If you’re looking for graduation party entertainment ideas, here are our top 10 ideas–ranked by our seasoned team of professional event entertainers with over a decade of experience in New England!
Our Top 10 Graduation Party Entertainment Ideas for CT, MA, RI, NH
1. TEMPORARY AIRBRUSH TATTOOS: The First Graduation Party Entertainment Idea on our List!
Our temporary airbrush tattoos are great graduation party entertainment ideas for large events.
ABOUT THE EXPERIENCE: Guests are given a menu to select from, and the temporary “ink” (makeup) is sprayed on them. Tattoos Edry instantly, are water proof, and last 3-5 days but can be removed with any oil or alcohol.
FOR AGES 5-ADULT. Temporary airbrush tattoos can be enjoyed by all ages, but sometimes young toddlers find the machines intimidating (since they make noise and might look like a medical device to very young kids).
PRICING CONSIDERATIONS: Artists can complete about 20-25 tattoos per hour, so entertaining at events with over 50 guests can provide a high-value experience by keeping costs per guest low.
Read more about our airbrush, flash, or glitter tattoos.
2. Henna Tattoos
Speaking of tattoos: henna tattoos are elegant, grown-up-feeling temporary tattoos that add a luxurious feel to smaller-to-medium sized graduation parties.
THE EXPERIENCE: Guests are given a selection of designs to choose from, after which the artist will apply an organic henna paste (named after the dehydrated and powdered leaf of a plant with the same name) to the skin of their hands. Henna paste takes about 10-20 minutes to dry, after which it will sit in a dark red crust on top of their hand as the natural dye sink in to the top layer of their skin. Guests will be instructed to brush off the remaining henna paste before bed, revealing an elegant dye pattern that will last up to two weeks with proper care (but can be exfoliated off within 4-6 days).
AGES TWEEN, TEEN, AND ADULT. Because the henna paste takes a while to dry (and should be looked after with care), we recommend henna for ages 12+ to keep the mess to a minimum.
PRICING CONSIDERATIONS: Artists can apply about 6-10 henna tattoos per hour (depending on the package you pick), and often feel more elegant than spray or stick-on tattoos. As far as graduation party entertainment ideas go, they tend to be mid-level pricing per guest.
Learn more about henna tattoos here.
3. Tarot and Palm Reading
Speaking of luxurious experiences, tarot is one of the most unique graduation party entertainment ideas on this list–especially as an add-on to a henna tattoo station.
ABOUT THE EXPERIENCE: Guests are invited to a quiet corner of your event to have one of our professional tarot and palm readers discuss any question the guests have. While our professional mediums won’t give advice or tell a definite future, they’ll use the grammar of tarot and palmistry to explore a question your guests have and glean new insights to problems, goals, or dreams.
FOR TEENS AND ADULTS. Tarot and palm are best appreciated by guests 15+ as younger children may not understand the differences between fact and metaphor and may find the experience scary. However, tarot and palm do not use witchcraft or religion, and can be a positive and uplifting experience for teens and adults.
PRICING CONSIDERATIONS: Tarot and palm readers strive to get through about 6-8 guests per hour (8-10 minutes a guest), so the price per guest is higher but the experience longer and more personal than other types of entertainment.
Learn more about tarot and palm here.
4. Strolling Mentalism
Like the idea of tarot and palm reading, but not sure if it’s too niche of a graduation party entertainment idea for you? Mentalism and mind reading offers a mix of magic and mysticism that gives guests that thrilling “get out of my head!” feeling while tickling their brain as they wonder: how did she do that?
ABOUT THE EXPERIENCE: Guests throughout your graduation party will be approached by our mentalist and invited to partake in an experiment involving crystals, oils, ESP cards, or other earthy materials. Will they be able to psychically connect with our mind reader?
FOR TEENS AND ADULTS. While mentalism is based in psychology and silly fun, young children may misinterpret the experience as true mind reading or something scary. (But like tarot, no witchcraft or religious themes are involved in mentalism. Just a bit of psychology and humor!)
PRICING CONSIDERATIONS: Because mentalism experiments are often done in small groups, each experience takes about 5-8 minutes and can entertain anywhere from 15-50 guests per hour.
Learn more about strolling mentalism here.
4. Tie-Dye Station
Our tie-dye station is a fun, hands-on craft for all ages that can be a built-in keepsake for party guests. Whether you want us to provide blank apparel or provide your own printed with your graduate’s name and class year, we love this hands-on station for graduation party entertainment ideas!
ABOUT THE EXPERIENCE: Guests drop in to twist, tie, and spray-dye the apparel of their choosing with the help of a professional artist. Once they’re done, the designs can be left to dry or immediately put in a bag, depending on your graduation party flow. They’ll take home their creation and be given a laminated care card to help them set the ink with either heat or an iron at home.
FOR ALL AGES. Our simple spray-dye system and professional event artist keep mess to a minimum and makes tie-dye easy for all ages.
PRICING CONSIDERATIONS: Our tie-dye station is priced per hour and includes at least one professional artist (depending on your event size) and all dying supplies (dye, spray bottles, rubber bands, disposable gloves, name tags, bags, and a drop cloth). We can additionally provide apparel for an extra fee, or you can provide 100% cotton apparel (and optionally have it customized before your event with your graduate’s name and graduation year).
Learn more about our spray tie-dye station here.
5. Foam Party
Want over-the-top graduation party entertainment ideas? Foam parties are like a giant dance party filled with bubble bath froth, and they will turn any event into an unforgettable bash!
ABOUT THE EXPERIENCE: Guests are invited to dance, play, take videos, and enjoy foam up to their shoulders. Whether the foam is flying throughout your party or after food is done being served, foam parties are truly unique and unforgettable.
FOR ALL AGES WITH SUPERVISION. Foam parties are safe and fun for everyone, but due to the height of the foam we recommend children under 7 or 8 only go into the foam with a parent or caregiver as young kids may be accidentally hurt by older children or teens if they are in at the same time.
PRICING CONSIDERATIONS: Foam is priced by the hour and can entertain about 25 guests at a time. For smaller events under 30 guests an hour is typically fine; for events over 30 guests we recommend multiple hours (or multiple cannon rentals).
Learn more about foam parties here.
6. Club or Karaoke DJ
Crank up the volume on your graduation party entertainment ideas with a live DJ! Whether it’s spinning top 40 remixes for a dance party or hosting an intimate karaoke experience, our party DJ will match the mood you want to create!
ABOUT THE EXPERIENCE: Our DJ experiences come with a wide range of options which you can specify at booking:
- Traditional club DJing (includes DJ and equipment)
- Karaoke set up (includes karaoke tracks, TV monitor, mics)
- Lighting, projections, monitors, and more
- Games and prizes
FOR ALL AGES. Let our office know what kind of music you’d like your DJ to play, whether it’s family-friendly kids covers, rap and reggaeton, top 40, house and electronica, or anything else!
PRICING CONSIDERATIONS: DJs are priced per hour plus upgrades, so you can mix and match your package to fit your budget.
Learn more about DJ services here.
7. Photo Booths
As an add-on to your DJ experience, our photo booths can serve as a fun keepsake for your event!
ABOUT THE EXPERIENCE: When booking, choose from printed photo booths, social media / digital photo booths, backgrounds, props, custom logos, inflatable shelters, and more.
FOR ALL AGES. Photos booths can be enjoyed by anyone!
PRICING CONSIDERATIONS: Our prices begin at simple, self-operating social media photos booths with no props or backgrounds for unlimited photos, videos, and boomarangs. On the other end of the spectrum, we can include printed photo booths inside an inflatable LED tent with props, backdrops, and even red velvet ropes. Ask for our whole range of prices when inquiring about availability for our graduation party entertainment ideas.
Learn more about photo booths and other DJ add-ons here.
8. Black Light Face & Body Painting
Really want to create a night-club vibe with your graduation party entertainment ideas? Add black-light reactive face and body painting! Whether it’s face painting super heroes for kids or painting bold designs along the arms and legs of teens and adults, your guests will glow under UV-reactive lights!
ABOUT THE EXPERIENCE: Guests can jump in line and dream up an original creation with our artists. These designs can be simple for children or out of this world abstract for teens and adults, and whenever they’re near the ultraviolet lights, they’ll glow! This is a great compliment to DJ packages (although it can stand alone), but because the makeup is water-soluable should not be done with a foam party.
FOR ALL AGES. Our designs are customizable for anyone and can be done as strictly face painting if body painting doesn’t interest you.
PRICING CONSIDERATIONS: Face and body painting is priced per hour and can accommodate about 8-12 guests per hour per artist. We can also provide a light rental for a flat fee to have lights on site for the duration of our artists’ stay at your graduation party, or you can provide them yourself.
Learn more about UV-reactive face and body painting here.
9. Caricature Artists
Want a creative alternative to a photobooth? If you want to give your guests an artistically hilarious analog experience, caricature artists are fantastic at capturing the memories you make at your graduation party without any screens! We love caricatures for graduation party entertainment ideas that really want to get away from online or digital experiences.
ABOUT THE EXPERIENCE: Guests will line up to sit down and chat with our caricature artist while being drawn. Our artists can draw individuals, couples, or families! Guests will take home the final cartoons with them.
FOR ALL AGES. Caricatures are a family-friendly activity for all ages, but because they involve sitting still for about 10 minutes per face, very young guests may get bored in line or waiting to be drawn. We find that caricatures are best appreciated by tweens, teens, adults, and parents who want a keepsake of their young children.
PRICING CONSIDERATIONS: Caricature artists draw each face in about 8-10 minutes a face, so a whole family of 4 may take up to 30 minutes. (Time is calculated per face, not per sheet of paper.) We have up to 5 caricature artists available and can help you plan the right amount of artists for your graduation party.
Learn more about caricatures here.
10. STILT WALKERS: our last but not least graduation party entertainment ideas!
For the last entry on our list of graduation part entertainment ideas, if you’re just looking to add a little ambiance to your event, we love stilt walkers to create a carnival-like atmosphere in your venue or backyard.
ABOUT THE EXPERIENCE: Some of the most fun ways we’ve seen stilt walkers used for graduation party entertainment ideas are:
- Greeting guests as they enter and handing out party favors (provided by the host) to guests as they leave.
- Entering a party after dinner or when the sun goes down to start handing out glow sticks and glow accessories, turning the event from a social and relaxing atmosphere to an “after hours” glow party. (Goes geat with black light and DJ packages!)
- As a photo booth alternative taking polaroid photos of guests and handing them out to the guests (the host would need to provide polaroid cameras).
- Strolling simple balloon twisting for younger guests.
FOR ALL AGES. Stilt walkers are fun for everyone, and are often fascinating for even the youngest party goers!
PRICING CONSIDERATIONS: Because stilt walkers add to the atmosphere of your party, they’re a great budget-friendly entertainment type that doesn’t require doing the math on how many guests per hour you are looking to entertain with your graduation party entertainment ideas.
Learn more about stilt walkers here.
BOOK ANY OF OUR GRADUATION PARTY ENTERTAINMENT IDEAS TODAY!
Categories: adults, classic & cultural, classic circus, over-the-top, Party Entertainment (CT MA RI NH), Party Ideas (CT MA RI NH), Party Planning Help, teens, tweens