Try these tips to Create a March Madness Party
From the 3-point line and the frenzy of March Madness to not even knowing what it means to dribble the ball, here are some easy and cost-effective ways to get in the game and score big!
First, pick the theme for your event, go with:
- Selection Sunday Dinner Party
- Sweet Sixteen Weekend Open House
- Elite 8 Day
- Big Fat Final Four event
Then, focus on the three main elements that make a great party, food, decorations and fun!
To get you inspired, here are some clever ideas to pull off the ultimate party for the Big Dance.
1. THE FOOD
Hoops dreams start with delicious food. Create specialty appetizers like a basketball cheese ball, high-tops used chip and dip bowls, referee utensil holders, and then make little signs to put next to the foods and give them a name the “7 layer Layup Dip”, “Double Dribble Sliders”, “Jump Shot Mini Dogs”, or a “Scoreboard Cookie Cake”. The easiest way to make the food as creative as the theme is to use your favorite recipes and give them a basketball twist!
2. THE TABLE DECOR
To get your fans excited with thrilling table décor, think about everything that is part of a basketball game. Set the food stations to look like a basketball court, cheering section and even concessions stand. You can turn the tabletop into basketball court by laying down faux wooden flooring on top of your table, draw out the free throw line and 3 point line with tape, and set up mini basketball hoops at each end; so you can put popcorn in the nets. Another food station can be set up like a cheering section with balloons, pom pons, foam fingers, and more. These specialty food stations will have your team cutting down the net with a big win.
3. THE FUN & GAMES
Aside from watching the game at your party, people love to play games! To kick off the NCAA tournament, fans turn to “Bracketology” to help fill out their brackets and see how far they can go! At your parties, everyone has probably already filled out their brackets for the Tournament but you can create your own game using the brackets that will be fun for all. Get your collegiate genius on and create a game for those basketball buffs that includes questions about NCAA teams, it’s history and facts. The game is played on an oversized bracket that can be put in the center of the room, guests have to answer trivia questions to get points and move on. You ever know who the “Cinderella” player will be.
There you have it, a game plan for the March Madness party of a lifetime! And for “One Shining Moment” you will be the hostess with the mostest this tournament season. Go Team!
About Jane Clauss
For fun and creative DIY ideas for the Easter holiday, check out two-time Emmy Award winner Jane Clauss’s website. If you have any great ideas that you would like to share or just want to say hi, you can fill out this contact form. We will be happy to hear from you.