National Wildlife Day is celebrated in the UK on 4th September – a day dedicated to appreciating the diverse animal kingdom which shares our planet. Celebrate with an animal themed event, where your guests can go wild.
Your choice of wildlife ‘region’ will dictate how you style your venue; choose from jungle, desert, forest, ocean, or even polar, and build your decor around this. We’re talking animal print tablecloths, inflatable animals, streamers, hanging vines and on theme florals. For a truly immersive experience, play ambient nature sounds or themed music in the background.
Naturally, you should encourage party- goers to wear animal print, feathers, safari gear, or even animal costumes. Provide animal masks or face painting – for kids or fun-loving adults – at the entrance for an easy way to get everyone involved (especially for those guests who like to ‘forget’ it is fancy dress)…
Make your food table a feast for the eyes and the taste buds. Serve themed canapés such as Arctic Bites; smoked salmon or king prawn crostini, Jungle Heat; spicy jerk chicken bites with honey drizzle, or Island Jewels; vibrant, tropical fruit skewers. Decorate using natural materials like bamboo platters, wooden boards, and leaf garnishes. Our Drunken Monkey cocktail recipe will get the party started, and is just as delicious made without alcohol for non- drinkers or any little ones!
Drunken Monkey Cocktail Recipe
- 200ml pineapple juice
- 100ml white rum
- 50ml sugar syrup
- 2 oranges, freshly squeezed
- 1 lime, freshly squeezed
- Lime wheel or wedge, to garnish
- Ice cubes
- Add rum, sugar syrup and fruit juices to a cocktail shaker and shake for 30 seconds.
- Pour over ice cubes in a cocktail glass, before garnishing with lime and serving.
For entertainment, screen a relevant nature documentary on an outdoor projector, to play in the background or to watch as a group, set up a photo-booth with animal props, or play a round of “Pin the Tail on the…” game, for something more lighthearted. You could even host a wine tasting session with trivia about animals from each wine’s region.
With the right mix of creative décor, ambient music, and fun food, your guests will feel like they’ve stepped right into the heart of the rainforest, desert or even the Arctic!
