March Madness Party Time
Basketball Party Ideas

"...a little March Madness may contribute to sanity"
Henry V. Porter, 1939

March Madness basketball cake idea: use an oven-ready glass bowl to create a dome cake, then decorate with orange and chocolate icing.

Every March the college basketball world goes crazy for the NCAA Championship games and the fans love every minute of it.

The party starts with the best men's and women's college basketball teams and works its way down to 16 - then 8 - then 4 with the final two playing the Championship Game.

What's the only cure for March Madness? A basketball party, of course.

Whether it's for the Sweet 16, Elite 8, Final Four or the Championship...it's time to get all of your B-Ball loving friends together for a great time watching great basketball!

March Madness invitation ideas – This is easy to do with just a printer. Go to a site where you can download basketball clipart or grab a copy of the current updated brackets. Use this as the background for your invitation - all you need to do is fill in the date of your party for your own fun invitations.

Ideally you should send invites 2 to 3 weeks in advance, but if you're planning a party for the Sweet 16 or Elite 8 regionals or any of the games coming up soon, you can either use your favorite social media site or email your guests with the details.

If you'd like your guests to bring snacks, wine or beer, let them know what to bring in the invitation. Tell them when and where you'll be watching the games and let them know if you'll be hanging out before or afterward...

Decorating ideas - There are plenty of places online to get basketball themed party supplies - or check your local party supply store. You can also get creative and make banners for the NCAA teams who'll be the entertainment at your party using old sheets or poster board from your local art supply store.

Banners can be used to gather fans of opposing teams to keep them from getting too close in your party space - or just spread the banners around if your friends are easy going and don't get upset at dirty fouls!

Faux basketball hoops can be made from wire hangers and pieces of cloth... you can even put bowls inside the hoops to serve your March Madness Party snacks in true hoopster style. Plastic plates and cups in team colors fit the theme and make cleanup a breeze.

Party activities – You know the main activity will be watching the players on the screen so don't get too stressed thinking about other games to keep your guests busy. During commercials, you can have quick March Madness trivia contest or try a "mini pool" with just the teams you'll be watching. Let each guest pick the winners, the losers and the scores when they arrive - whoever comes closest to the real results wins a prize!

The main ingredient of a successful Sweet Sixteen, Elite Eight, Final Four or Championship party is to have plenty of snacks, a good supply of drinks - both with and without alcohol - and plenty of comfortable seats positioned to watch the game. (You might even want to put a radio in the bathroom for those who need to be away from the action!)

If you want designated smoking areas at your March Madness Party, tell people beforehand and make sure to have a small TV or radio in the smoker's area. Finally, make sure you have a few designated drivers on hand in case anyone celebrates their teams win or loss with a bit too much to drink.

Here's hoping your team makes it through the final round and you find the sanity that a bit of March Madness brings!

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More about March Madness parties around the Web:

16 Sweet Ideas for Your March Madness Party - Check out expert tips on decorating, hosting, and having a ball at your next March Madness party.

March Madness Party Ideas - It's all about the food during March Madness, so get ready to party with complete recipes, photos, and easy to follow instructions plus tips on decorations and party games to play at halftime.