Election Day Party Ideas: 5 ways to make Nov. 8 as tolerable as possible
It's almost Election Day, when (God willing) the country will finally find out once and for all whether Hillary Clinton or Donald Trump will take over the Oval Office. The stakes are higher than ever and the night may end with the election of the first-ever female president of the United States. If that's not worth a party, we don't know what is.
Don your pantsuit (or orange self-tanner) and follow Mic's top five tips for hosting the perfect election night party:
1. Make a presidential playlist.
Set the mood at your election night party with a playlist of songs suited for the occasion, from distinctly American hits like "Born in the USA" and "Party in the USA" to the songs the candidates have adopted on the campaign trail, including "Fight Song" by Rachel Platten and Twisted Sister's "We're Not Gonna Take It." If you're pulling for Clinton, get pumped up for a historic win by blasting some Beyoncé and other female-led anthems — but in the event things don't turn out quite as planned, maybe throw in REM's "It's the End of the World as We Know It (And I Feel Fine)" just in case.
2. Color in electoral maps.
Adult coloring books have soared in popularity lately due to their therapeutic properties — and when will you need that more than Election Day? So take a deep breath and break out the crayons: Round up some red and blue crayons or markers and print out blank electoral maps for your guests, two each — one for predictions and one for results.
3. Patriotic refreshments
If Election Day is any reflection of the months that led up to it, it'd be wise to prepare for a long night. Make sure your guests have plenty of sustenance by serving up a variety of election-themed treats. Classic American fare is always a good option, whether that means apple pie or red, white and blue goodies like patriotic popcorn, tie-dyed fudge or cheesecake-stuffed strawberries. Hosts can also take a culinary cue from the candidates: Delish noted Clinton's preferred snacks are raw jalapeños, hummus, mocha cake and Dove ice cream bars, while Trump goes for Oreos, Diet Coke, cherry-vanilla ice cream and See's Candies. Clinton is also known for toting around Ninja Squirrel Sriracha sauce, while Trump is a known fast food junkie, having posed for pictures with both McDonald's and KFC meals.
4. Election-themed party games
While you're waiting around for states to be called, keep your guests distracted with a variety of election-themed games. Have everyone show off their knowledge with a round of presidential trivia, or "Make America _____ Again" with a game of Trump-tweet Mad Libs. Guests can also stay tuned to the election coverage by taking part in election bingo or a good drinking game when things get tough.
5. Balloons
Use this tutorial to make your own balloon drop. Because, as Bill Clinton would likely agree, there's no better way to celebrate the big moment once it arrives.
