For more than a century, the Wild West has captured imaginations in the United States and beyond. This era of expansionism spawned its own genre of media, characterized by grit, gumption, and gunslinging. Looking to bring a spark of adventure to your next theme party? Dust off your spurs and don your Stetson hat — it’s time to bring the Wild West back to life!

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Planning a Wild West Theme Party: What is the Wild West?

While the western expansion of the American frontier lasted more than two centuries and historians have differing definitions of the time periods within, 1865 is often said to be the beginning of the true Wild West era, with an end date somewhere in the early- to mid-1890s. This period starts at the end of the Civil War and ends gradually with the closing of the frontier in 1890 and the taming of lawlessness in the ensuing decade.

Romanticized across film, novels, music, and more, the Wild West is considered a brutal but exciting time in history, and it is most associated with the gun-toting, hard-drinking, rough-and-tumble cowboy. From saloon brawls to high-noon duels to lonesome nights on the prairie, the cowboy has become an icon of American mythology and is still popular in media today. From classic movies like A Fistful of Dollars or Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid to video games like Red Dead Redemption, the lore of the Wild West is a rich history for the adventurous to explore.

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Why Plan a Wild West Theme Party?

A Wild West theme party offers endless possibilities for you to get creative and fine-tune the perfect experience for your guests. The popular Western theme provides abundant options for affordable or DIY decor, recipes, costumes, and more. Many of your guests will already have a cowboy hat or boots in their closet!

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Decorating for a Wild West Theme Party

When you think of the Wild West as a setting, you probably picture a few iconic images: a dusty frontier town, a saloon with swinging doors and shelves of liquor, a ranch with herds of cattle tended by cowboys. Decorating for your Wild West theme party gives you a chance to take inspiration from both history and pop culture, putting your own unique, creative spin on a favorite theme. Here are a few party ideas to get you started!

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Western Theme Party Decor

To help your guests feel truly immersed in the Wild West, you’ll want to decorate your party space from floor to ceiling. Consider thoughtful touches like a faux cowhide rug, amber liquor bottles, raw wood furniture pieces (bonus points if you can find an old wagon wheel or wooden barrels), or miniature hay bales. Add fake steer horns and old horseshoes for the wall, antique oil lamps or lanterns, and more. Old West-themed decor is not uncommon, so check your local thrift shops for some fun cowboy art and other pieces that will bring your setting to life. Serving food? Incorporating rustic table settings with burlap tablecloths, checkered napkins, and wildflowers can enhance the Western theme. Period-appropriate decorations add western flair and help transport guests back to the Old West.

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If you have some Photoshop or Canva capabilities, try creating some fun vintage-style 'Wanted' posters with pictures of your guests and hanging them around the area. These wanted posters can go home with the guests as party favors if desired. Another great idea for Wild West decor-as-gifts is to have some small cacti in terracotta pots sitting around the room that guests can take with them at the end of the night.

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Western Theme Party Props

Your guests will likely show up to a Wild West costume party all decked out already, but it’s always a good idea to have some extra props they can use. This could include plastic pistols with holsters (check the toy aisle), sheriff badges, cowboy hats, fake mustaches, paisley bandanas, hobby horses, or a rope tied into a lasso. Set out all your props in the area with the best on-theme decor or a special backdrop, and encourage guests to use it as a photobooth where they can capture memories of the special night. Creating a DIY cowboy hat personalization station can also be a fun activity for everyone and serves as a unique decoration.

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Western Theme Party Lighting

Lighting can play a crucial role in setting the mood for a Western-themed event. Electric lighting was only beginning to come into play at the end of the Wild West era, so consider dimming your overhead lights if possible or swapping bright white bulbs for warmer yellow options. Then use lanterns, oil lamps, or candles to give your space an authentic glow that takes your guests back in time.

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Western Theme Party Music & Sound

Options abound for background audio at your Wild West theme party. You could go the ambient route by searching YouTube for “saloon sounds” or “Old West ambience.” Another possibility is to play music patrons would hear in an old-timey Wild West saloon — search for ragtime piano classics like the works of Scott Joplin. Soundtracks from Western movies are also a great choice, such as the iconic theme from The Good, the Bad and the Ugly. Finally, to ease your guests into the Wild West mood, put on a playlist of more modern songs about cowboys or the West to enjoy as they arrive: “The Ballad of Billy the Kid” by Billy Joel, “Cowboy Take Me Away” by The Chicks, or “Desperado” by The Eagles are favorites.

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Saddle Up, It’s Wild West Party Time!

Decorating for your Wild West party is only half the fun — get ready for a rootin’ tootin’ good time with all your guests! Partygoers will enjoy being surrounded by your thoughtful decor and immersed in one of the most iconic time periods in United States history.

For more Wild West theme party tips, including recipes, costume inspo, and more, follow StoryPop on social media or check back to our site.