Let’s face it – 2016 has been a garbage fire. But we all have one thing to be thankful for this week: the Gilmore Girls revival on Netflix. After a day of uncomfortable family time made extra stressful thanks to your racist uncle’s political proclamations, let Lorelai, Emily, Rory, Paul Anka, Kirk and the rest of the quirky Stars Hollow township take you away.
So at midnight on Friday, November 25th, four BRAND NEW 90-minute episodes of this wonderful show we all love so well will magically appear on Netflix. What a remarkable gift! And we must treat this momentous occasion with the ceremony it deserves. Get out your streamers, your tiaras and your world’s largest pizza (or at least the largest pizza in central Connecticut), and let’s party!
Invitations
So first up: how to invite townies to your party. What better way than with a nod to Stars Hollow’s sign, a familiar sight to any Gilmore Girls fanatic?
But hey, you’re busy, and designing an invitation takes some time. So I did it for you! Feel free to print out and use the below templates for the front and back of your very own Gilmore Girls party invitation. You can fill out the deets in the blank spaces.
Decorations
First: lots of pink and purple. In the land of Lorelai and Rory Gilmore, pink and purple rule the day.
But let’s get specific! Thanks to a wealth of celebrations in the seven seasons of Gilmore Girls to which we’ve been so far privy, we have dozens of ideas for party themes and decorations. Pick a theme and run with it, or mush all of these together for a magnificent hodgepodge of festivity.
The Firelight Festival!
Twinkle lights, a bonfire, a gazebo if you can swing it. Stars everywhere. Get out your coats and winter hats and get cozy.
Rory’s Birthday!
(as seen here)
Feather boas, tiaras, streamers, balloons. Hugs for everyone!
A USO party!
(as seen here)
Patriotism, bunting, old-timey signs. For extra fun, fondly recall the time Emily told off that nasty piece of work Shira Huntzberger.
A super racist Asian party! (note, FYA does not actually recommend you try this at home)
(as seen here)
Kimonos, fans, paper lanterns, patterned silks, giant posters of such notable Asian people as Sandra Oh and Chairman Mao. You can culturally appropriate just like Lorelai!
A British party! (for more comfortable cultural appropriation)
(as seen here)
Crowns, cardboard cutouts of various monarchs, ol’ Union Jack as far as the eye can see.
A Tarantino party!
(as seen here)
Violence, style, any props you can get your hands on (Red Apple cigarettes, anyone?). If you know any over-confident and terribly wealthy college boys, they’ll feel right at home.
A Life & Death Brigade Bash!
(as seen here)
Speaking of over-confident and terribly wealthy college boys, grab some fancy tents, use white linen everything and spread around dozens of umbrellas. You jump, they jump, Jack.
Miscellaneous!
Vicious things!
Costumes
While many of the above themes will work for costumes, as well (fancy dresses, mod wigs, kimonos and USO uniforms are all great ideas), we have a few more suggestions for you.
Terrible shirts!
(as seen here…and lots of other places, unfortunately)
Lorelai loves her some terrible shirts. Sequins are mandatory. Racism is optional.
’40s attire!
Going along with the USO theme above, “They Shoot Gilmores, Don’t They” offered some of the greatest looks this show has ever seen.
First day at Chilton!
(as seen here)
Don’t want to mess with the above? Throw on your private school uniform or cut-off jorts, a tie-dyed tee and some cowboy boots, and be one of the Lorelais on their first day at Chilton!
Luke!
(as seen…in every single episode)
Are you a boy? Wear a flannel and backwards baseball cap and you’re done. Boys have it easy.
Refreshments
You guys know the drill, right? Sure you do.
Coffee!
(as seen…in every episode. These girls drank 503 cups, according to my official Gilmore Girls Rewatch Project coffee tally!)
So, so much coffee. Take as much coffee as you think you could possibly need and quadruple it twice.
Miss Patty’s Founder’s Day Punch!
How do you make Miss Patty’s Founder’s Day Punch, you ask? Never fear! I’ve already created a recipe for you.
Miss Patty’s Founders’ Day Punch Recipe
1 cup peach brandy
1/2 cup Kentucky bourbon
1 cup apple juice
1/2 cup orange juice
1/2 cup strawberry jam
1 cup strawberries
1 & 1/2 teaspoon lime zest
1 750ml bottle dry champagne
1 12oz can spicy ginger ale or ginger beer
1 teaspoon bitters
Blend together brandy, bourbon, apple and orange juices, strawberries, jam and zest until well incorporated. Pour into an ice-filled pitcher, top with champagne and ginger ale. Stir in teaspoon of bitters and pour into glass.
It’s boozy and complex and not too sweet, with a very subtle, layered taste that isn’t at all cloying – like Gilmore Girls itself. Perfect for playing the GG Drinking Game!
Possible substitutions: you can use peach liqueur instead of brandy, although that will make it a bit sweeter. You can use two cups of strawberries instead of one cup and the half-cup of jam, although the jam makes for a nicely concentrated taste. You can leave out the bitters if you don’t have any, but really you should just buy some bitters. And make sure you use a spicy ginger ale like Hansen’s, or a ginger beer. Canada Dry won’t cut it.
Did you say a Drinking Game?
Yes, yes I did.
The Gilmore Girls Drinking Game Rules
Drink once every time:
Lorelai or Rory drinks coffee.
Emily gets flustered by Lorelai’s bizarre sense of humor.
Sookie is controlling about food.
Paris is controlling about anything.
Michel snubs a customer.
Luke is crotchety.
Taylor has an absurd scheme for Stars Hollow.
The girls acquire massive amounts of food and then fail to take even one bite.
Drink twice every time:
Kirk has a new job.
You see a town troubadour.
Emily gets a new maid.
Junk Food!
(as seen here and everywhere)
ALL OF IT. For a simple movie night at home, Lorelai and Rory buy jumbo marshmallows, supreme pizza, Lick ‘o’ Stick, jelly beans, Caramello bars, Cheetos, popcorn, cookie dough, Hershey’s kisses and, of course, the omnipresent Red Vines.
Pop-Tarts!
(as seen here and elsewhere)
Lorelai and Rory eat Pop-Tarts nearly every morning, a tradition that appears to have made its way to the revival, thank goodness.
A Santa burger!
(as seen here)
“No one has ever made me something quite this disgusting before. I thank you.”
Johnny Machete!
(as seen here)
Okay, the casserole’s actually called Johnny Marzetti, and you can get the recipe right here.
Activities
Pre-Show!
You need Kirk. Lots of Kirk.
Karaoke!
(as seen here)
It’s the perfect way to let the star-crossed love of your life know how you feel.
Ice Skating!
(as seen here)
Of course, first you’ll need a perfect man to build you an ice rink in your front yard.
Knit-athon!
(as seen here)
Those giant balls of yarn would make some pretty groovy decorations, too.
Dance-athon!
(as seen here)
But don’t even bother trying to win. You know that award belongs to Kirk. He has nothing else in his life, after all.
Golf!
(as seen here)
You’ll need golf clubs for that. Don’t worry – Emily has an idea of where you can find some.
Troubadours!
(as seen lots of places, but especially here)
You’ll need someone to strum along and sing the “la la la”s, naturally.
Build a snowman!
(as seen here)
Extra points if it looks like Bjork.
Food Fight!
(as seen here)
Absolutely.
Playlist
Hypable’s got a great one for you.
Favors
Luke’s coffee cups, of course!
There you have it! Everything you need for the world’s most epic Gilmore Girls revival party. And when you hear the opening strains of Carole King’s “Where You Lead” and your hand flies to your heart and your eyes well with tears, know that you’re not alone – we’re all feeling it together.
