Exciting American Cowboy Themed Party Ideas

Let’s be honest, themed parties are better than get-togethers that don’t have a specific hook. Sure, they require a little more work on the part of the guests and the hosts alike, but the payoff is an event that is both more entertaining at the time and more memorable in the long term.

If you are struggling to think of a theme for your upcoming shindig, looking to the wild west for inspiration could be sensible, as there are so many activities, games, costumes and food items to draw upon from this period.

With that in mind, here are just a few tips for things you can do if you select an American cowboy theme for a party you are planning right now.

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Play physical or digital gambling games together

The frontiers of the US were often lonely places, and so the cowboys and pioneers had to think up different ways to pass the time back before the modern creature comforts and entertainment options we enjoy today were available. Gambling was a huge hit as a result, and this is reflected in literature and movies representing the Wild West, such as Maverick and Tombstone.

All you need to recreate this at your party is a pack of cards and a person who’s willing to be a dealer. You can keep things simple by using matchsticks or toothpicks in place of actual cash for wagering, or even invest in casino-style chips if you prefer.

Another option is to get everyone playing cowboy themed online slots, of which there are many. For example, the most popular online buffalo slot machine games at buffalobeast.com feature all sorts of critters that folks on the frontier would have encountered, as well as other era-appropriate icons. Share a tablet with an online slot site loaded up on it to get that one armed bandit replicated at home, or ask attendees to install a casino app individually instead.

Provide dress-up boxes for photo opportunities

You may not want to insist on every guest going all-out with a costume for your cowboy party, so it is a good idea to make sure that the event is as inclusive as possible by providing your own dress-up boxes filled with clothing and accessories related to the Wild West.

You can make these boxes an activity in their own right if you accompany them with a disposable camera or a Polaroid station nearby, which will encourage attendees to get involved and will leave you of a treasure trove of snaps at the end.

Take this a step further still and get guests to create their own ‘Wanted’ posters, using a combination of the costumes you provide and perhaps a cut-out template they can hold up to their faces so that they look like an outlaw on the run. Using digital image editing software to achieve the same effect is also an option, for the Photoshop-savvy among our readers.

Set up do-it-yourself food serving stations

Another aspect of life in the Old West that will seem fairly alien to modern people is that cooking and eating were very communal affairs, with a single pot of stew often serving an entire camp.

In an age of convenience, it is definitely novel to hark back to those bygone days when ingredients were scarce and meals were relatively simple. In fact, you can turn the catering aspect of your cowboy themed party into an exciting and entertaining activity in its own right, while also saving yourself some work in the process.

Embrace a DIY approach and set up serving stations from which guests can put together their own plates, remembering that as well as stews, cowboys were partial to Hispanic treats aplenty, with the influence of Mexican cuisine being strongly felt during this period.

Create a water pistol shooting range

If the weather is fine, then taking your cowboy party activities outdoors is worthwhile, as you can opt for games that are a little messier which might not be ideal for indoor events.

For example, balancing a few empty tin cans, salvaged from the recycling, on a wall, table or fence in the garden and arming your attendees with water pistols to try and knock them off is fun for people of all ages. And it’s definitely worth remembering that combining kid-appropriate games with alcohol instantly makes them appealing to adults as well.

Hopefully you now have enough ideas to start planning your cowboy themed party in earnest, so what are you waiting for?