Are you throwing a major blowout and want to go the extra mile? Of course, having great food, the right mix of people, and some entertainment is helpful, but there’s a lot more you can do to elevate your event and truly make it a memorable experience. Adding a theme to your event is a great way to take your party to the next level, and allows your party goers to get involved by embracing a fun concept in their own ways. Here are ten epic party themes to consider for your next big event.

Add mystery with a masquerade ball

A masquerade ball is an excellent choice for a party that has a grown-up feel but is still fun. Participants can come in masks, allowing for some anonymous guessing games and intrigue at your party. Decor and food can be influenced from period masquerades or provide a more modern take on the festivities, while still keeping a sense of refinement. There are plenty of places to find glamorous masquerade masks, too, in case you need some extra on hand for guests who couldn’t find their own.

Mix it up with your favorite movie or TV show

For an event that’s pop-culture focused, consider throwing a party that’s themed around your favorite TV show or movie. From popular science fiction and fantasy blockbusters like Star Wars or The Lord of the Rings to more niche films like Eraserhead and Shrek, theming your event around a movie many of your guests have seen allows them to be in on the fun. They can come dressed as their favorite characters from the movie, giving them a little bit of ownership of the experience, too.

Go neon with a “lights out” party

A real blowout needs to feel epic, and nothing adds that level of coolness quite like glow-in-the-dark items. Whether passing out glow sticks or glow necklaces, glow in the dark items will help illuminate your event without detracting from its ambience. Keep the room dark and the music bumping and see your venue transformed into a club with these simple touches. Plus, your guests will have a memorable souvenir to recall the night with when they bring their glowing party favors home with them afterwards.

Take a trip down memory lane with a 90s party

Flashback parties are becoming more and more popular as nostalgia gains more popularity in the current pop culture, so you can’t go wrong with a party themed from a specific decade. Ask your party goers to dress up in 90s clothes (or ‘80s, ‘70s, etc.) and make sure your playlist or DJ is sharing songs from the Billboard Top 100 from the year you’ve chosen. Everyone will have a great time dancing and singing to their favorite songs with each other!

Head to paradise with a luau

Another fun theme you can use for your next event, especially when it comes to decor and food, is a luau themed party. Make sure everyone gets a Hawaiian lei (or, better yet, a light up lei!) and make sure you decorate with lots of references to the ocean. Sand in glass vases can work great as a table centerpiece and you can find some fun tropical plants to place around the room, too. Luau parties also give you a lot of options for foods, so make sure you stock up on Hawaiian meatballs and kebabs, as well as roasted ham, fresh fruits, and plenty of daiquiris and margaritas.

Take a gamble with a casino night

Casino nights are the perfect party theme for adults, especially if you’re looking to add extra fun and interaction to your event. You can carry the theme throughout the decor with bright neon barware inspired by Las Vegas and centerpieces featuring playing cards, dice, and fake money. Whether you’ve got a volunteer or are hiring someone with experience running games of Texas Hold ‘Em or Blackjack, your guests will love getting to gamble, drink, and dance together over the course of the night. For an added level of fun, give each guest the same amount of fake money and challenge everyone to see who can end up with the most dough at the end of the night!

Transform your venue into a speakeasy

Having a secret password that you share with your guests prior to the event and inviting them to dress in 1920s-inspired cocktail attire will definitely make your party one to remember. Add a live jazz band and you’re on your way to a swanky and engaging event that will get people moving. You can even have Prohibition-era cocktails like The Last Word, White Lady, or Gin Rickey passed around on cocktail trays for everyone to try. Of course, a speakeasy wouldn’t be complete without mood lighting, and LED candles are an easy and safe way to ensure that your event is lit by cool candlelight without ever going out.

Celebrate the holidays with an ugly sweater party

If your party is planned around the winter holidays, one way to appease your guests no matter what holiday they celebrate is with an ugly sweater party. Guests can wear their ugliest sweaters and you can have a contest and guests can vote on which person came with the ugliest sweater of all. If you’re looking for other funny activities, think about having an ugly sweater cookie decorating party, where gingerbread cookies in the shapes of sweaters are decorated with frosting to make delicious, but ugly, desserts!

Head outdoors and throw a bonfire

Rather than stay indoors for your party, think about throwing a bonfire and taking the fun outdoors. Bonfires are a great way to build camaraderie in small or large groups, as you roast hot dogs and marshmallows and gather around the fire. When it gets dark, add some extra light with some LED apparel in a variety of styles fit for anyone at the party.

Make it a carnival

Another awesome theme for a party is to take inspiration from carnivals and circuses. Decorate with bold pinstripe colors like oranges, reds, and whites, and consider throwing your party under a tent to really take it to the next level. When it comes to eating, popcorn, caramel apples, and fried foods are all crowd pleasers, as well as staples of a carnival-themed party. You can really go wild by hiring performers like jugglers, clowns, or magicians to interact with and entertain your guests. Giving your party goers confetti or powder cannons to add to the celebration is another option–just make sure you pick a customizable option that fits your party’s color scheme!

An incredible party needs an incredible theme. Without one, your party just doesn’t stick out, even if it does have great food, music, and a great guest list. Whether you’re drawing your concept from this list for your next party or just using it as inspiration, you’re bound to have an epic event when you use a theme for your next party.