For years I have wanted to throw a Jaws-themed party, but it wasn’t until this past Friday that I finally was able to host it. Jaws is not only my favorite film, but it’s the quintessential summer film, and I figured it would be the perfect concept to build a summer party around. We had drinks, dinner, as well as an outdoor screening of the film. I have seen Jaws countless times, and yet I had never seen it projected on a screen until the party so the outdoor screening was extra special.
DRINKS
We made a rum punch (termed “Rum Chum Punch”), which was garnished with bits of Swedish fish and served in Ball jars adorned with colorful shark drink tags and red and white striped paper straws. There was also Blood Orange sparkling lemonade, Land Shark Lager and Mexican Coke.
FOOD
For hors d’oeuvres there was an assortment of goldfish crackers, as well as selection of sushi rolls, and for dinner we had a make-your-own taco bar, featuring beer battered fish fillets.
SWEET TREATS
For dessert I made shark sugar cookies with royal icing, as well as chocolate cupcakes with blue icing, complete with handmade Great White Shark cupcake toppers. We also had gummy sharks and shark bites, blue raspberry and cherry ICEEs, and of course, butter popcorn for the screening.
DÉCOR
The look of the event, relying on a primary color palette, was beach party meets 4th of July celebration – the film takes place around the 4th of July, so I felt it would only be appropriate to throw the party around the same time. We lined our driveway with ‘No Swimming’ signs, which appear in the film, and filled our backyard with candles, tiki torches, string light and paper lanterns. Additionally, the walls were decorated with homemade flag banners, as well as a handmade movie sign, an official movie poster, and a collection of film stills.
PLAYLIST
The playlist for the party consisted of classic summer tunes including 7 songs from The Beach Boys, “In the Summertime” by Mungo Jerry, “Wipeout” by The Ventures, “Misirlou” and “Let’s Go Trippin’ ” by Dick Dale, “Summertime” by Billy Stewart, “Summertime Blues” by Eddie Cochran, “Surf Rider” by The Lively Rider, “Summer in the City” by The Lovin’ Spoonful, “Louie Louie” by The Kingsmen, as well as “Beyond the Sea” by Bobby Darin and “The Ocean” by Led Zeppelin.
