Pre-Game A good quality hold-it-in-your-hand invitation is a lost art. For this year’s Super Bowl, let your friends know you’re going to throw a party that really counts by placing a little extra effort into the invite – after all, your invitation sets the tone for what’s to come. Here are some simple and low cost ideas:

Team Spirit Invitation – Design and print a triangular invitation on your home PC (use your favorite team colors), print, cut, and attach to a small wooden dowel. Deliver to invitees by hand or mail in a padded envelope.

Party on my Turf Invitation – Go to your local home store and buy a few yards of indoor/outdoor grass carpeting (known as Astroturf to most, and usually less than $4 per square yard). Glue a small a square to the front of a piece of cardstock (save the rest for later – we’ll explain), then design your contents, print, cut, and glue to the front of the turf, leaving a border around the edges.

Play-By-Play Invitation – Visit your local dollar store or go to www.orientaltrading.com, where you can buy a set of one dozen mini chalkboards, with chalk and eraser, for less than $8. Design and print your invitation content to fit on the back of the chalkboard, and on the front, draw a few Xs and Os with arrows – Madden-style. Guests can even bring the chalkboard to the party to offer their own play-by-play.

Décor
If you didn’t make the turf invitations mentioned above, you should still purchase a few yards of inexpensive Astroturf from your local home store. Cut it into pieces that fit your coffee table, buffet table, and any other surfaces you want to cover (I once had a customer Astroturf their entire rec room for their Super Bowl party). Not only is this more eco-friendly than disposable tablecloths, it will probably be less expensive. Accessorize with footballs (inflatable or pigskin), pennants, pom poms, and other festive items, and you’ll have décor that will knock the socks off your guests.The best part is that you can hose it off and stash it away for next year.

Menu
Party food – especially for Super Bowl – should be casual, delicious, and warming, but that doesn’t mean you can’t add your own gourmet touches. For instance, try a twist on a classic chili or even a chili buffet featuring three different kinds of chili. Another crowd-pleaser is gourmet pizza. Put out a toppings bar and let each guest fix their own, then try finishing them on the grill instead of in the oven for a really scrumptious twist on a classic comfort food.

The best part about Super Bowl party food is that dishes like chili or pulled pork can be made a couple of days in advance. Some are, in fact, even better after being in the fridge for a day or two. And for fun munchies, rent a big popcorn machine and let your guests serve themselves whenever the mood strikes them.

Half Time Fun
A great way to keep everyone entertained for the duration of the party is to come up with a variety of games that can be played during the game, at half-time, or both. Here are some ideas that are fun for all ages:

Tabletop Football – Create a set of goal posts out of straws and fold triangular-shaped footballs out of paper. Guests take turns using their fingers to “flick” the football through the goal posts.

Football Charades – Break your guests into teams and have them play this classic game using football-related words, such as touchdown, penalty, quarterback, or pigskin.

Football Trivia Match Game – Before your party, print out the names of cities, teams, and players, then cut into strips. Divide your guests into teams and have them match as many as they can within an allotted time frame. Award points for each successful match. 

Don’t forget that Super Bowl parties are usually a family event. Involve the kids by hosting a cheerleading competition at halftime, providing football coloring pages and crayons, or even purchasing low-cost megaphones that they can decorate with stickers or markers. Find design-your-own megaphones from www.orientaltrading.com and they’ll double as containers for popcorn or other munchies.

The best part about a Super Bowl party is that it doesn’t have to be the stresser that a lot of other parties are. Remember to keep it simple and focus on your friends rather than trying to find perfection in every detail, and you’ll be able to relax and enjoy the party along with everyone else.