Shark Week has been a national phenomenon for years. The Discovery Channel pays homage to the misunderstood underwater creatures people find so fascinating in a weeklong programming special each summer. This year, it takes place earlier than ever and we are smack dab in the middle of it! Each year, Shark Week seems to get a bigger and better following, giving way to specialty themed cocktails, celebrations, clothing and even parties. We dipped our toes in the water to try our hand at throwing a killer Shark Week party. Here’s some tips and tricks on how to host your own:
Reel in your guests with some tasty shark bait! Everyone knows you can’t have a party without food and we all know sharks have some killer appetites. Stick with the theme and keep things simple. Finger foods are always best for parties. We started off with plenty of snacks, including GoldFish, Swedish Fish candies, and sand buckets full of chips. For an added touch, we added red food coloring to our dip to make it look like bloody water, and added some swimming fish and a shark fin on top. Bonus points for serving it in a themed dish (starfish!).
Make sure to have something a little more substantial on hand, as well. We went with shrimp cocktail, but smoked salmon on crackers, fish dip, or sushi would also work very well. When it comes to dessert, make sure to impressive your guests with some fintastic options. A homemade shark cake is sure to get people drooling and DIY donut lifesavers are also fun and easy to make. Add in some distressed Teddy Grahams or take a bite out of one for some additional sharkspiration. Talk about a feeding frenzy!
Make sure there’s enough booze to allow your guests to drink like fish! Sharks can’t survive without their ocean and we can’t survive without our liquids, either. Luckily, there’s tons of beers that will fit in well with your theme — Landshark, Dogfish Head, Harpoon, Great White and Anchor Steam Beer are all good options. While there aren’t any Mako Merlots out there, if you search (and rescue) hard enough, you can find suitable wine options, like Greg Norman Shark Red or Shark Bay Wine. You can also make a big splash with specialty cocktails or themed Jell-O Shots.
Attack the decor! No fete is complete without special decorations and styling. Keep it under the sea, with shark and underwater creature decals, fishing net, anchors, lifesavers, boats and anything nautical you can get your hands on. Don’t have a lot of space? No problem! We managed in a tiny NYC apartment.
No shirt, no shoes, no problem! Themed attire makes any party that much more fun, so for Shark Week, opt for anything shark-related, be it special clothing, beachwear, costumes, or more. Discover Channel sells some bloody good gear, and K. Bell just launched a new line of Sharknado 3 socks that will fit right in. Add final touches like shark tooth jewelry, fake blood, sunscreen, or goggles and you’ll be ready to dive on in!
Twisted Talk: How do you celebrate Shark Week? What are some of your killer party ideas? Discuss below!
