Hippies and partiers of all stripes began celebrating peace and love about 50 years ago. As far as we're concerned, that party never stopped!

Today, it can be great fun to plan a peace and love party to celebrate life, love and good friends.

The best peace and love parties touch upon all the senses with selected sights, sounds, tastes and smells that help guests trip back to the peace and love era.  

Dress the Part

Start by sending invitations that reflect the 1960s. Ask guests to dress the part and wear costumes from the hippie era. Suggest tie-dye shirts and bandanas, and to make a hippie costume more authentic, add lots of beads or a dangling peace symbol, wire-rimmed sunglasses, a floppy hat, and a pair of scruffy sandals.

Set Your Theme

Before your party begins, lower the lights in the main party room. Replace the bulbs in table lamps with colored bulbs or black lights. Dig that old lava lamp out of the closet, position it in a prominent place, and give it plenty of time to heat up before guests arrive.

Decorate the party with posters from the time. You can even make a few posters of your own with peace symbols and slogans from the 1960s, like "Make Love, Not War!" Scatter the floor with large pillows and a beanbag chair if you have one.

Choose 1960s music that sets the mood, such as Donovan, the Doors, Jimi Hendrix, Beatles, Jefferson Airplane, Janis Joplin, and Led Zeppelin.  

Munchies

Put out lots of "munchies" like bite-sized candy bars, M&Ms, potato chips and dip, pretzels, raisins, carrot sticks, slim Jims and tons of hot pizza with the works. Serve Kool-Aid and soda for non-drinkers, and some beer and Boones Farm Wine for the drinkers. Sprinkle the serving tables with incense and peppermint candies for decorations (Incense and Peppermints!").

And don't forget the brownies!  

Exotic Aromas

As guests arrive, fill the air with the aroma of exotic incense and oils, or light a few scented candles for authentic atmosphere. The scents of sandalwood or patchouli are especially reminiscent of the 1960s.

Plan Some Fun

Plan activities and games that will further remind everyone of your peace and love theme. For instance, any parlor game that has clues or wordplay can be adapted to a 1960s theme.

And when it's time for guests to leave, make sure everyone gets a small memento of your party to take home. Perfect parting gifts are tie-dye bandanas, peace stickers and inexpensive beaded jewelry.

Reconnect with a Peace and Love Party

Planning a peace and love party is a great way to reconnect with old friends and make a few new friends along the way. Use  your imagination. Think out of the box. Celebrate peace and love, and party like it's 1969!

Looking for the Perfect Costume?

Click to find hippie costumes and accessories, like floppy hats, granny glasses, peace necklaces, tie-dye accessories, headbands, wigs, beards, moustaches, bell-bottoms, miniskirts, vests, bandanas, go-go boots
and much more!

Costume styles for adults, large adults, children and pets.

Party Time Every Day!

At Sloppy Joe's Bar in Key West, Florida! 

Click to see and hear live, streaming video from the infamous "Party Time Central" where every day is party time. Enjoy the fun and celebration!