HOST A MAGICAL FAIRYTALE PARTY
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To enchant your guests with a fairytale-themed party, immerse them in a magical world filled with whimsy, wonder, and enchantment. Here's how to create an unforgettable fairytale experience:
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Enchanting Decor: Transform your venue into a fairytale wonderland by incorporating enchanting decor elements inspired by classic tales. Adorn the space with twinkling fairy lights, ethereal drapery, and cascading floral arrangements reminiscent of enchanted forests. Set up charming vignettes featuring storybook characters, enchanted castles, and mystical creatures to ignite guests' imaginations.
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Magical Lighting: Create a magical ambiance with soft, warm lighting that evokes the enchantment of a fairytale realm. Use candles, lanterns, and fairy lights to cast a soft glow throughout the venue, adding a touch of romance and mystery to the atmosphere. Consider incorporating projection mapping or light installations to bring iconic fairytale scenes to life on walls or ceilings.
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Enchanting Music: Set the mood with an enchanting soundtrack that transports guests to a world of fantasy and adventure. Choose instrumental melodies, orchestral compositions, or whimsical fairy tale soundtracks to create an immersive audio experience that complements the theme. Incorporate classic fairytale-inspired songs and instrumental covers to add a touch of nostalgia and magic to the atmosphere. During gameplay of your mystery party, ensure the volume is set as low as possible, as your players need to communicate.
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Themed Activities: In addition to the mystery party game, delight guests with a variety of themed activities and entertainment inspired by classic fairy tales. Host a costume contest where guests will show off their fairytale character costumes, with prizes for the best costumes. Play some of the bonus activities below according to the example timeline in the host instructions of your mystery game.
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Interactive Experiences: Engage guests with interactive experiences that bring the magic of fairy tales to life. Set up a wishing well where guests can make wishes or write messages to be sealed away in enchanted scrolls. Create a DIY potion-making station where guests can concoct their own magical elixirs using colorful ingredients and botanical extracts.
Incorporating these enchanting elements into your fairytale-themed party will create a magical and memorable experience that transports guests to a world of fantasy and wonder.
MENU SUGGESTIONS
Always ask about your guests' nutritional requirements with the RSVPs to determine if they have any allergies or objections to particular ingredients.
Recipes courtesy of the Halloween Party Host Handbook
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APPETIZERS:
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CRACKEN TOAST (TOAST SKAGEN)
Ingredients: (serves 8 (2 toasts each – calculate the number of guests you will have)
3 TBS mayo
3 TBS crème fraiche
3 TBS finely chopped dill
1/2/ TBS freshly squeezed lemon juice
Salt, pepper to taste
1 lb. peeled, precooked small Swedish or rock shrimp, patted dry, cut into smaller pieces
2 TBS unsalted butter
4 slices of Pullman bread with crusts removed, cut into four triangles
4 oz. golden whitefish caviar (optional)
Instructions: In a bowl, stir the mayonnaise, crème fraiche, dill, lemon, salt, and pepper until thoroughly mixed. Then stir in the shrimp and mix thoroughly.
Melt 1TBS butter in a pan over medium heat and sauté the bread pieces until golden brown and crisp.
Add a spoonful of shrimp mix onto the top of each toast and top with optional caviar. You can refrigerate the shrimp mix for up to 1 day.
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ENTREE:
URSULA’S SEATASTIC DELIGHT (SALMON DISH)
Ingredients: (serves 4 – calculate your recipe for the number of guests you will have)
4 passion fruits
4 6-8 oz. skinless salmon fillets
2 tsp. olive oil
1 TBS unsalted butter
3 TBS minced shallot
2 TBS honey mustard
2 tsp. white wine vinegar
¼ cup dry white wine
4 cups fresh mixed greens
Salt, pepper to taste
Instructions: prepare the passion fruit by extracting the flesh and straining it through a strainer, using a rubber spatula to push it through. You should yield about 3 TBS of juice. Put salt and pepper on the salmon fillets and heat oil in a nonstick pan over med-high. Add the fish and cook for about 4 minutes per side. Remove the fillets and put on a covered plate.
Reduce pan to low heat, add half of the butter, and cook the shallots for about 2 minutes. Add the passion fruit juice, mustard, honey, vinegar, and white wine. Increase the heat to medium-high and cook until thick for about 2 minutes. Turn the heat off and add the rest of the butter.
Place mixed greens on each plate with a fillet on top. Add the sauce on top of the salmon and greens and serve.
FOREST TREATS (SAUTEED VEGGIES)
Ingredients:
6 oz. of carrots – peel and slice into 1-inch diagonals
6 oz. of green beans, trimmed and sliced into 1-inch diagonals
6 oz. asparagus with the ends trimmed, strings removed and cut into 1-inch diagonals
6 oz. sugar snap peas, trimmed with strings removed and cut into 1-inch diagonals
6 oz. yellow cherry tomatoes, sliced in half
2 TBS olive oil
½ small purple onion, diced
Salt, pepper to taste
¼ cup of finely chopped basil leaves
Instructions: Bring water to boil in a large pot. Add salt and carrots, cook for about 2-3 minutes. Add the rest of the veggies (besides onions, tomatoes) and cook until tender, about 2-3 minutes. Drain and transfer to a bowl of ice water to cool/blanch, draining when cooled.
Heat oil in a large skillet on low. Add onions and cook for about 4 minutes until translucent. Add blanched veggies, tomatoes, and salt/pepper to taste. Raise heat to high and cook for about 5 minutes, adding basil.
Toss to serve. It can be served under the salmon dish above—over the greens and adding the salmon sauce to it.
THREE LITTLE PIGS PORK CHOPS WITH GRANDMOTHER’S STUFFING
Ingredients: (serves 4 – calculate for the number of guests you will have)
1 cup cubed (~ ½”) bread with crusts removed
1 TBS unsalted butter
¼ cup of olive oil
½ cup sweet yellow onion, minced
¾ cup of diced celery
¼ cup mixed parsley and thyme
2 minced garlic cloves
¼ cup dry cooking sherry
2 tsp. ground coriander
½ cup chicken broth
Salt, pepper to taste
4 bone-in pork chops
Instructions: Preheat oven to 350F. Add the bread cubes on a baking sheet and toast until golden ~ 7-8 minutes. Heat the oil and butter in a pan over medium heat. Add onion and cook for about 3 minutes until golden brown. Add celery and cook for an additional 1-2 minutes. Set onions and celery aside in a bowl. Add the bread, herbs, 1 tsp. Coriander, 3 TBS broth with the onion mix, and season with salt and pepper to taste.
Stuff the pork chops with the bread mixture above. Mix the garlic, remaining coriander, salt to taste, TBS oil, and rub down the pork chops with this marinade.
Heat 2 TSP of oil in a pan on medium-high heat, add pork and cook until golden brown, about 3 minutes. Flip and repeat. Transfer the pan to the oven, and using a meat thermometer, cook until done (~ 15 min). Transfer to a covered plate.
Add cooking sherry and remaining broth in the same pan, cook until reduced, and serve with pork.
DESSERTS:
HANSEL & GRETEL'S DEEP FOREST TEMPTATION (CITRUS CARAMEL PARFAIT)
Ingredients:
3 oranges
2 blood oranges
1 pink grapefruit
2 tangerines
¼ cup cold water
1 tsp. unflavored gelatin
1 cup granulated sugar
1 TBS light corn syrup
1.5 TBS unsalted butter
1 ¾ cup heavy cream
½ cup crème fraiche
Tiny bit o’salt
Instructions: For the mousse, Place 2 TBS of cold water in a bowl and sprinkle with gelatin, letting it stand for 5 minutes. In a saucepan, add sugar, corn syrup, and ¼ cup of cold water and bring to a boil until the sugar is completely dissolved. To prevent sugar crystals from forming on the side of the pan, use a wet pastry brush or other tool to brush the mixture down. Cook until it is dark amber, about 13 minutes.
Remove from the heat, adding butter slowly, whisking after each addition to ensure the butter melts. Add ¼ cup of the crème fraiche and cream, sprinkle a little salt in the mix, and stir until smooth. Transfer the mix into a bowl and stir the gelatin mixture. Let cool and stir while cooling.
Whisk the remainder of the crème fraiche and cream in a separate bowl until peaks form. Gently fold this into the cooled caramel, cover, and refrigerate for at least 15 minutes, preferably overnight.
With the citrus fruits, carefully remove the flesh from the membranes, removing all piths.
To assemble your parfaits, arrange layers in alternating citrus and mousse and place in the refrigerator until serving. Serve with gingerbread cookies on the side.
COCKTAILS FOR ADULTS:
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TOPSY TURVY MARTINI (DISREGARD FOR TEENS)
¾ gin
2 oz. vinho verde
3 stuffed green olives
Pour gin over ice, top with vinho verde, stir. Add olives.
POPPY FIELD BLISS (DISREGARD FOR TEENS)
2 TBS red currant puree, chilled in the refrigerator
Chilled champagne
Place the currant puree in a champagne flute. Slowly pour over the champagne and serve.
BONUS ACTIVITIES
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STICK AND WIN
Objective: To have the least amount of stickers stuck on you at the end of the party.
Rules: Hand each player a sheet of stickers (~ 8-20 stickers). Once the mystery party commences, they are to sneak stickers onto the other guests. Do not use stickers that will leave a residue on clothing!
At the end of the party, you can call time and count the number of stickers on each guest. The one with the fewest stickers wins! As an alternative to gameplay, you can assign a set of specific (hopefully fairytale-themed) stickers to each player. When the host calls time, the player with the most stickers on the other guests wins.
Equipment needed: a set of fairy-tale stickers for each guest.
Playing time: ~ during the mystery party game duration.
DRAMA KINGS AND QUEENS
Objective: To be the team that can correctly guess the event that your team member is reacting to.
Rules: Divide your group into two teams. Fold and place folded into any container using the Drama Kings and Queens strips. Each team will select five actors/actresses. The teams will alternate having one player act out the scenario without speaking a word – this is a silent challenge. The team has 1 minute to correctly guess the reaction before the timer is up. The team with the most correct guesses after 5 turns each wins. In the event of a tie, a rock, paper, and scissor challenge is needed. Select a captain from each team, and the 3 out of 5 will win.
Note: you will need an impartial judge to determine if a guess should be counted as ‘correct.’
Equipment needed: strips, a container for drawing the strips, and a 1-minute timer (a smartphone can be used).
Playing time: ~ 5-10 minutes
Drama Cards:
Winning the 10 million dollar lottery
Finding a snake under your bed
Winning a 1 million dollar lottery but sharing it with 1000 people
Being chased by an angry bear
Watching a scary movie, and the monster jumps out on the screen
Riding a rollercoaster and going down the first drop down the hill
Riding a rollercoaster and going up the first hill before the drop
You’re a child arriving at an amusement park and finding out it is closed
Meeting your favorite celebrity
Blast from the past – you’re from the Ice Age but ended up in modern times
THE MAGNIFICENT FAIRYTALE MEMORY GAME
Objective: To remember the most items from the memory tray after seeing it only once.
Rules: Put random fairytale-related items on a tray or arrange them on a table (i.e., apple, toy sword, red rose, drink me vial, red bow, pocketwatch, etc.). Allow each guest to view the items for a time of 1 minute before you cover the items with a table cloth/towel/ sheet. At this time, allow your guests to write down as many items as they can remember that were presented on the tray/table. The winner is the one who can remember the most items! In the event of a tie, a ‘paper–rock–scissors’ contest will decide the winner. *You can set this up as a ‘challenge booth’ for guests to come up to and play ‘carnival style.’
Equipment needed: random items and a pen/paper for each guest.
Playing time: ~ 5-10 minutes
DARING DISGUISE CHALLENGE
Objective: to make the most creative costume out of toilet tissue!
Rules: pair the guests into groups of 2-3. Give the teams 10 minutes (or more) to create the most unique costume (i.e., long hair, beard, mustache, glasses, etc.) by using one (or more) roll(s) of toilet tissue. Scotch tape is allowed and should be available to all teams as they need it. The teams can make as much of the costume as they would like – either choosing to spend more time on the intricate details or to go all out and try to make the entire costume. When the time is up and/or the guests are finished creating their costumes, one at a time, the costume models are to model their disguises. The host judges or the guests vote via a ballot for the best and most creative costume. In the case of a tie via ballot, the host will be the tiebreaker.
Props needed: You may have as many rolls of toilet paper as you wish available, but it should be an event amount for each team. A suggestion would be three rolls per team.
Time needed: approximately 15 minutes.
FAIRYTALE RAP CONTEST
Objective: to be the most talented rapping duo at the party!
Rules: pair the guests into groups of 2. Give the teams 10 minutes (or more) to create a unique 30-second RAP routine for the group. The teams are to write lyrics about what they feel about the fairy tale characters in the game. Play any rap beats repeatedly in the background so the teams have ample time to practice with the music.
When the time is up and/or the guests are finished creating their routines, one at a time, the guests are to perform their rap routines for the other guests. The host will judge, or the guests will vote via a ballot for the best rap routine. In the case of a tie, the host will be the tiebreaker.
Props needed: any type of rap beats and a music source to play them with. (Rap beat tracks (mp3s) are available for purchase and instant download on mymysteryparty.com within the Mystery Prop Emporium section.)
Time needed: approximately 30 minutes.
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FAIRYTALE TRIVIA QUEST
Objective: Test guests' knowledge of classic fairytales with a fun trivia challenge!
Instructions: Divide guests into teams of 2-4 players each. Prepare a list of trivia questions about popular fairytales such as Cinderella, Snow White, Little Red Riding Hood, etc. Each team takes turns answering questions, earning points for each correct answer. The team with the most points at the end wins. To add a magical twist, incorporate bonus questions or challenges where teams must act out scenes from fairytales or recite famous lines.
Props needed: None required, but you may provide pen and paper for teams to jot down answers.
Time needed: Approximately 20-30 minutes, depending on the number of questions and teams.
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ENCHANTED TREASURE HUNT
Objective: Embark on a magical treasure hunt to find hidden fairy tale items!
Instructions: Prior to the party, hide various fairy tale-themed items or pictures throughout the party venue, such as toy crowns, magic wands, fairy figurines, etc. Provide guests with a list of items to find and a basket or bag to collect them in. Set a time limit and let the guests roam around the venue in search of the hidden treasures. The guest or team who finds the most items within the time limit wins a prize.
Props needed: Hidden fairy tale items, baskets, or bags for collecting.
Time needed: Approximately 20-30 minutes, depending on the number of hidden items and the size of the venue.
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FAIRYTALE CHARADES
Objective: Act out popular fairy tale characters and scenes in a lively game of charades!
Instructions: Divide guests into teams of 3-5 players each. Prepare a list of fairy tale characters, scenes, and objects on separate slips of paper and place them in a bowl. One player from each team takes turns drawing a slip of paper and silently acting out the word or phrase written on it while their team tries to guess. Set a time limit for each round and award points to teams for correctly guessed answers. The team with the most points at the end wins.
Props needed: Slips of paper with fairy tale characters, scenes, and objects written on them.
Time needed: Approximately 20-30 minutes, depending on the number of rounds and teams.
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MAGICAL STORY CIRCLE
Objective: Collaboratively create a whimsical fairy tale story with a twist!
Instructions: Have all guests sit in a circle. Start by introducing the beginning of a fairy tale story, setting the scene, and introducing a few characters. Then, choose one guest to continue the story by adding their own twist or plot development. Each guest takes turns adding a new element to the story, building upon what the previous person said. Encourage creativity and imagination as the story unfolds, and allow guests to take the tale in unexpected directions. The story continues until it reaches a satisfying conclusion or runs its course.
Props needed: None required, but you may provide a notebook or whiteboard for jotting down key plot points.
Time needed: Approximately 20-30 minutes, depending on the number of guests and the length of the story.