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Depending
on what you want to create (especially if it is something
large like the Eiffel Tower, Sphynx or Great Wall of China,
etc.) you might opt to visit your local grocery warehouse
(i.e. Sam’s Club, Price Club, etc.) They receive their
products in on giant pallets with a large sheet of cardboard
in between each layer. They typically throw these giant sheets
out. If you talk with the receiving manager, they’ll
probably be able to help and save some for you. These are
great for more sturdy decorations and for creating ‘stand
ups.’
Time
permitting, decorate each room of the party like a different
country. Make sure to include the icons from each country
in your decorating. This works especially well if the event
is rather large. Hand out world maps and write next to different
countries the details of what can be found there (i.e. dancing
in the Caribbean, dining in Paris, etc.)
Visit
your local travel agency and pick up different brochures for
cruises and world travel vacation destinations. These make
great centerpieces and even wall decorations. Many of them
open up to larger maps on the inside which can especially
nice decorations. If you are a AAA roadside assistance member,
visit your local branch office as you’ll find a ton of
travel resources there as well.
If
going for the traditional balloons and streamers, consider
using different schemes in different rooms. For example, if
you have a room decorated with an Italian theme, include colors
from the Italian flag (white, red and green.) If your outside
garden is Japan, then consider using white, black and red.
Provide a list of flags (a website where they can view them
all)
Fold
your invitations like a paper airplane and decorate them as
such on the outside. On the inside explain that your guests
will be taking a ‘world tour’ as such. Inside, describe
the party details in a flight itinerary format.
Make
your invitations look like travel brochures for a world tour
either by flight or cruise. Be sure to include lots of pictures
from famous world landmarks.
This
is a great game that can passively last throughout the entire
party. Print out several pictures of different world landmarks
(see the Decorations section for resource ideas on obtaining
images.) On each of the sheets of paper, write a different
number, bold enough to see easily. Place them throughout the
party area, however, do not place all of them in easily found
locations. Some of them can be in plain view (so that everyone
can find a few) but most hide a bit out of site. Provide for
each of your guests to have a copy of a list of all the images
to find. Next to each of the image names, they are to write
the number/name provided on each image sheet. The goal is
to be the first to fill in all the answers by either knowing
them outright, finding the poster or combinations thereof.
You can also instruct them that all completed sheets can be
turned in to you by a certain time, then a raffle can be held
among all that are turned in for a prize. A third variation
would be to offer a raffle ticket for each correct answer
(the more they answer, the better chance they’ll have
to win a prize at the raffle.)
Organize
a Vacation Clothes Relay Race. Tell the participants that
they are all going on a world cruise…but first they must
pack. The relay race can be facilitated in two different ways,
both involving breaking the kids up into two different groups.
Place two suitcases way out, away from the teams. When you
say GO, the first member of each team must race to their respective
suitcase, put each article of clothing on until the judge
by each has verified that each article of clothing is properly
worn, then remove all the articles and return them to the
suitcase. They are then to run back to their team and tap
the hand of the next team member who must run to the suitcase
and do the same. The team who has all their team members return
first (having each worn the outfit) is the winner. If one
team has more members than the other, then make sure that
one of the members from the smaller team runs it twice. For
added fun, make sure to include items of clothing that must
be buttoned, snapped and zipped. Also, make a concerted effort
to include similar clothing in the two suitcases.
A variation on the above is to split each team into two halves.
Each half faces each other a good distance away. When you
say go, the first team member from each team on ONE of the
sides must put on all their articles of clothing. Once the
judge has verified that all the buttons are buttoned and all
the snaps are snapped, the team member must run to the team
members on the other side and remove the articles of clothing
so that the next team member can begin to put on the clothing.
Once the outfit is on and verified by the judge on that side,
the team member runs across and repeats the action. This can
be hilarious to watch the children run with the funny articles
of clothing you may have chosen. This game could easily be
adapted for outgoing adults who love to laugh at themselves
and have a good time!
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