Mystery Party. Party Themes

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Party Themes. Mystery Party.

You never know what's going to happen when you host a mystery party because - it's a mystery! Play detective, set the clues, and keep the guests guessing with lots of surprises, puzzles, and crimes to solve.

INVITATIONS
COSTUMES
DECORATIONS
GAMES
ACTIVITIES
FOOD
MYSTERY CAKE
FAVORS
VARIATIONS
HELPFUL HINTS

INVITATIONS up

Send puzzling invitations for the kids to solve. For example, write the invitations in your own creative code. The next day send the key to the code; that way the guests will have to wonder for a little while what the invitations say before they can read them!
Give the kids clues to find the party invitations. Don't tell them what they're looking for, only that it's hidden somewhere on their property.
Write the party invitations, cut them into puzzle pieces, and mail the pieces in envelopes to your guests.
Mail the pieces of the invitation puzzles one at a time, instead of all at once!

COSTUMES up

Have the guests dress as favorite detectives, crime solvers, police officers, or spies.
When the kids arrive, give them disguises, such as wigs, hats, glasses, moles, and so on. Then have them create new identities to go with their costumes.

DECORATIONS up

Make the party room dark, spooky, and mysterious. Decorate the walls with masks, costume pieces, and cobwebs; cover the walls and windows with black paper; and dim the lights.
Set up a cave by draping blankets and sheets over the furniture. Then have the party "underground."

GAMES up

Have a Mystery Crime Hunt. Divide the kids into teams, and have a scavenger hunt for mysterious items you've set out ahead of time in the party room or the yard. When the kids collect all the items, have them figure out what crime goes with the "evidence." For example, for a jewelry heist, have the kids find a necklace, a mask, fingerprints, a screwdriver, a getaway bag, and a false mustache.
Play Decipher. Divide players into teams, give each team paper and a pencil, and tell them to design codes for the other team. Have them solve the codes. Play Touch-and-Tell. Wrap a number of small items. Have the kids sit in a circle. Pass the items from player to player, and have them guess the item. The player who guesses correctly keeps the item and drops out of the game.

ACTIVITIES up

Have the kids make code books using Morse code, Braille, sign language, or other methods of communication. Then have the kids relay messages back and forth, singly or in teams.
Before the party begins, tape-record noises from everyday life. During the party, play back the tape, and have the kids guess the mystery sounds.
Get a book on fingerprinting, and teach the kids how to lift fingerprints.

FOOD up

Serve Mystery Soup. Have each guest bring a can of soup with the label removed. Combine all the soups in a large pot, heat, and serve.
Blindfold the kids before serving snacks; then have them guess what they are eating.
Have a surprise Popcorn Explosion. Spread out a sheet and have the kids sit around the edges. Place a popcorn maker in the center and prepare popcorn according to package directions - but DO NOT cover the popcorn maker. Let the kids watch the popcorn pop onto the sheet. Make sure everyone stays away from the popper while it's on so they don't get sprayed with hot oil or kernels. Let the kids gobble up the popcorn when the popping is done.

MYSTERY CAKE up

Bake a sheet cake; cool
Slice the cake into individual pieces, one piece for each guest. Be sure to keep the slices together.
Scoop out a tiny amount of cake from each slice.
Feel the holes with small toys, and carefully turn the cake over.
Cover the cake with frosting. Decorate it with question marks made with frosting tubes.
Serve the precut slices, and warn the kids there's a surprise inside each slice!

FAVORS up

Hand out mystery puzzles and One-Minute Mystery books to enjoy at home.
Give the kids Mystery Candy. Unwrap candy bars and cover them with foil-for the kids to guess what the candy is.

VARIATIONS up

Visit a police station or jail and see what goes on behind the scenes.
Ask a police officer or detective visit the party to talk about police work.

HELPFUL HINTS up

Don't make the puzzles too difficult, or they won't be fun to solve. Keep them simple and give lots of clues!
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