18 Retro Party Themes from the ’90s That Wouldn’t Trend Today
Many party themes from the ’90s were loud, weird, and sometimes awkward by today’s standards — and most of them wouldn’t survive a group chat today.
- Sophia Zapanta
- 6 min read
The ’90s were filled with parties that leaned into bright colors, novelty ideas, and pop culture overload. These themes felt fun and exciting at the time, but they don’t quite fit the current tone of carefully curated events. Today’s parties are more minimal, aesthetic, and socially aware — and most of these old-school ideas wouldn’t get a second look.
1. Slime Parties
Okras on Wikimedia Commons
Inspired by shows like Nickelodeon’s Double Dare, slime parties featured buckets of goo, plastic ponchos, and gross-out games. Getting messy was part of the fun, and nobody worried about cleanup. Now, few people would willingly pour green gunk over themselves in a rented venue or backyard. The theme was more chaos than celebration.
2. Laser Tag Parties
The Conmunity - Pop Culture Geek on Wikimedia Commons
Birthday parties at laser tag arenas were once the coolest option for school-aged kids. You wore a blinking vest, ran through a black-lit maze, and pretended to be in a sci-fi movie. The theme revolved around neon and fake war. It’s rare now because it feels outdated and overly aggressive compared to today’s gaming and entertainment options.
3. Bubble Parties
Larry D. Moore on Wikimedia Commons
Some kids’ parties in the ’90s had bubble machines, bubble foam pits, or even giant bubble-making wands. The idea was simple: fill a space with bubbles and run wild. However, slippery floors and zero structure made them more stressful than fun for adults. Today, it would probably end with someone slipping and sending a Venmo request for dry cleaning.
4. Lip Sync Battles
Lindenlink Multimedia on Wikimedia Commons
Before it was a TV show, lip-syncing at parties was a planned activity — often with fake microphones and cassette tapes. Guests were expected to memorize parts of a pop song and perform for everyone. It was awkward, especially if someone froze or picked a song they didn’t really know. With everyone filming now, this would feel more like a trap than entertainment.
5. Tie-Dye Stations
Steven Falconer on Wikimedia Commons
DIY tie-dye was a common backyard party idea, especially in summer. Kids dunked white T-shirts into buckets of dye and hoped for the best. It was messy and unpredictable, and the stains lasted longer than the shirts. These days, party planners would probably skip the part where dye gets into the pool filter.
6. Inflatable Obstacle Course Parties
Cpl. Theodore Ritchie on Wikimedia Commons
Giant inflatable slides and obstacle courses were often the centerpiece of backyard parties. Kids raced, tumbled, and sometimes bounced into each other a little too hard. It felt fun until someone cried or the inflatable started deflating mid-race. Safety rules are stricter now, and many parents prefer low-impact play.
7. Backwards Parties
Gay Hoover on Wikimedia Commons
At a backwards party, you wore your clothes inside out or backwards, started with dessert, and sometimes even opened gifts at the beginning. The theme was pure novelty, not style. It was confusing, more than clever. Today, that theme would probably get skipped in favor of something more polished or photo-friendly.
8. Trapper Keeper Themes
Barney Moss on Wikimedia Commons
Kids once loved parties themed around school supplies like Trapper Keepers and Lisa Frank folders. Guests brought their favorite stickers, swapped pens, and decorated notebooks. It was fun if you loved stationery, but completely baffling to anyone else. A party based on paper folders wouldn’t exactly go viral in today’s world.
9. Pop Star Dress-Up Parties
AndLikeThings on Wikimedia Commons
Before streaming, kids dressed up as their favorite pop stars with fake mics, glitter makeup, and dollar-store wigs. Everyone picked a character and did an impromptu performance. The results were often unbalanced, and not everyone wanted to be Britney or Christina. In the social media era, this kind of party would lead to too many side-eyes and awkward posts.
10. Pajama Daytime Parties
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Wearing pajamas to a party at noon felt rebellious and funny in the ’90s. People played sleepover games like truth or dare, ate cereal, and watched cartoons in daylight. It blurred the line between party and nap time. Now, it would just feel lazy or mismatched with adult event standards.
11. Spice Girls Theme
David Jones on Wikimedia Commons
Entire parties were themed around the Spice Girls, with each guest picking a “Spice” persona. There were choreographed dances and themed snacks like “Posh cupcakes” or “Sporty punch.” It was fun if everyone bought in, but awkward if someone refused to join the group. With less focus on single-group fandoms now, the appeal wouldn’t land the same way.
12. Pokémon Card Parties
MIKI Yoshihito on Wikimedia Commons
Some kids threw parties where trading cards was the main event. People brought binders, made deals, and sometimes left mad if a trade went bad. The excitement often faded fast once someone stole a rare card or called a fake. It’s hard to imagine a party today where adults gather just to swap collectibles for three hours.
13. Gross-Out Parties
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Inspired by shows like Ren & Stimpy or Garbage Pail Kids, some parties leaned into weird food, fake bugs, and purposely gross decorations. Think “worm” Jell-O or eyeball cupcakes. The idea was to get laughs, not likes. These themes wouldn’t make it past a modern invite list without a few quick declines.
14. Dance Mat Tournaments
mliu92 on Wikimedia Commons
Dance Dance Revolution was a party hit in the late ’90s. People took turns dancing on plastic mats connected to a game console. It was intense, sweaty, and surprisingly competitive. Today’s crowd would probably scroll past an invite like that unless it came with air conditioning and backup shoes.
15. Beanie Baby Showcase Parties
Morgan on Wikimedia Commons
Some kids had parties just to show off their Beanie Baby collections. You didn’t play games — you just looked at each other’s plush toys and maybe did trivia. There wasn’t much excitement unless you were obsessed. In today’s terms, it’d feel more like a soft product launch than a party.
16. Yo-Yo Competitions
Malene on Wikimedia Commons
The yo-yo boom hit hard in the late ’90s, and some kids turned it into a full party theme. Guests brought their best tricks, and winners got plastic trophies or stickers. It was fun if you could actually do the tricks. For everyone else, it was 45 minutes of watching string loops and polite clapping.
17. Lava Lamp Lounges
Michael Coghlan on Wikimedia Commons
Some parties used lava lamps, beanbags, and incense to create a fake “chill zone” vibe. Guests sat on the floor, drank sodas, and pretended they were in a teen magazine ad. It was more about mood than activity. That kind of setup wouldn’t pass in today’s party culture where everything needs a clear purpose or photo spot.
18. VHS Movie Nights
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Instead of streaming, friends gathered around a bulky TV and popped in a worn-out VHS tape. There was always a delay as someone adjusted tracking, or the tape needed to be rewound. It felt cozy, but tech problems were part of the experience. Most people today wouldn’t even know how to play one.