What kind of entertainment can I have for a dinner party?

Kelley M: What kind of entertainment can I have for a dinner party?
I will be having my annual family get together. There are usually 8 – 10 people there (adults). This year I will have a formal sit down dinner and would like to add some entertainment as well. Do you have any suggestions?
Family comes in from out of town and every year we have a buffet style meal and play games afterward. I always try to do something different so this year i thought a formal dinner which most of the family never have an opportunity to experience would be nice and live entertainment after dinner would be a nice surprise.

Answers and Views:

Answer by Robalo Rafter
English crackers is the way to go.

Get about 3 per person. After your dinner party, you can all sit at the table and take turns opening the crackers up.

Answer by joemoser1948
Dinner guests are supposed to be their OWN “entertainment” – the usual purpose of a dinner party is for the people to share themselves, not be entertained.

Answer by I should be working
great idea..but of course you’re suppose to share yourself, but sometimes it’s easier when there is something there to break the ice like a good poker game,board game,music,dancing,karaoke,twister,scavenger hunt,the marshmallow game(kidding)

what about if you designate a word, that no one is allowed to say, like turkey, and whoever says it loses and has to tell something about themselves that no one knows.

or what if under the china you put a star and who ever has it has to do the dishes..lol

or that game where you have one missing chair, and when the music stops that person is out..and has to sit on the uncomfy shorter chair (you know the one)

But for a formal stiff got a stick up my but dinner party? that’s a toughy

Answer by Achilles
Karaoke can be fun and annoying at the same time. Though machine rentals are not that expensive and the guests would be able to entertain themselves.

Answer by westpalmharbor
A formal dinner is lovely and makes a lasting impression. Afterward an old fashioned game of charades is fun and a great way to laugh and share experiences once people get over their initial “no way” phase which seems to happen with most groups of adults.

You can make up the categories ahead of time on slips of paper (which means you can’t play because you know all of the answers) or you can have a friend you trust (don’t want anything really off limits in there!) do it so you all can play. They sell games of charades but in the one I saw all of the the questions were aimed at children. Plus making your own up means you can gear it to family interests – if one family is a farmer you can have a tractor, if one raises birds you can have a parakeet etc.