11 Fun “Fresh Prince” Party Ideas For All Occasions

“Now this is the story all about how…” Well – you know the rest! “The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air” is one of the 90s most beloved sitcoms, launching the career of star Will Smith. With a dramatic re-imagining having aired in early 2022, the show is now bigger than ever. So if you’re looking to celebrate a classic, check out these 11 fun Fresh Prince party ideas for all occasions. While you’re here, explore some Peerspace listings we provide that would make for the perfect venue.

1. Deck the halls with 90s decorations

90s nostalgia is all the rage, and with the right Fresh Prince party ideas and decorations, you can turn your celebration into a time machine. The show featured some vibrant colors that were as boisterous as its main character, orange, green, yellow, pink, and blue should make up the majority of your decorative palette. Etsy has some balloons and cupcake toppers that can give you an idea of what you’ll be working with.

2. See who can do the best Carlton dance

One of the most lasting impressions Alfonso Ribeiro’s Carlton character has left on our culture is his hilariously corny dance. Get your whole party moving by putting on a best Carlton dance contest! Need a refresher? This tutorial from STEEZY will have you doing your best arm-swinging dance in no time.

If you need a dance floor to really settle the score, Peerspace has plenty to choose from. This underground event space, lounge, and bar in Nashville has a sweet little dance floor where you and your guests can show off and dance all night to 90s rap and R&B.

3. Have a costume contest

Who doesn’t love a costume party? It’s so easy to break the ice and have some fun when everyone is already dressed up in a fun costume. Dig out your finest 90s clothes and get to work dressing up like your favorite character from the show! Will and Hillary alone have so many outfits that will inspire you, just turn on any episode and you’re sure to find something that will work. The Costume Wall gives you step-by-step instruction if you need a little bit more help than that.

These 90s themed party ideas for adults will help you celebrate in the most “fresh” way. Check them out!

4. Put up a backdrop or banner for a photo opportunity

A great centerpiece for any party is a table backdrop or large banner. Not only does it set the theme, it also makes for a great spot for guests to pose for a couple of pictures. For a huge banner that could go up at an outdoor party, NavtalyDesign on Etsy has a fully customizable one with colors that pop. Or for a backdrop, we love this one from SnTPartiesgalore. These little Fresh Prince party ideas can go a long way and make a party even more memorable.

5. Play a pickup basketball game

Basketball is Will’s favorite sport, and from what the theme song tells us, a pickup game is where that “one little fight” that sent him out to Bel-Air happened. That doesn’t mean you shouldn’t try to have a little friendly game at your Fresh Prince party though.

If your venue is missing a basketball hoop, why not try one of the amazing Peerspace spots that have one? This luxury estate nestled in the Atlanta suburbs has a top-of-the-line court and looks like it could have been home to the Banks family. Go see for yourself what kind of hoops you’d be able to play when you search in your area!

6. Bump your music from a retro boombox

You can’t think about 90s music without picturing it being blared from an old-school boombox! Make sure your 90s playlist is really bumping and play it from a boombox. You don’t need cassettes anymore either – places like Walmart have retro-style boomboxes that have Bluetooth capabilities or AUX ports.

7. Serve up some classic Philly cheesesteaks

We all know that Will was “West Philadelphia, born and raised”, so what better food to serve at your party than Philly’s best-known creation – the cheesesteak. While you can always get catering to take care of it, trying your hand at making your own cheesesteaks can be a fun challenge. Natasha’s Kitchen has a tried and true recipe that will set you in the right direction.

8. Put an episode on in the background

Set the mood and give your guests something to talk about by putting up a marathon of your favorite episodes during the party. You can survey your guests before they arrive and have everyone put some input into the episode list. An easy way to get the show going just about anywhere is by putting it up on a projector.

Peerspace has you covered if you’re looking for a venue that has one. For instance, this neon-lit event space with a dance floor also has a massive projector screen that would be worthy of the occasion.

Grab your Polaroid and capture the nostalgia with these throwback 90s photoshoot ideas!

9. Play Fresh Prince trivia

Want to prove who the biggest Fresh Prince fan at the party is? Turn to this Fresh Prince trivia game from Cards for the Culture to throw down the gauntlet and decide on who the Freshest Prince at your party is!

10. Put on a 90s nostalgia playlist to set the mood

Music from the 90s has remained one of the biggest cultural touchstones of the era. You’ll want to set all of your other great Fresh Prince party ideas to the right soundtrack – this Spotify playlist has all of DJ Jazzy Jeff and The Fresh Prince’s biggest hits, while this is more of a 90s hip hop and R&B essentials. Whichever one you choose, your party will have the right tunes to get everybody moving!

11. Theme song karaoke contest

Anybody who has seen the show is sure to know all of the words to the classic theme song. Have your guests duke it out and perform their best rendition to the crowd! All you need is YouTube to find a karaoke version of the theme. Next thing you know, you’ll be finding out how your friends became the Prince of Bel-Air.

Find unique party venues on Peerspace