An 80s themed skate party is a great way to celebrate. This guide will give you loads of excellent ideas for throwing your own retro bash, from selecting a venue to filling it with neon, spandex, and all the best elements of the era.

Pick Out the Most Excellent 80s Party Venue

Selecting a venue sets the stage for your 80s skate shindig bash. To find a space with maximum 80s flair, consider these options:

Host at a Classic Roller Rink

For the full retro experience, nothing beats partying at an OG roller rink. Many old school rinks still have their original wood floors, disco balls, neon marquees, and arcade games that totally transport you back to the 80s.

Search for “retro roller rinks” in your area to find ones still embracing that throwback vibe. Some even keep their decor, carpets, and wall art exactly as is for full immersion into the era.

Make sure to inquire if they allow private after-hours rentals for adult parties. Most will let you book the space outside normal public hours.

Transform Your Pad Into an 80s Haven

If hosting a private shindig, transform your home into a time warp back to the 80s. All you need is adequate floor space and some 80s decor.

To prep for skating, remove any furniture or fragile items and lay down a smooth temporary floor. Interlocking plastic tiles work well and are easy to install and remove.

Then deck out your digs with all the iconic decade trappings, which we’ll detail more in the decor section. Neon, graffiti, disco balls – go crazy immersing your space in the 80s.

Don’t forget to invite the neighbors! Let them know they can come decked out in full 80s regalia.

Book a Local Community Center

Community and rec centers often have affordable space rentals perfect for throwing a private party.

Look for ones with large open spaces like gyms, multipurpose rooms, or banquet halls. Bonus if they have wood flooring already installed for skating.

Most will let you decorate and theme the space as you wish for the duration of the rental. Take full advantage to give the venue that 80s makeover.

Throw an Outdoor Extravaganza

When the weather’s warm, take the party outside to soak up the sunshine while skating and rocking out poolside.

Look for any smooth, flat outdoor surface like a basketball or tennis court. You can even rent a flat portable skating surface.

Decorate the outdoor space with weather-friendly additions like streamers, flags, lanterns, and lights. Your outdoor 80s bash will be most excellent under the stars!

Design 80s-Style Invitations

Once your party spot is set, it’s time to whip up some invites to get your peeps pumped up. Take inspiration from the crazy colors, graphics, and trends of the 80s when designing invitations:

Create Neon Flyers

Make far out flyers on your computer using wiggly fonts, neon graphics, and airbrush styles popular in the 80s. Print them out on brightly colored paper.

Then get into character and channel a big-haired 80s chick to make videos of yourself addressing your friends.

Mail Out Wild and Wacky Envelopes

Pick up some clear plastic envelopes and stuff them with jelly bracelets, temporary tattoos, rockin’ rub-on stickers, and other cheap 80s treats.

Address them with an airbrush font and add artsy touches like leopard print tape, neon doodles, or lipstick kisses to make them really stand out.

Craft Nostalgic Postcard Invites

Design colorful postcards featuring iconic 80s graphics and images like boomboxes, Pac Man, leg warmers, or roller skates.

Use an artsy font to invite guests to your “Bodacious 80s Skate Night.” Include rad lingo like “psychedelic,” “gnarly,” and “gag me with a spoon!”

Mail them out in bright envelopes sealed with gem stickers or customized wax seals.

Send Pixelated E-Invites

For the modern option, craft online invites featuring pixelated 80s graphics, arcade game themes, and synthesizer beats.

Jazz them up using web tools like Canva‘s retro invite templates. Make them outrageously colorful with neon and wild patterns.

Post to social media for easy digital access. Include animated GIFs for extra spice.

Deck Out Your 80s Party Pad

The decor makes a huge impact when channeling the styles of the 80s. Deck out your space by going overboard with these design ideas:

Airbrush or Graffiti Bright Wall Murals

Cover blank walls and surfaces with airbrushed or graffiti style murals depicting 80s themes. Think bright colors, geometric shapes, boomboxes, palm trees, sports cars.

Hire a local airbrush artist to paint directly on your walls, or commission a mural and have it printed on large vinyl decals you can stick up and remove after.

Drape the Ceiling in Glitz

Using command hooks, string up long strands of cheap metallic tinsel, plastic beads, and retro garlands across ceilings and walls.

Add glittery dangling stars, paper lanterns, and disco ball ornaments for extra shine and shimmer.

The more over-the-top sparkle and kitsch, the better!

Display Neon Signs and Blacklights

Neon palette lighting instantly screams 80s. Mount neon open signs found at antique shops or create custom ones.

Place blacklights around the space and hang up neon posters and signs that glow under the trippy lighting.

For decorative neon, check party suppliers for affordable LED neon decorations powered by batteries versus real electricity and gas.

Add Retro Props and Decor

Fill tables, counters, shelves, and empty wall space with awesome 80s memorabilia:

Old school boomboxes
Atari and Nintendo game consoles
Vintage VHS tapes
Nintendo game cartridges
Rubik’s cubes
LEGO sets
Classic metal lunchboxes
Old issues of Teen Beat magazine

Tile photocopied pictures of 80s celebrities for quick removable wallpaper.

Create a Rad Photo Booth

Clear an area to set up a photo booth with fun props. Use wood panels painted in neon colors as the backdrop.

Provide inflatable guitars, funky oversized sunglasses, feather boas, top hats, blonde wigs, and glam gloves for hilarious photo ops.

Develop instant filmstrips on site or share digital copies via email or social media.

Go Crazy with Streamers and Tassels

Pick up rolls of classic party streamers, fringe door curtains, and dangling tassels. These instantly scream retro party vibes.

Choose bright neon colors and metallics in pink, green, blue and purple. Go heavy on archways, ceilings, walls and any blank spaces.

Crank Up These 80s Classics

Get guests rocking those acid wash jeans on the skate floor all night long with these hot 80s skating rink tunes:

If the 70s are more your era you can learn how to host a 70s skate party from my article here.

Dress the Part with Most Excellent 80s Fashion

The outrageous clothing and style trends of the 80s are perfect for an epic skate party. Here are ideas for achieving peak throwback looks:

Women’s 80s Fashion

Ladies can rock these sexy and bold staples of 80s style:

Neon colored leotards with tutus or mini skirts
Spandex and leather miniskirts and leggings
Off-the-shoulder tops with sweetheart necklines
Crop tops that tie in the front
Fishnet arm warmers and tights
High-waisted and acid washed jeans
Mesh and lace fingerless gloves
Backcombed big hair with scrunchies
Oversized hoop or dangling earrings
Jelly bracelets stacked up your entire arm
Neckties worn as belts or headbands
Leather motor jackets covered in pins and patches

Totally channel your inner Material Girl, Joan Jett, or Cyndi Lauper. The wilder, the better!

Men’s 80s Threads

Dudes can capture that 80s aesthetic with trends like:

Super tight stone wash, acid wash, or bleach splattered jeans
Neon windbreakers and warm up jackets
T-shirts for rock bands like Guns N Roses
Tank tops with huge armholes and drapes
Members Only jackets
Sleeveless mesh tops
Ray Ban style sunglasses
Short athletic shorts worn with tall tube socks
Bright bandanas tied around the leg or head
Parachute pants in bold prints and colors

Pile on the pastels, neons, and crazy patterns for looks ripped right out of Miami Vice.

Epic 80s Costume Ideas

Take your throwback fashion to the extreme by dressing up as quintessential 80s icons:

Women:

Madonna with her signature lace, fingerless gloves, crucifixes, and voluminous permed hair
Joan Jett complete with a leather jacket covered in band pins
Cyndi Lauper channeling retro punk vibes with wild tutus, combat boots, and crimped hair
Jane Fonda in head-to-toe neon with leg warmers and a leotard, ready to teach an aerobics class

Men:

Mötley Crüe member in spandex, chains, and big hair
Professional wrestler, like Hulk Hogan or Macho Man Randy Savage
Tom Cruise’s character in Risky Business, clad only in a button down, socks, and sunglasses

Gather friends to pay homage to classic 80s movie characters, music icons, and sports heroes for maximum throwback fun.

Fuel Your Guests with 80s Munch

Keep guests fueled for an all-night throwback bash by serving up these 80s nibbles and refreshments:

Quench Thirst with Retro Drink Options

Set up a mocktail bar with virgin versions of popular 80s cocktails like Piña Coladas, Long Island Iced Teas, and Fuzzy Navels
Serve up spiked punch bowls laden with frozen fruit and neon sherbets for a yummy group drink
Make Coke floats by topping vanilla ice cream with the classic soda
For alcohol, offer retro wine coolers, and light beers like Coors and Miller Lite which were big in the 80s
Have bottled sparkling water and juices for designated drivers

Chow Down on Classic Party Snacks

Start the appetizers off right with trays of combo pizza rolls fresh from the oven
Move on to pigs in a blanket with cute frilly toothpicks
Set out heaping platters of nachos smothered in melted cheese, salsa, and all the fixings
Reward all that skating with a slider bar featuring mini burgers and hot dogs
Fill giant bowls with popcorn, potato chips, and dip for self-serve snacking
Round it out with trays of mini corndogs, mozzarella sticks, and fried shrimp

Satisfy Your Sweet Tooth 80s Style

Display glass candy jars stuffed with iconic retro sweets like Pop Rocks, Nerds, LaffyTaffy, Smarties, and Razzles
Serve up individual Jell-O and pudding parfaits layered with whipped cream and crushed cookies, so they look straight out of a commercial
Make an ice cream bar with classic 80s toppings like crumbled Pop Tarts, chocolate sprinkles, and crushed pretzels
Cut sheet cakes into squares and frost them with whipped icing in bright neon colors
Stick a box of Entenmann’s classic donuts and individual chipwiches out for easy grabs

Play These 80s Games and Activities

Let guests take a break from skating to get in on some outrageously fun 80s-style games and contests:

Roller Limbo Contests

Get ready to go low with some retro limbo competitions. Use a neon rainbow stick and have guests take turns shimmy rollin’ underneath.

Give prizes to whoever makes it through the lowest levels without toppling over. Have guests vote on winners.

Retro Arcade Game Tournaments

Set up areas for arcade game tournaments using actual vintage arcade units, or use replica consoles like Nintendo NES loaded with 80s classics like Donkey Kong, Pac Man, and Tetris.

Hold head-to-head contests and competitions. Award rad prizes like Now and Laters and pixie sticks to high scorers.

Lip Sync Battles

Have guests lip sync and dance along to favorite 80s music videos playing on-screen behind them.

Let the audience judge who does the best imitation of icons like Madonna, Michael Jackson, or Prince. Award jelly bracelets for each win.

Skate Dance Contests with Celebrity Judges

Select a few guest judges and have everyone show off their best 80s dance moves in head to head “dance offs”

Judges can score everyone on style, moves, and authentic 80s vibes. Hand out medals or trophies made from dollar store buys to the winners.

Best Dressed Contests

Hold an 80s costume contest judged by applause.

Have each guest show off their insane outfit and accessories as they roll down a runway. Crown winners for categories like “Most Radical” and “Totally Awesome.”

Send Guests Home with 80s Favors

Keep that excellent 80s flavor going strong by sending your pals home with these favors:

Gift metallic temporary tattoos featuring hip hop motifs and neon designs in line with 80s aesthetics
Hand out actual vintage 80s toys and games rescued from thrift shops, like Rubik’s Cubes, My Little Pony figures, and Nintendo Game Boys
Make colorful friendship bracelets out of embroidery floss to share the love
Purchase affordable 80s tin lunchboxes and fill them with candies and other fun favors
Hand out packs of classic 80s candy like Nerds, Airheads and Sourpatch

Conclusion

Planning an 80s skate bash offers so many opportunities for outrageous fun. With the tips in this guide, you’re ready to select a venue, send excellent invites, deck out the decor, spin retro tracks, rock radical fashions, play tripped out games, grub on classic eats, and send guests home with stellar keepsakes.

From the threads to the music to the activities, go all out embracing the bright colors, wild prints, and over-the-top fun that made the 80s such an excellent time. Your guests will be stoked to join you for some much needed skating vibes. Get ready to kick it old school 80s style!

Roll Back In Time At An 80s Skate Party