If you’re lonesome tonight, and you’ve lost that lovin’ feeling, you better start to shake, rattle, and roll: the Elvis Presley theme party is coming to the building!

For almost half a century, the music of the King of Rock and Roll still rules the airwaves. People who lived during the heyday of Elvis have that nostalgic feeling for songs like “Can’t Help Falling in Love,” “That’s All Right,” and “Heartbreak Hotel.” Many listeners today who were born after Elvis passed away are still rockin’ and rollin’ to the tune of many post-released compilations, like the 1968 Comeback Special and many cover versions of his legendary hits. Elvis has yet to leave the building, if you consider his music and the lifestyle of rock and roll for your next party theme.

Dancin’ to the Jailhouse Rock

You don’t need to throw a party in the county jail when you plan your Elvis party. Compared to other costume parties, Elvis themes are relatively affordable. You don’t need to spend too much money or exert a lot of effort to throw an Elvis bash.

The important thing to remember is that the music of Elvis and the lifestyle of rock and roll should be the main themes of your celebration. Here are some things you should include to make your Elvis-themed party a success:

• Music. Elvis Presley is a legend in the recording industry. He is a multi-platinum selling artist who still continues to sell millions of albums 30 years after his death. You would be hard-pressed not to find original Elvis albums or greatest hits compilations from music stores. When you plan your Elvis party, make sure to have lots of Elvis’ own music blaring from your sound system. Cover versions of Elvis hits also work well to give your party a more contemporary twist. If karaoke is your thing, you can also have your guests sing along to many of Elvis’ timeless classic hits.
• Elvis décor and memorabilia. Nothing says “Elvis” more than the image of the King of Rock and Roll. Posters and standees of Elvis Presley can still be bought from music stores or from specialty goods shops. Posters are quite affordable; if you can’t find a particular poster of Elvis, you can go to a print shop to have a custom poster made for a fair price. Standees are a bit more expensive, and you may have to pay extra bucks for a full-sized two-dimensional replica of the King.
• Bands and musical instruments. Elvis made his name in the recording industry for his exciting and thrilling live performances. While Elvis can’t rise from his grave in Graceland, his spirit lives on through his music. You can hire live bands to perform Elvis music in your party, or you and your friends can show off your musical talent by performing Elvis’ greatest hits yourself.

Elvis presley poster

Elvis presley album

When to Throw an Elvis Party

Elvis parties are a great way to celebrate everything from birthdays to weddings. For true blue Elvis fans, many memorable moments in The King’s history can be celebrated with an Elvis bash:

• 

  Elvis presley birthday cake
  January 8, 1935: Elvis’ birthday.
• July 18, 1953: Elvis makes his first recording with Sun Records.
• January 31, 1955: Elvis releases his debut album under the RCA label.
• September 9, 1956: Elvis makes it to the mainstream with his first appearance at the Ed Sullivan Show.
• December 3, 1968: After a lengthy absence from the recording industry, Elvis returns to live performance with the legendary 1968 Comeback Special.
• August 16, 1977: Elvis’ death anniversary.

Invites and RSVPs

One way to make a creative invitation or RSVP for an Elvis party is to use the songs of The King to invite your friends to be guests at the bash. Many of the songs and lyrics penned by Elvis make for good spiels for an invite or an RSVP. Here are some Elvis songs with lyrics that you can use for your invites:

• “A Little Less Conversation”
• “Come Everybody”
• “Everybody Come Aboard”
• “Find Out What’s Happenin’”
• “When The Saints Come Marchin’ In”

Elvis Costumes and Impersonators

One of the best ways to pay homage to Elvis Presley is to dress and act like him. Many revel in the juke and jive of many Elvis hits dressed like The King himself. If you plan to make your Elvis party a costume party, then you can break out the rhinestone-studded jackets and the bell-bottom pants to get a feel for the King. If you don’t have apparel from the Elvis era somewhere in your attic or your closet, you can go to a second-hand clothing store to buy an outfit for your Elvis costume party. You can also pay a visit to the salon and get your hair styled in that swept look Elvis was famous for.

Another way to spice up your Elvis party is to hire an Elvis impersonator. For many Elvis impersonators, imitation is the best form of flattery. The best Elvis impersonators bring The King back to life with their very realistic portrayal of Elvis’ mannerisms, clichés, and stage performances. To have more fun and save on expenses, you can also have your friends imitate Elvis’ mannerisms the best way they can. You can also have prizes in store for the best Elvis impersonations during the party.

Eatin’ Like Elvis

Elvis Presley was known and beloved for his taste in good food. Some may say that his indulgence in food caused his undoing and his eventual death, but no party will be complete without good food to feed your guests.

Party food does not need to be complicated, and it doesn’t require a lot of time and effort to prepare. Here are some foodstuffs you can try for your Elvis-themed bash:

Hound Dog Hot Dogs

A fully-loaded hot dog is a filling meal by itself, and “Hound Dog” was one of Elvis’ most popular recordings in 1956. To make hot dogs fit for The King himself, here’s a recipe you can try:

• Cut a sesame hot dog bun and slather it with mustard, mayonnaise, and ketchup.
• Fill the bun with a boiled hot dog, lettuce, onions, tomatoes, and fried bacon strips.
• To add an extra bit of hearty goodness to the submarine sandwich, smother the filling with chili con carne. While the sandwich is anything but a healthy snack option, Elvis himself would be chowing down on it in no time.

Fried Corn… All Shook Up

Elvis had a soft spot for down-home cookin’. Elvis was born in the South, which is known for its simple but hearty foods and cooking methods. Fried corn was a particular favorite of Elvis. You can add a tasty new twist to this traditional Southern recipe and use it as a snack or a dip:

Deliciuos fried corn
• Prepare the corn kernels by scraping the kernels from the ears of corn with the back of a knife.
• In a heavy skillet, heat through some bacon grease or a piece of fatback. Use enough bacon grease to cover the bottom of the pan. You can use butter, but bacon grease or fatback has more flavor.
• When the grease is hot enough, add the corn kernels. Cook the corn for about 20 minutes, or until the corn is cooked through and the skins of the kernels are crisp. Season with salt, sugar, and cracked black pepper.

Smokey Mountain Catfish

Like many Southern foods, Elvis loved catfish. Country fried catfish is very easy to prepare, and you can’t go wrong with whipping up a batch to serve as an appetizer or as a main course:

• Dredge catfish fillets in milk, salt and pepper, corn meal, and cracked black pepper.
• Fry some bacon in a pan, and save the drippings and the bacon bits.
• Fry the breaded catfish in the bacon drippings until fully cooked and golden brown.
• Serve the catfish with fried tomatoes and a bowl of grits.

Blueberry Hill Hawaiian Punch

For a refreshing non-alcoholic drink, you can prepare a funky-looking punch to quench your thirst. Just mix together the following ingredients in a punch bowl:

• Clear lemon-lime soda
• Tonic water
• Oranges studded with cloves
• Blue curaçao drink mixer
• Lemon or peach flavored iced tea

Party Favors: “Thank You, Thank You Very Much”

To end your party on a good note, you should give away party favors to your guests. Party favors for an Elvis party should also be consistent with the theme of the King of Rock and Roll. Here are some cool party favors you can give away at the end of your party:

• Blue Suede Shoes. You can go to a shoemaker or a person who makes customized curios and handicrafts to make token mementos like blue suede shoes. People will be reminded for years about the cool Elvis Presley party you once hosted.
• Keys to the Heartbreak Hotel. You can buy sets of small tin keys from any hardware store. Attach a cardboard monogram that leads to a fictional room at the “Heartbreak Hotel,” to remind your guests of that place at the end of one lonely street.
• Towels. You can give away personalized monogrammed hand towels to remind your guests that the King’s spirit was once in your building.

With an Elvis-themed party, your guests are sure not to be cruel, have a wooden heart, and return your invite to the sender. With a carefully planned Elvis party, you’re sure to know that the party is all right, and everything will burst apart with sweet memories. If you enjoy reading this article, you’ll surely be interested in learning how to plan a surprise party.

Watch Elvis presley Hound dog