The wait is almost over! The Summer Games are almost here. I LOVE watching the Summer Games and my all-time favorite part is the Opening Ceremony. I love how the host country introduces the world to its culture through music, dance, acting and art. It's always an amazing show, and with this year's games being held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, I for one can't wait to see what they do for their opening ceremony celebration! In fact, let's make it a PARTY! Invite your friends over for a Summer Games Opening Ceremony Cocktail Party, complete with authentic Brazilian drinks and dessert.
Decorate Your Party Space! Set the tone for a fun Summer Games party with these bright, colorful International Flags Dinner Plates that celebrate various countries of the world, placed on Gold Chargers. To complement the colorful tableware, I used gold as the main accent color to symbolize the gold medal that all the athletes are striving for. Looking for a wow factor? Get creative and make your own DIY Summer Games Gold Rings Centerpiece as the focal point of the dining table. Instead of using traditional dinner napkins, I stacked two International Flags Beverage Napkins and placed gold cutlery on top. Next, I added some some little gold pineapples for tropical flair. 
Set Up a Summer Games Cocktail Bar! Setting up this bar was easy. I reused two of the towel racks I have in my home and placed them on top of my sofa table to hold the drinks and barware like Gold Stem Champagne Glasses, Clear Stemless Wine Glasses and Quart Ball Mason Jars. I decorated the bar with a RIO globe, Colorful Parrot, International Games Torch Centerpiece, and as an extra detail, you can make these Flags Around the World Cocktail Glasses (tutorial here) that perfectly complement the theme! 
Serve Brazilian Desserts and Cocktails! In keeping with the Brazilian theme, offer guests a few authentic Brazilian desserts and drinks. I whipped up a batch of Brazilian Brigadeiros (chocolate fudge balls) that are so yummy! See how to make them here. I also made Brazilian Lemonade (non-alcoholic) and Brazilian Caipirinha (Brazil's signature drink). See how to make them both here. When serving desserts and beverages, be sure to have plenty of International Flags Dessert Plates and International Flags Beverage Napkins on hand for guests. 
Color a Tropical Coloring Sheet! Adult coloring is all the rage right now, and it's also a fun party activity. Here the Gold Mini Suitcase Centerpiece, decorated with Award Photo Stick Props, does double-duty as an activity station. Fill the suitcase with colored pencils, pens and the Parrot Scene Adult Coloring Page so guests can color during the party. Download your FREE Coloring Sheet here. 
I hope these ideas have inspired you to host your own Summer Games Opening Ceremony party this year! With a full shopping list, DIY tutorials and recipes all here in one place, you have all you need to pull off this party with ease: DIY Tutorial: Flags Around The World Cocktail Glasses DIY Tutorial: Summer Games Gold Rings Centerpiece Recipe: Brazilian Lemonade & Brazilian Caipirinha Recipe: Brazilian Brigadeiros (Chocolate Fudge Balls).
