High school graduation is around the corner - your graduation cap and gown is ready,announcementsare ordered and most of the hard work is behind you. Your family, classmates and close friends are ready to celebrate this major milestone!
If you're looking for high school graduation party ideas for guys, I've put together five complete graduation party themes including ideas for set-up, decorations, activities and food for each one.
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Grad Party Theme Ideas for Guys
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School Spirit Tailgate Graduation Party
We've got spirit, yes we do! Turn a basic school colors or school spirit party theme into an epic graduation party by incorporating a tailgating theme complete withteam jerseys,foam fingers, face-painting and a traditional tailgating spread! This is the perfect graduation party idea for students planning to attend a college with a big tailgating and football culture.
This graduation party theme works best as an outdoor party. The set-up for a tailgate theme depends on the outdoor space you’re using. If you have the space to actually tailgate with a few cars or trucks, that’s perfect. If you don’t, you can still embrace the tailgate theme.
Set up tailgate tents, folding tables and camp chairs.Pennant banners, school flags, pom poms and foam fingers in college colors are a fun way to decorate, plus they could double as dorm decorations in the fall.
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Encourage guests to wear school colors or team jerseys celebrating the grad’s new college team. Set up a station for face paint andtemporary tattoos, and then take grad party photos in front of astadium photo backdrop. Or, create your own photo backdrop like the UNC Charlotte Ninersphoto booth in this post.
Serve tailgate food like chicken nuggets, chips and dips, burgers, hot dogs or giant sub sandwiches. Throw drinks on ice in coolers (peep the fun inflatable graduation cooler below)and make sure you have plenty of can coolers to go around – besides keeping your drinks cold, drink koozies make perfect party favors too.
Check outEndearing Cheers on Etsyfor tons of color and font options for your grad party can coolers.
Your graduation party guests are sure to have a good time with music, footballs and frisbees to toss around, and age-appropriate party games.
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Adventure Awaits Graduation Party
For guys who love the great outdoors, an Adventure Awaits graduation party theme is a great way to celebrate the graduate's next chapter.
An adventure grad party theme also works well for students going to school in the mountains, (like North Carolina students heading to App State, UNC Asheville or Western Carolina), venturing far from home, and for grads who simply have an adventurous nature. My nephew Sam is heading out west to the University of Wyoming in the fall. Go Cowboys! Ouradventure awaits invitation templateis available on Etsy.
You can decorate for the grad party using an outdoorsy aesthetic, a travel theme or a theme more closely tied to an activity like fishing or camping. Maps, globes and compasses bring an adventure travel theme to life. I love the idea of buying a tabletop globe - likethis one from The Lettering Studioon Etsy - and having the party guests sign it for the graduate.
You can also lean into a great outdoors vibe and decorate with natural elements. Colors and patterns that highlight your grad’s favorite activity, like camping or hiking, are a fun idea too.
Use plaid patterns and burlap for tablecloths and paper products. You can create easy center pieces with natural wood slices (like the ones pictured below) and camping lanterns.
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I think a good, old-fashioned backyard barbecue is perfect for an adventure-inspired graduation party. Or if your party is more focused on travel, serve dishes from different parts of the country or the world.
If your party is outdoors, you can even set up camp chairs andcamping hammocksin the yard. Travel hammocks make great graduation gifts too!
And if spring weather is still cool enough where you live, there's no better way to entertain your guests at an adventure-themed graduation party than with a fire pit andS’mores, as the sun goes down. Hershey's sells a great S'mores kit
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Life's A Beach Graduation Party
Is your grad heading off to college on the coast? Or maybe they love to surf and hang at the beach. If so a graduation party with a "Life's a Beach" theme is one of the best graduation party ideas for guys around.
If you're holding your grad party outside (or even AT the beach) arranging beach chairs and beach towels where guests can relax is an easy way to set up for the party.
You can create a cool, laid back vibe for your graduation party with a few key decorations like lanterns, string lights and shells. I lovethis mason jar beach party decorationmade with sand and toys and aquarium accessories. Isn't it perfect for a beach-themed graduation party for a guy? See below for adorable mini Wagoneers with surfboards perfect for this project.
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Or, create a more festive beach atmosphere with colorful beach balls, tiki torches and tropical decorations. Check out thiscool beach ball arch tutorialfor a fun backdrop for party photos. It's also a perfect way to decorate a gift table or the party entrance.
As long as your grad likes it, a seafood spread is a great idea for a beach themed graduation party. Grilled shrimp and crab cakes or crab dip are great options. Pair the seafood with hush puppies and fresh fruit to complete the beach-themed buffet.
Colorful leis make a great party favor for a beach-themed graduation party. Or if your budget permits, havecustom flip flopsmade with the grad's name and graduation date on them.
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Grad Madness Graduation Party
If your grad is an athlete or avid sports fan, consider a “Grad Madness” theme that centers around a bracket-style tournament of backyard or indoor games. Choose one, or a few, fun games like corn hole, bocce ball, ping pong or foosball and set up a tournament bracket. Party guests can compete on teams or individually until a champion is crowned.
The Grad Madness party theme works either indoors or outdoors; let your space dictate how you set up the games. Encourage the guests to watch the tournament match-ups by setting up tables and chairs near the games.
Decorate the party with traditional graduation decorations like streamers and large balloons orballoon columns.Giant head cutouts of the graduate(or graduates if the party is for multiple people) create a fun atmosphere. And if you really want to embrace the theme, the hosts can wear referee shirts and carry whistles.
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Serve finger food popular at concession stands like popcorn, nachos, soft pretzels and hot dogs. Have custom stadium cups made for the party, and and let them double as party favors.
Don't forget some kind of trophy for the winners and a make sure you set up a festive photo opportunity so you can capture all of the tournament highlights.
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Gamer Graduation Party
If your high school grad is a gamer, there are some clever ways to inject video game culture into graduation parties with sayings like "Level Complete", "Power Up", "Game Over" and "Next Level".
Use bright colors or a video game inspired color palette for decorations, but resist the urge to go overboard with the decorations so it doesn't end up looking like a 10th birthday party. ;)
Balloons are always an inexpensive way to decorate for a party. Make balloon bouquets with grad cap and game controller Mylar balloons for your gamer grad party. And check out this coolgame controller lamp- use it as a party decoration AND as room or dorm decor after the party.
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Pizza seems like the perfect food to serve at a gamer graduation party. And I have the perfect party favors for you - check out thechocolate game controllerspictured above by Chocolates Unlimited on Etsy! I've purchased them before and my son loved them.
There are tons of clever t-shirts available to celebrate graduation for gamers. These are a few of my favorites:
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The entertainment for this graduation party theme is obvious - video games! Party guests of all ages will be entertained with retro video games like Pac-Man and Donkey Kong; many retro games are still available in collections that you can play on PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch and mobile devices.
For next level party entertainment, rent full size retro arcade games or a mobile gaming theater. Mobile gaming theaters have multiple consoles and screen and a huge library of games to play. Many gaming trucks can accommodate up to 20+ gamers at a time!
Congratulations class of 2023! Before you know it you'll be high school graduates looking forward to your bright future!
Additional Articles and Resources for Graduating Seniors
2023 Graduation Guide: Etiquette for Annoucements, Gifts and More
9 Things You Definitely Need Freshman Year (And 9 Things You Don't)
Dorm Shopping and Packing Checklist
Julie Stallman is the owner and publisher of TriangleSeniorYear.com. She is a graphic designer and marketing professional with a love of all things creative and a sincere appreciation for small business owners. Julie and her family have lived in Cary, NC for over 24 years and feel fortunate to call the Triangle home.
