| The first Father's Day was celebrated in the US a | | | | online) for cloth napkins. |
| century ago although it didn't become a federal | | | | If you're serving beer, ID rings are really fun, and |
| holiday until 1966. Worldwide it is celebrated on a | | | | they help people keep track of their beverages. |
| variety of dates---from December to January---and | | | | Many fit around bottles and/or cans. If you're serving |
| typically involves gift-giving, special dinners and | | | | drinks in glasses, consider LED flashing light cups. |
| family-oriented activities. In the US and a few other | | | | They come in a variety of colors and can be set to |
| countries, Father's Day is celebrated on the third | | | | blink quickly, slowly or stay on steady. |
| Sunday of June. Here's how to throw dad a race-y | | | | These useful food and beverage accessories prove |
| party that's sure to rank high in his standings. | | | | you can still have fun and be practical when throwing |
| Carry Out Your Theme in Everything You Do | | | | a party for your favorite guy. |
| Putting the pedal to the metal on this party, I'm going | | | | Engage Your Guests in An Activity |
| to rev things up a bit for my Father's Day BBQ | | | | One of my favorite activities for a party...maybe |
| starting with the theme. I've decided on NASCAR! I | | | | because I'm in the video business...maybe because I |
| chose it because, after football, it's the most widely | | | | can be a bit of a ham...or maybe because it's just a |
| watched sport with over 75 million fans worldwide. | | | | great way to honor someone special in your life and |
| The great thing about using NASCAR as a party | | | | show them how much everyone cares...is the |
| theme is there are lots of built-in colors to choose | | | | Winner's Circle Interview. This is one party activity |
| from -- yellow, orange, red, blue, purple -- and | | | | people definitely won't be expecting! |
| hundreds of things you can buy or make, that are | | | | You'll need a video camera and some willing family |
| sure to ignite the right mood. | | | | members. You can act as the interviewer, or ask one |
| There are two tricks to getting this party off the | | | | of your guests to do the honors. |
| starting line. (1) Not doing what everyone expects, | | | | The best way to achieve a product you can all be |
| and (2) remembering this party is not really about | | | | proud of takes a little fine-tuning and prep work. |
| NASCAR...this party is all about Dad. | | | | First, create an appropriate backdrop for the |
| So, ladies & gentlemen -- start your engines -- and | | | | interviews. It should be a well-lit place that you can |
| let the party planning begin. | | | | dedicate to the activity, maybe decked out with |
| Make Your Invitations Inviting | | | | flags and other racing regalia. Second, set up the |
| While there are many NASCAR themed invitations | | | | camera on a tri-pod, close enough so the microphone |
| you can buy for your Father's Day NASCAR BBQ, I'm | | | | picks up what people have to say, and third, prep |
| going to tell you about something different. | | | | your questions ahead of time. You may even want |
| Something people won't be expecting. | | | | to send your guests the questions before the party |
| All race car drivers have trading cards, so why not | | | | so they can formulate their answers. |
| make dad a special trading card invitation that | | | | Or you can be completely spontaneous and roam |
| includes his photo on one side, and his driving stats | | | | around as the party progresses for some color |
| on the other. NCR makes a product called "Flip Pix | | | | commentary. You decide what fits the personality of |
| Trading Card Pack." Simply download the software | | | | your group best. |
| template and you're off to the races! | | | | If you want to add more fun to it...create some sort |
| I thought it would be fun to include some or all of | | | | of identification for your participants. For instance, |
| the following information on the trading card invitation | | | | have the person being interviewed wear a special |
| such as when dad got his license, started to drive, | | | | racing helmet, jump suit or cap. |
| who taught him to drive, how many accidents he's | | | | The interviewer could also be identified with some |
| had, how many tickets, who he taught to drive, who | | | | element of clothing like a baseball cap, navy blue |
| he tried to teach to drive, what kinds of cars he's | | | | blazer or press credentials. |
| owned, and what were some of his favorites. | | | | Lastly, have everyone come up with their own |
| Once you've gathered Dad's stats, include his photo, | | | | racecar driver name. "Hi, I'm here with Shelby Phillips, |
| and don't forget to add the party details such as the | | | | The Flying Cobra. Cobra, tell me...what's something |
| date, time, and location. You could also use different | | | | that Dad has taught you over the years?" |
| photos of Dad on each card and encourage | | | | During the party, have everyone take their turn at |
| everyone to bring them to the party for trading or | | | | being interviewed. Some sample interview questions |
| sharing. So fun! | | | | might be: If you could take dad anywhere in the |
| Remember That Set and Setting Are Everything | | | | world, where would it be? If a famous actor were to |
| There's so much you can do when decorating your | | | | play dad in a movie, whom would you cast? What's |
| Father's Day NASCAR BBQ. | | | | something dad taught you how to do? What's your |
| Try using the checkered flag as the foundation of | | | | favorite story dad tells all the time? |
| your theme. Use checkered flag tablecloths, | | | | Once all the interviews are complete, play it back for |
| checkered flag table skirts, and actual checkered | | | | Dad and the rest of your guests towards the end of |
| flags on sticks as part of the centerpieces and other | | | | the party. Then give the interview to Dad as his |
| decor. | | | | present. For an unexpected surprise, you and your |
| My favorite items you may want to consider using | | | | guests could all chip in and give dad the video camera |
| are a relatively new product called Lumi Loon Balloons. | | | | as a gift. Taking it a step further, show him how to |
| They inflate with helium and have LCD lights inside, | | | | operate it, too. |
| so they come in different colors and flash at | | | | Set Your Party Apart; Give Them Something From |
| different speeds. | | | | Your Heart |
| You can make bouquets out of them, put them at | | | | There are all kinds of party favors you can give your |
| the entrance to light your guests' way into or out of | | | | guests when they leave your Father's Day NASCAR |
| your party, or you could spread them around the | | | | BBQ. But I've narrowed it down to three ideas to get |
| back yard for added ambiance. | | | | you started. |
| Another fun decoration I found on the Internet is a | | | | I like the idea of using little gold trophies filled with |
| pack of Raceway Street Signs. They say "Pit Road," | | | | individually wrapped chocolate racecars. I like the idea |
| "Victory Lane," "Gasoline Alley," and "Turn 4." You can | | | | of re-purposing the flashing LED glasses. Just wash |
| place them around the house naming various areas | | | | and re-package them in their boxes, either on their |
| such as the food table, bar, kitchen and bathroom; or | | | | own or filled with chocolate or gummy race cars. Or |
| you can just place them at various places in your | | | | send everyone home with a LED Lumi Loon Balloon. |
| back or front yard to get people in the racing mood. | | | | Dad, of course, he gets a copy of the Winner's Circle |
| Can't find a name you like, make your own! | | | | Interview DVD and maybe even the camera you |
| Using the above items, I plan to make centerpieces | | | | used to shoot his interview. |
| for my food table, beverage area, and other main | | | | Whatever special touches you decide to use, be sure |
| party spaces using an opened Matchbox lunchbox | | | | to include a little note in your theme motif...like the |
| (filled with Styrofoam) as my base. A few metallic | | | | checkered flag design, that tells everyone how much |
| stars and glittery sticks add just the right amount of | | | | they mean to you, and how much you appreciate |
| theme colors to the black and white of the | | | | them helping you celebrate and honor dad. |
| checkered flags. Then I'll cover the Styrofoam base | | | | Something like: "Thanks for being part of the pit |
| with chocolate racecars, and place the whole thing on | | | | crew...it really kept dad in the winner's circle." |
| a black, plastic, circular, food tray from Party City. | | | | There are over 64 million dads in the US and probably |
| Whatever you decide to create, keep it masculine | | | | as many ways to celebrate his special day...but this |
| and try adding some personal touches you know dad | | | | party idea is sure to please most of them. Even if |
| will like. | | | | your dad's not a NASCAR fan, he probably secretly |
| Don't Stress About Food and Drinks | | | | wished he were a racecar driver at least once in his |
| What Father's Day NASCAR BBQ would be complete | | | | life...maybe last week when he was racing to work...or |
| without serving "sliders?" Sliders are basically mini | | | | perhaps when he was a younger man. |
| burgers, so use your favorite beef and/or turkey | | | | This idea is flexible too. It can be used to celebrate a |
| burger recipes to feed your hungry crew. Just make | | | | birthday, or other celebration for a racing fan. The |
| your burgers into 3x3 inch squares and serve them | | | | point is to make it special and to let the guest of |
| on Sweet Hawaiian Bread Dinner Rolls. Yum! | | | | honor know how much you care about them. |
| Serve your little burgers and bags of chips in food | | | | I'm Shelby Phillips, "The Flying Cobra" thanks for |
| baskets. Consider using paper-checkered napkins for | | | | coming to my party! |
| the basket liners, and inexpensive bandannas (found | | | | |