Costumes & Accessories (9) / Party Supplies (2)

Indiana Jones Party

Table of contents

Introduction

Do you love adventure combined with a little bit of intellect? Are you one of those who harbor a fascination for lost cultures and ancient treasures? Well, if so, then our Indiana Jones themed-party is the one you have been waiting for! And to help you along the way, we've put together a list of the most essential party tips and ideas which you can use to make your Indiana Jones party an unforgettable event. But first, a little background on the man himself.

 

Created by George Lucas, Dr. Henry Walton "Indiana" Jones, Jr. first appeared in Raiders of the Lost Ark, 1981. The film, set in 1936, tells the story of a distinguished archeology professor, Dr. Jones, who lectures at the fictional Marshall University in Connecticut and is set on the trail of the Ark of the Covenant – which, at the same time, is sought by the Nazis. It becomes a match of daring, whit and luck as the two sides try to throw each other off the trail of the Ark. But, we all know who wins.

 

The second Indiana Jones film is entitled Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom, and was released in 1984. This film is actually a prequel to the first one as it was set in 1935 - a year before the events of Raiders of the Lost Ark. During this film Indiana has to show his strength and survive countless horrors while trying to recover the lost Sankara Stones and save children from the feared Thuggee cult – all set in India.

 

The penultimate Indiana Jones film - Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade - is set in 1938 with the ultimate quest at hand: the recovery of the Holy Grail. In this installment Jones again fights the Nazis to recover one of the world's most sacred relics.

 

And finally, we come to the last installment of the Indiana Jones film series: Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull. This film portrays an older Indiana Jones who tries to restore a crystal skull to its original location while fighting a number of soviet agents who've got their own plans.

 

And just in case you are entirely new to the Indiana Jones film series, here are a couple of things you should know:

  • The name "Indiana" was actually the name of Dr. Jones' pet dog when he was a kid.

  • His trademark clothing and accessories include a fedora hat, a leather jacket, a bag (Mark VII British gas mask bag - modified), pistol and Indy boots.

  • He is played by Harrison Ford in all four of the Indiana Jones films.

Back to top

Indiana Jones Party Invitations

To start off you’ll have to create invitations that will convince your guests that this will be the only party worth attending this year. As such, they’ll have to be in line with the Indiana Jones theme. Below you’ll find a number of ideas which you can use at your own leisure. Should you not have any of the items, buy them from your local Indiana Jones Retailer or off the internet. In addition, include all the details listed below to ensure that your guests have all the information they need.

  • Party Name: Be creative! Think along the lines of the film titles: “Ben’s Indiana Jones and the Elixir of Life Party”.

  • Salutation

  • Date & Time

  • Venue/Location

  • Dress Code

  • Contact Details

  • Additional information…

Back to top

Indiana Skull

For this invitation you’ll need a fake worn and dusty skull and custom-made stickers of your party name in the Indiana Jones font. You’ll need one of each for every invitation you want to send out, so be sure to get enough.

 

Once you have everything, simply adhere the sticker to an appropriate place on the skull (typically on top). Next you’ll want to do some work on the invitation details. If your skull has a flat, solid base, then write the details on the invitation on the flat area. If your skull doesn’t have an area for writing, consider creating small paper-based invitations which can be rolled up and stuck between the teeth of the skull.

 

When writing your invitation, be sure to use an appropriate font and include a couple of hieroglyphs or ancient symbols to add to the Indiana Jones authenticity.

Back to top

Treasure Chest

In case you haven’t realized yet, Indiana Jones is all about treasure! Whether it’s a crystal skull or the Holy Grail, he’s there. And as you can imagine, treasure chests always feature somewhere along the line (with any amount of corpses too!).

 

To create this invitation, you’ll have to purchase a miniature treasure chest from the appropriate retailer in your area or from the internet. Remember to get one for each guest or at least one per couple. In addition to the treasure chest, create a paper-based invitation with the details of the party (but be sure to have it printed on gold paper). Oh, and don’t forget lots of shiny and glittering little beads.

 

Once you have all the items, simply fill the treasure chest with the beads and lay the invitation (printed on gold-colored paper) on the heap. It’s a simple as that and will be a real find for those who get invited!

Back to top

Treasure Map

Indy would be lost without a map – and so would your guests be if you didn’t supply them with one to reach your mystical kingdom (ok, just the party venue really, but ‘mystical kingdom’ sounds good).

 

Now, you could print this on paper, or you could really go for gold and print it on pieces of old worn material or even leather. Remember to design a map on your computer first – typically it should be on one side of the map along with the party name while the rest of the details are on the other side. Once done, take the sheets of material or leather to a printing firm in your area and make use of their services.

Back to top

Indiana Jones Party Dress Code

As mentioned before, Indian Jones’ items he always have with him include the fedora hat, the leather jacket, the whip, Indy boots (now available commercially), the modified Mark VII British gas mask bag and a pistol.

 

As you won’t be fighting any Nazi’s on the eve of your party you won’t need a real pistol. But most of the other things are pretty much a ‘must’ if your guests intend to come as Indiana Jones (including the women). Additional costumes for those who are not coming as Indiana Jones includes that of an Indian priest, a Nazi soldier (take care not to wear any offensive symbols or signs), a British explorer, etc.

Indiana Jones Party Decorations

When it comes to decorations for your Indiana Jones party, just think in terms of Egyptian tombs and remote jungles.

 

As such, you’ll want a combination of lush greenery with a number of dusty (fake) old ruins. A couple of tombstones wouldn’t hurt either. In addition, add some cobwebs, large fake spiders, a couple of plastic snakes and any number of skulls as well as fake skeletons and bones for the sake of authenticity. As for cups and plates, well, be sure to get your hands on those made out of tin as he certainly didn’t carry the fine china with him on his expeditions.

 

For those who want to go a little bit further, get your hands on a large treasure chest and fill it with fake gold coins and rubies.

Back to top

Indiana Jones Party Guest Arrival & Announcement

As Indiana never really took the trouble to announce his guests in the jungle or while out in the dessert, a simple introduction between friends wouldn’t be out of place.

Indiana Jones Party Favors

As for party favors, the skies are the limit. Consider getting each one of your guests a trademark Fedora hat, should they not already have one. Otherwise you may do well to invest in the miniature treasure chest idea as described in our invitations above. For those who want to put in a little bit more effort, consider buying a couple of fake medallions and having them engraved with any number of ancient symbols as well as the party name and the date.

 

As you can see, you only need to use your imagination when it comes to party favors. And if you’re still stuck, just ask yourself: “What would Indy do?”

Back to top

Indiana Jones Party Activities

Indiana Jones Film Marathon

We thought about saving the best for last with this one, but honest, no Indiana Jones party would be complete without an Indiana Jones film marathon. As said before, there are four Indiana Jones movies for you and your guests to enjoy:

  • Raiders of the Lost Ark

  • Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom

  • Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade

  • Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull

Back to top

Treasure Hunt

Invite your guests to be Indiana Jones and his companions for the evening by hiding an ‘ancient relic’ somewhere where no one will be able to get it. Once hidden, think of a number of clues that will keep all concerned entertained for a couple of hours. These clues can be a combination of maps, and old historic trivia – all relating to the item that has been hidden.

 

To make it even more interesting, ensure that the clues you create blend in with your decorations. That way you’ll be able to tell your guests that they’ve been two feet away from the answer the whole time.

History Trivia

Although professor Jones was an archeologist, he was nevertheless very much clued up on his history. In fact, the two go hand-in-hand. Get yourself an ancient history trivia set from your local trivia supplier or from the internet.

 

This is an activity that will keep everyone bound and interested and will ensure that they leave with a bit more knowledge than they initially came with.

Back to top

Food & Drink

Hmm, let’s see now: worms, spiders, water… Only kidding. Even though Indiana Jones seldom had the comfort of 5 star restaurants, you needn’t go jungle with your cuisine. Serving some elegant dishes on tin plates and some fine wine in tin cups will make for a nice contrast.

 

Snacks

  • Grilled Taco Nachos

  • Jalapeno Muffins

  • Poppy Seed Dinner Rolls

  • Cheese Platter

 

Main Courses

  • Beef fillets in wine

  • Grilled Rib Eye Steaks

  • Root beer Chicken

  • Pork Medallions

 

Drinks

  • Wines

  • Beers

  • Ales

  • Liquors

Back to top

Reader ideas