February 27 – Retro Day

Retro Day is today!

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HOW TO CELEBRATE RETRO DAY

•  Watch a retro movie or retro TV show.
•  Dress in retro costumes.
•  Vintage Recipes from Every Decade.
•  Vintage Themed Party ideas.
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FEATURED ITEM FOR RETRO DAY

For nostalgia fans, Retro Day is like the Super Bowl of the year! Every year, it marks an event where you can take a trip down memory lane and relive childhood memories from days past. As Retro Day approaches, people throw on their vintage best and get ready for a day full of fun.

Retro Day celebrations include good friends, family, local vendors selling retro items, classic movies playing in the background, and dishes inspired by classic cuisine. This special day celebrates musicals, TV shows and styles we all held dear in our school days with something old being incorporated into everything new. There’s nothing quite better than taking break from modern life to enjoy the joys of retro times!

HISTORY OF RETRO DAY

National Retro Day was invented by Robert Duran, Tina Duran, and Hermelinda Aguilar in 2018.  Since its inception, many people have embraced this special occasion to reminisce on past decades and share iconic memories from various generations. People around the globe dress up in retro clothing styles, listen to classic songs, or watch old movies to honor this holiday. It has become a tradition that continues to provide an opportunity for lasting connections and celebration amongst family and friends.

TEN DECADES AND THEMES TO CELEBRATE RETRO DAY

1.  1920s – Gatsby Glamour Affair:  Celebrate the Roaring Twenties with a Gatsby-themed party. Think flapper dresses, jazz music, and art deco décor.
2. 1930s – Vintage Hollywood Soiree:  Host a Hollywood-inspired event with elegant dresses, classic films, and a touch of old-school glamour reminiscent of the Golden Age.
3. 1940s – WWII Era Swing Dance Party:  Get your groove on with a swing dance party, complete with vintage attire, big band music, and a nostalgic atmosphere.
4. 1950s – Rock ‘n’ Roll Extravaganza:  Step back into the ’50s with a rock ‘n’ roll-themed celebration. Think poodle skirts, leather jackets, and iconic tunes from the era.
5. 1960s – Hippie Peace Fest:  Embrace the peace and love of the ’60s with a hippie-inspired gathering. Flower power, tie-dye, and psychedelic vibes set the tone.
6. 1970s – Disco Fever Bash:  Bring out the disco balls and platform shoes for a groovy disco-themed party. Dance to the tunes of the Bee Gees and Donna Summer.
7. 1980s – Neon Retro Arcade Party:  Dive into the vibrant neon world of the ’80s with an arcade-themed event. Pac-Man, leg warmers, and synth-pop music create a rad atmosphere.
8. 1990s – Grunge and Nostalgia Jam:  Relive the ’90s grunge era with flannel shirts, Doc Martens, and a playlist featuring iconic bands like Nirvana and Pearl Jam.
9. 2000s – Y2K Flashback Fiesta:  Nostalgia for the early 2000s with low-rise jeans, boy bands, and the hits that defined the turn of the century.
10. 2010s – Social Media Throwback Gathering:  Celebrate the recent past with a throwback to the 2010s. Incorporate hashtags, Instagrammable moments, and trends from the last decade.

100 WAYS TO CELEBRATE RETRO DAY

1. Watch Classic Movies: Host a movie marathon featuring films from the past.
2. Listen to Vinyl Records: Play music from vinyl records to experience the classic sound.
3. Retro Fashion Show: Dress up in clothing styles from previous decades and have a fashion show.
4. Play Old-School Video Games: Set up a gaming station with classic video games.
5. Make a Retro Playlist: Create a playlist of popular songs from the past.
6. Visit a Vintage Store: Explore a vintage store for unique retro items.
7. Cook a Classic Recipe: Prepare a meal using a popular recipe from the 1950s, 60s, or 70s.
8. Write with a Typewriter: Use a typewriter to write letters or poems.
9. Watch Old TV Shows: Binge-watch classic TV series from your childhood or earlier.
10. Have a Polaroid Photo Shoot: Take photos using a Polaroid camera.
11. Play Board Games: Enjoy classic board games like Monopoly, Scrabble, or Clue.
12. Host a Dance Party: Dance to music from the 70s, 80s, or 90s.
13. Create a Retro Scrapbook: Compile a scrapbook with memorabilia from past decades.
14. Make a Collage: Use old magazines to create a retro-themed collage.
15. Wear Vintage Accessories: Accessorize with vintage jewelry, hats, and scarves.
16. Read Classic Books: Spend time reading books that were popular in past decades.
17. Watch Home Movies: View old family home movies or slideshows.
18. Visit a Diner: Go to a retro-themed diner for a nostalgic meal.
19. DIY Retro Crafts: Create crafts inspired by past decades, like tie-dye shirts or friendship bracelets.
20. Collect Retro Toys: Find and play with toys from your childhood.
21. Listen to Old Radio Shows: Tune in to classic radio shows or podcasts that feature them.
22. Have a Picnic: Pack a picnic with foods and drinks popular in the past.
23. Drive a Vintage Car: Rent or borrow a vintage car for a fun drive.
24. Host a Trivia Night: Organize a trivia night with questions about past decades.
25. Create Retro Art: Paint or draw using techniques and styles from previous art movements.
26. Candy Land (1950s): A classic board game where players navigate a colorful path to reach the Candy Castle.
27. Yahtzee (1950s): A dice game where players try to score points by rolling specific combinations.
28. Scrabble (1950s): A word game where players create words on a board to score points.
29. Risk (1950s): A strategy board game where players aim to conquer territories and eliminate opponents.
30. Life (1960s): A board game simulating a person’s journey through life, from college to retirement.
31. Operation (1960s): A skill game where players remove ailments from a patient’s body without touching the edges.
32. Twister (1960s): A physical game where players place hands and feet on colored circles as directed by a spinner.
33. Clue (1960s): A mystery game where players deduce who committed a murder, with what weapon, and in which room.
34. Battleship (1960s): A strategy game where players guess the locations of their opponent’s ships.
35. Mouse Trap (1960s): A game where players build a complex contraption to catch a mouse.
36. Pong (1970s): The first commercially successful video game, simulating table tennis.
37. Simon (1970s): An electronic memory game where players repeat increasingly long sequences of lights and sounds.
38. Dungeons & Dragons (1970s): A role-playing game where players create characters and go on adventures.
39. Connect Four (1970s): A strategy game where players aim to connect four of their pieces in a row.
40. Uno (1970s): A card game where players aim to be the first to get rid of all their cards by matching colors or numbers.
41. Pac-Man (1980s): An arcade game where players navigate a maze, eating pellets and avoiding ghosts.
42. Donkey Kong (1980s): A platform game where players rescue a damsel in distress from a giant ape.
43. Trivial Pursuit (1980s): A board game where players answer questions in various categories to earn wedges.
44. The Legend of Zelda (1980s): An adventure game where players explore dungeons, solve puzzles, and defeat enemies.
45. Tetris (1980s): A puzzle game where players fit falling blocks together to clear lines.
46. Super Mario Bros. (1980s): A platform game where players navigate levels, collect power-ups, and defeat enemies.
47. Street Fighter II (1990s): A fighting game where players engage in one-on-one combat with a diverse roster of characters.
48. Sonic the Hedgehog (1990s): A platform game where players speed through levels to stop the evil Dr. Robotnik.
49. Pokémon Red/Blue (1990s): A role-playing game where players catch and train Pokémon to become the ultimate Pokémon Master.
50. Myst (1990s): A graphic adventure game where players explore an island, solve puzzles, and uncover a story.
51. Tie-Dye Shirts: Create colorful and unique patterns on white shirts using tie-dye techniques.
52. Macramé Plant Hangers: Make decorative plant hangers using macramé knots and rope.
53. Beaded Jewelry: Design and make necklaces, bracelets, and earrings using retro-style beads.
54. Vinyl Record Bowls: Melt old vinyl records to form stylish and functional bowls.
55. Retro Headbands: Sew fabric headbands in patterns and styles from the 1960s and 70s.
56. Friendship Bracelets: Weave colorful threads to create bracelets to share with friends.
57. Decoupage Trays: Decorate wooden trays with vintage magazine clippings using decoupage glue.
58. Patchwork Pillows: Sew pillows using various fabric scraps to create a patchwork design.
59. Shrinky Dinks: Draw on shrink plastic, bake it, and watch it shrink to create keychains and charms.
60. Perler Bead Art: Arrange and fuse Perler beads to create pixelated designs and coasters.
61. Vintage Button Art: Create artwork by gluing vintage buttons onto a canvas in various shapes and patterns.
62. Handmade Dreamcatchers: Craft dreamcatchers using hoops, string, and feathers in retro colors.
63. Record Clock: Turn an old vinyl record into a functioning clock by adding clock mechanisms.
64. Retro Fabric Scrunchies: Sew scrunchies using fabric with vintage patterns.
65. Tie-Dye Socks: Use tie-dye techniques to create colorful socks.
66. Retro Wall Art: Paint or print vintage-inspired posters and frame them for your walls.
67. Pom-Pom Rugs: Make a cozy rug by attaching handmade pom-poms to a rug mat.
68. Vintage Postcard Collage: Create a collage using old postcards and frame it as wall art.
69. Felt Pennants: Cut and decorate felt to make retro-style pennants for decoration.
70. Bottle Cap Magnets: Turn vintage bottle caps into fun and functional fridge magnets.
71. Retro Photo Frames: Decorate plain photo frames with vintage fabrics and trims.
72. Neon Sign Art: Create faux neon signs using EL wire or neon paints on a canvas.
73. Retro Candle Holders: Decorate glass jars with retro patterns and use them as candle holders.
74. Paper Mâché Decor: Craft retro-themed decorations using paper mâché techniques.
75. Hand-Painted Records: Paint old vinyl records with retro designs and hang them as art pieces.
76. Jello Molds: Create colorful gelatin desserts using vintage Jello mold shapes.
77. Fondue: Serve melted cheese or chocolate with dippable items like bread, fruits, and vegetables.
78. Ambrosia Salad: Make a sweet salad with fruit, coconut, marshmallows, and whipped cream.
79. Deviled Eggs: Prepare classic deviled eggs with a retro twist, like adding paprika or relish.
80. Meatloaf: Bake a traditional meatloaf served with mashed potatoes and gravy.
81. Pigs in a Blanket: Wrap mini sausages in crescent roll dough and bake them to golden perfection.
82. Classic Potato Salad: Combine boiled potatoes with mayonnaise, mustard, and pickles for a retro potato salad.
83. TV Dinners: Create your own version of TV dinners with compartments for meat, vegetables, and dessert.
84. Sloppy Joes: Serve ground beef in a tangy sauce on hamburger buns for a nostalgic meal.
85. Retro Punch: Mix fruit juices, soda, and sherbet to create a colorful and fizzy party punch.
86. Cheese Balls: Make a retro cheese ball covered in nuts or herbs and serve with crackers.
87. Waldorf Salad: Toss apples, celery, grapes, and walnuts in a mayonnaise-based dressing.
88. Chicken a la King: Serve chicken in a creamy sauce with mushrooms and peppers over rice or toast.
89. Stuffed Celery: Fill celery sticks with cream cheese or peanut butter and top with raisins or olives.
90. Egg Salad Sandwiches: Mix chopped eggs with mayonnaise and mustard for classic egg salad sandwiches.
91. Cherry Coke Floats: Combine cherry soda with vanilla ice cream for a retro soda fountain treat.
92. Ants on a Log: Spread peanut butter on celery sticks and top with raisins for a fun snack.
93. Seven-Layer Dip: Layer refried beans, guacamole, sour cream, cheese, tomatoes, olives, and green onions.
94. Retro Cake Pops: Create cake pops decorated with vintage-inspired designs and colors.
95. Swedish Meatballs: Serve meatballs in a creamy sauce over egg noodles or rice.
96. Fruit Cocktail: Serve a mix of canned fruits in syrup for a nostalgic dessert.
97. Velveeta Queso Dip: Melt Velveeta cheese with salsa to create a creamy cheese dip.
98. Mini Quiches: Bake small quiches with fillings like spinach, bacon, and cheese.
99. Angel Food Cake: Bake a light and airy angel food cake and serve with fresh berries and whipped cream.
100. Classic Rice Pudding: Cook rice with milk, sugar, and cinnamon to make a comforting dessert.

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Do you have any ideas about how to celebrate Retro Day?  Please share them!