I’m an old soul and I love traditional entertaining! I think it absolutely has a place in modern hospitality. I love planning large get-togethers, with full sit down meals that include dessert. Getting the invites out weeks in advance. But, it’s also 2017 and I have two toddlers, so sometimes I have to throw out my grandmother’s rule book and find new ways to connect with people. I’m still the hostess, I’m arranging the avenue through which people are reconnecting, but it just doesn’t look like you’d think. This series focuses on thinking outside of the box when it comes to entertaining. Enjoy!
Family Movie Night
You all LOVED my Holiday Classics movie night ideas so much I had to revisit the topic for movies that can be watched all year round. What’s great about this idea, is that it’s no trouble to invite another family to join in on the fun! This sort of fun can be easily dialed up or down depending on the level of effort you have to offer. So, without further ado, here is some ideas to set your wheels spinning!
Curious George (2006, 1 hr 26 min)
Animals and adventures abound in this family friendly favorite. It’s excellent for the pre-school set but still entertaining for the adults. Bring some of the fun off the screen by creating a little scavenger hunt of your own. If children are not reading age yet, use pictures to guide them to the next clue. A box of chocolate coins covered in gold foil are a perfect treasure to discover at the end of the hunt. If the kids are old enough for arts and crafts, kids can make masks of their favorite jungle animal using construction paper, crayons, paper plates and wooden craft sticks to wear on their hunt.
Toy Story (1995, 1 hr 21 min)
A favorite of both young and old, Toy Story is a great option for a joint family movie night. Swing by the party store and pick up some rocket-ship plates and napkins and order a pizza to create your own Pizza Planet. Encourage the kids to bring their own favorite toy to share the evening with. For even more fun, see if the parents still have their special toy kicking around to bring too. This is sure to bring out the youthful innocence of all your guests!
Cars (2006, 1 hr 57 min)
Nothing is more fun than a drive-in movie. Unfortunately, there are only about 300 drive-in movie theaters left in the US. Luckily, you can recapture the magic in your own backyard! Visit your local appliance shop and find enough boxes for all attending children, big enough that they could sit in them. Then provide the kids with paper plates, construction paper, crayons and markers to transform these ordinary boxes into their own personal hot rod. Once their finished, line them up in front of the screen and let the film roll! The kids will last longer in their cars if you provide pillows and blankets so they can make their own little nest.
The Lego Movie (2014, 1 hr 40 min)
A newer favorite, the Lego Movie is lots of fun for everyone. Start the evening out by providing a bunch of Legos and encouraging everyone, parents and kids, to be their own Master Builder! If they need a little more guidance, you can provide a stack of cards with suggestions on them. Pick a card and attempt to build it. You can offer prizes for the most accurate, the silliest and the most creative.
Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory
(1971, 1 hr 29 min)
It’s so fun to introduce your kids to classics from your childhood and what kid doesn’t love chocolate?! Bake some cupcakes in advance and set up a DIY cupcake decorating bar. Set out frosting and an assortment of candy that would make Willy Wonka proud! Let each guest create their own chocolate masterpiece to munch on during the movie.
I hope these ideas have gotten your wheels turning. I’d love to know if you have another idea for an interactive movie night! It’s a great alternative to trying to plan a meal for another family. What are some of your family favorite movies?
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