Have you ever been to a Repeal Day celebration? Gaining in popularity, Repeal Day parties are throw on December 5 to celebrate the anniversary of the end of Prohibition. Repeal Day is the perfect opportunity to gather friends for a celebratory drink (or two!). Request their presence at your Repeal Day Costume Soiree with a fun invitation that looks like a December 5, 1933 newspaper cover that says, “PROHIBITION ENDS AT LAST – Let’s Party Like it’s 1933!”
Entertaining and Music
Request your guests come to the celebration in costume wearing their best 1930s garb. For ladies, this could mean a chemise evening gown, fur stole, pearls, and a hat, while for men it could be dapper suit and fedora hat (think Daisy and Tom Buchanan).
Swing era music will set the tone for your party perfectly. Think Glen Miller, Benny Goodman, Nat King Cole, and toe-tapping big band music. Pandora has a great Swing Radio station, or you could put a playlist together on Spotify. If you really want to get your guests moving, hire a local jazz big band to play at the party, and perhaps even bring in a dance instructor to teach the group popular 30s dances like the Big Apple, the Charleston, and the Jitterbug. Also popular during this time were dance marathons to see who can stay on their feet the longest, so you could turn the dancing into a friendly competition.
For other entertainment, consider hiring some casino games like black jack, craps, and roulette.
Finally, to document everyone’s costumes, be sure to set up a photo booth with some great 1930s accessories, such as feather boas, fedora hats, cigarette holders, and empty alcohol bottles.
Décor
For décor, begin with a large celebratory banner that mimics those classic Repeal Day images. For example, your sign could say, “Happy Days Are BEER Again” or “Good Old Days Are Back Again!”
For the rest of the décor, use a black and gold color palette. Blow up tons of gold and black balloons, tie them with ribbons, and let them float to the ceiling so the ribbons cascade down over the party. Cover the tables with black tablecovers and for centerpieces fill tall vases with large, decorative feathers. For mood lighting, light lots of candles and string white Christmas lights around the room.
Food
To eat, serve a spread of classic hors d’oeuvres that are Gatsby party-worthy. For example, serve shrimp cocktail, stuffed mushrooms, deviled eggs, a cheeseboard, and charcuterie. Go glam with the desserts by serving French macarons, chocolate-dipped strawberries, and truffles. Serve the foods on black and gold glittery plates to match the décor.
To drink, serve a spread of wines, beers, and probation-era cocktails, such as the gin fizz and highball. And don’t forget some champagne to toast the end of Prohibition! Set up a great bar stocked with alcohols and mixers, ice, tumblers, stemware, and tools like shakers, strainers, and jiggers. Pour wines and liquors into cut glass decanters for an extra glam touch.
Are you attending or throwing a Repeal Day party this year?