Planning Party Food for Your Hoe Down

Yee Ha! It’s time to wrastle up some fun for a western party complete with authentic grub (i.e. delicious western party food).

Western theme party ideas start and end with good food. You can have a chuck wagon dinner, a barbeque or a milk can supper as part of your western hoe down. If you don’t want to feed your cowpokes an entire western meal, serve root beer floats in old-fashioned mugs or cow pie pudding cake. (Yes, it looks just like it sounds.)

For a child’s western birthday party, make a cake in the shape of a cowboy boot or horseshoe. Novelty cake pans are available at kitchen and party supply stores. Find a pinata to fit the western theme and give each little whippersnapper a sheriff’s badge as a party favor.

At a western theme party for adults, dinner can be the main event. Here are two sample menus for western parties. You can mix and match these food ideas…

Outdoor Western Party Menu

• Barbecued ribs cooked on the grill
• Corn on the cob
• Baked potatoes or home fries
• Cole Slaw
• Beer or Root Beer
• Homemade Ice Cream
• Brownies

Indoor Western Party Menu

• Chili
• Meat, Cheese and Crackers
• Relishes
• Pop
• Apple Pie with Ice Cream

To create a western feel, decorate the party tables with gingham tablecloths and use red bandanas for napkins. Cowboy hats can be used for centerpieces or serving dishes. Turn a western hat upside down, line it with a bandana and fill it with peanuts in the shell.

For other western party decorations, make wanted posters featuring pictures of the guest of honor. If you’re celebrating a birthday, the posters can feature a picture of the honoree in his younger days and say, “Wanted: Long Lost Youth.” Give the party a good western feel by playing country music on the stereo or asking a friend to bring a guitar. If you have a fireplace or fire pit, invite party guests to gather round for a sing along.

Related Articles

• The Coolest Kids Birthday Cakes
• Choosing the Right Party Foods

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