Here is a fun idea for an April Fool’s party were everything is done in a backwards order – from the invitations to the décor to the food to the games and activities!  Follow some of these simple suggestions and enjoy a fun party to celebrate the day.

Invitations 

On the invitation write all the information spelled backwards, such as: ytraP sdrawkcaB.   Invite your guests to wear their clothes backwards and to speak in a backwards way, such as: goodbye for hello, yes for no, etc.  Have guests enter backwards through the door and for more fun have them walk backwards for the entire party.  Give each guest a name tag to write their name backwards.

Attire

Clothing suggestions: wear a shirt backwards, wear pants or skirts backwards, wear socks and shoes on hands, wear necklaces hanging down the back, put sunglasses on the back of the head, wear a hat backwards, etc.

With the guests wearing their clothes backwards, be sure to have a camera ready to take photos.  Have special prizes for the most creative outfit!

Décor

For the front door either have a welcome sign, spelling out the word backwards.  Hang balloons upside down from ribbons.  Set the table with the plates, glasses and utensils upside down. If possible, create an upside down floral centerpiece. Maybe in a large vase or crystal bowl, put the flowers heads in first with the stems pointing start up.  Set the chairs with the seat facing away from the table.

Menu

Serve the meal in reverse order with dessert first, then the main course, then the appetizers.  Here are some menu suggestions:

• Backwards Sandwiches – assemble lunchmeat, cheese and lettuce on the outside of a slice of bread, cut the sandwiches in quarters for easier handling.
• Meatloaf cupcakes – cook meatloaf in cupcake or muffin pans, let them cool after baking, top with mashed potatoes to look like frosting, pour a little gravy on top, garnish with peas or corn and for a finishing touch add a cherry tomato on top.
• Upside-down Ice Cream Cones – serve a scoop of ice cream in a bowl, with the cone on top.

Games

• Opposite Charades – tape a word or phrase onto someone’s back, everyone else gives the glues and that person needs to guess, set a time limit.
• Reverse Alphabet – see you can recite the alphabet backwards in the fastest amount of time, be sure to have a stop watch handy.
• Palindromes contest – pass out a blank sheet of paper to each contestant, have them write the most palindromes (a word that reads the same spelt forward and backwards, such as: noon, kayak, racecar and deed)
• Backwards Treasure Hunt – write all the clues backwards, provide a mirror for the contestants to easily read the clue, have them walk backwards from clue to clue, surprise them by leading them back to the starting point to find the hidden treasure.