- Date: July 12, 2024
- Topic: Events
- By: Peerspace
Source: Peerspace
Going away parties are bittersweet events where you might feel disappointed to be losing someone close to you yet thrilled for their new plans. So why not make the best of it by choosing a going away party theme that’s funny or festive? From food tours to rooftop soirees, Peerspace has some of the most unique party ideas around! Take a look at our favorite going away party themes for an upcoming special event!
1. Take a food tour of your city
Saying goodbye to a good friend? Take them to a few of the restaurants around town as a grand send off! The exact kind of food tour depends on how good the culinary scene is in your city. You could check out the top taco trucks, hit up some gastropubs, or choose a specific cuisine that the city is famous for! When your friend leaves they won’t forget the grub that your home city is best known for!
2. Rent a downtown rooftop party venue
A going away party should have a venue to match the importance of the occasion. So why not choose a space where you can celebrate the location they’re in now? A downtown rooftop space can offer unbeatable views of the skyline and skyscrapers if you live in a major city.
Peerspace has hundreds of rooftop party venues for a going away party, like this penthouse in San Francisco, CA, with 2,745 sq. ft. of space for an unforgettable event!
3. Break free of an escape room
Escape rooms are fun going away party themes because the guest of honor is literally “escaping” from the area! The idea is playful yet you can also enjoy the thrill of breaking free from an escape room. These venues come with themes of their own, including the hold of a pirate ship or a murder mystery mansion.
4. Treat them to their favorite local restaurant
A nice dinner for your friend or family member who is leaving is a great way to show them how much you care! Get reservations to their favorite restaurant or treat them to a place they’ve never been before. If you want a restaurant that’s guaranteed to be a memorable affair, check out places reviewed by the Michelin Guide!
5. Host a map party
Maps are critical for planning any upcoming trip. If your friend who is going away is a known adventurer, hang up as many maps as you can find! You can even include games like treasure hunts and book an escape room adventure for the map party!
Discover even more unforgettable going away party ideas here to cover all your party-planning bases!
6. Have a spa party
Since you won’t be seeing your friend or family member for quite some time, it would be nice to spend some quality time with them beforehand. Why not take them to a spa for the day? Spa treatments include full body massages, sound baths, fruit smoothies, and hot water soaks. Bring the spa party home with wellness-themed food options and a party space with a jacuzzi. You can even rent a few masseuses for everyone to enjoy!
7. Make travel the theme
Everyone will be thinking about the guest of honor’s upcoming travels…So why not make travel the going away party theme? Photos, videos, and props that have trains, planes, boats, and cars are very easy to find! Travel songs, fake passports to stamp, paper plane tickets…There is so much you can do to create a fun travel-themed party!
8. Choose an international destination as the theme
What if the person being celebrated is heading to a specific destination abroad? Maybe they are beginning a study abroad program in Europe or heading to Asia to teach ESL. In that case, the going away party theme should be all about the specific country or region they’re headed to! Make Chinese cuisine and decorations, serve Parisian wine and cheese, or throw a Mexican fiesta; whichever is the best match for their final destination!
9. Take a DIY crafts course together to make memories
You can rest assured your friend or family member will never forget you, no matter how long they are away from home. But you can still make some lasting memories together with a DIY crafts course. Paint pictures, make charm bracelets, or even create a song together! Just be sure to choose crafts that will be easy for them to take with them; a vase or framed painting might not make it past baggage claim…
10. Take a glamping trip together
For a truly unique going away party theme, take everyone out on a trip away from the city! Don’t bother dusting off the tents, however. Not when you could make it a glamping trip instead! Glamping is far cozier than regular camping; you could book a mountain yurt or tiny house on the beach instead of a dirt camping spot. This 200-acre ranch with glamping in Shelbyville, MO, is a prime example of how cozy the outdoors can be!
11. Remembering old times
Revisit the memories of all of the good times you shared together as a party theme! Watching old movies of childhood games, browsing a photo album, and playing games that test how well you know them all reinforce the many good memories you share.
12. Rent a video game arcade bar
A going away party should be a chance to celebrate in a space with as many fun things to do as possible! How about booking an arcade, where you have games, beer, food, and a private party room to celebrate in? Many arcade bars also have classic non-electronic games like skee ball, foosball, table tennis, and more to enjoy!
13. Throw a packing party
Packing for an upcoming trip doesn’t need to be a dull affair. Not when you and your friends and family can help a traveler pack with a packing party! Bring small tokens of your affection like photos and snacks that won’t take up too much space. A packing party can also be practical; help your friend load their moving truck and celebrate in the empty house or backyard with pizza and beer!
14. Have a backyard barbecue party
A backyard barbecue is a truly traditional way to celebrate a going away party. It’s a wonderful theme because as an outdoor party, you can have nice amenities like a barbecue, fire pit, pool, and volleyball net. Include some of our favorite outdoor party games to keep the fun going well into the night!
15. Surprise party!
Make your upcoming going away event a surprise party! Let them come home to a room decorated for a celebration, filled with food and friends wanting to wish them well! A surprise party is perfect for a family member or roommate since you’ll likely already have access to their living space, making it easy to coordinate party setup with your guests!
Check out our step-by-step guide to planning an epic surprise party if you never have before and start planning like a pro!
16. Sing together during a karaoke party
Karaoke parties are fun for any occasion so why not bring friends and family together for a song-filled going away party? You can sing to a crowd at an open mic karaoke club but a private karaoke room is an even better experience! You’ll have a lounge with seating for dozens of guests in a private room where no one will be embarrassed to sing in front of strangers. Karaoke room rentals also offer food, drinks, and a machine loaded with hit songs all to yourselves!
17. Plan a party with an awards ceremony
Is your friend who is going away great at anything in particular? If so, then make the going away party a celebration of all of their accomplishments! You can have a toast to how wonderful they are and then have guests offer awards based on true (or funny) things about your mutual relationship.
18. Have dinner with a potluck party
A potluck party is one of the best ways to have a dinner party that doesn’t involve you doing all of the cooking! Everyone gets to bring a dish to help celebrate; plus you all get to see how good everyone else is in the kitchen! Make sure there is a sign-up sheet that is easily accessible online or in a shared space so no one doubles up on a dish or forgets the drinks.
19. New career-themed party
Is your friend or family member going away to begin a new career? Make the party career-themed; include hospital scrubs for a new doctor, a fancy restaurant look for a chef, a classroom for a newly minted teacher, and so on!
20. College-themed party
Do you have a son, daughter, or friend who is heading to college? Make college the going away party theme! Get some clothes with the sporting mascot on them, banners with the college colors, and other decorations for the venue. Don’t forget food from any places nearby if the college is in a new city or state!
Unique going away party themes: conclusion
A going away party should not be a sad affair. Make it festive and fun by choosing one of the 20 going away party themes we’ve included here! Peerspace is all about helping people make lasting memories so we hope you’ve found something useful here. By the way, we also have one of the largest online collections of party halls for special occasions of all kinds! Do take a look while you’re here with us!
