM PARTY SUPPLIES: Clear treat picks are made of food-grade plastic and are packaged in a food-safe environment. The 60’s Hippie paper cut-out toppers are professionally printed, double-sided on sturdy cardstock paper with themed art on one side and a coordinating pattern on the back. Cut-outs will quickly attach to the clear picks with included adhesive dots and then easily insert into your party appetizers or desserts.
EASY ASSEMBLY INSTRUCTIONS INCLUDED: Clear treat picks and 60’s Hippie shaped cut-outs and cupcake wrappers are packaged with easy assembly instructions.
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$19.99
1960s Party Ideas: Invitations
27. Tie Dye
Tie Dye invitations would be a good idea to do because it goes with the 1960's theme and it could be wonderful way to inform your guests about your incoming 1960's theme party.
28. Scent
A great way to invoke the 60’s is through your guests’ sense of smell. Dab your invitations with patchouli oil or bake a loaf of bread while making your invitations so that they absorb the smell. You can also burn incense while making your invitations.
29. Artistic
Your paper choice can make a big difference in the texture of your invitations. Handmade, artsy paper or plain paper bags are all good options for sixties parties. Use fluorescent paint, markers, or crayons to draw 60’s style flowers, sunshine, and birds onto your paper choice.
30. Peace Sign
Here is a cute invitation that you can get on Amazon and it can be shipped to your house quickly.
31. 60’s Lingo
Use stereotypical 60’s phrases to word your invites. For example, when referring to your guests call them “cats” and say that your party will be “gas.” Other 1960’s words include “groovy,” “hang loose,” “outta sight” and “stoked.”
1960s Party Ideas: Conclusion
Doing a throwback theme party is always a great idea since all you really need is a fun group of friends! We hope this list of 1960’s party ideas has inspired you to make your own fabulous party! Make sure to visit our site for other resources that will definitely help your party planning go by like a breeze! We have other blogs just like this that help you with gift ideas, other theme party and birthday party ideas, and so much more.
Written by Jessica Bundy; Contributors: Yi Yang, Anna Fournaris, Stacie Lowe, Jack Leduc, Rohan Chiramel and Tianna Hall