A costume party or fancy dress party is a type of party, common in contemporary Western culture, in which many of the guests are dressed in costume, usually depicting a fictional or stock character, or historical figure. Such parties are popular in the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, Ireland and New Zealand, especially during Halloween.
Guests in costumes at a fancy dress party.
Manchester fancy dress ball of 1828, painting by Arthur Perigal
Contestants line up for a "best costume" competition at a Halloween party in the United States.
A party is a gathering of people who have been invited by a host for the purposes of socializing, conversation, recreation, or as part of a festival or other commemoration or celebration of a special occasion. A party will often feature food and beverages, and often conversation, music, dancing, or other forms of entertainment.
A September 1945 street party in Selborne Road, Margate, celebrating victory in the Second World War
A birthday cake with lit novelty candles
Children at a birthday party
A formal dinner party as sketched in 1920 by reporter-artist Marguerite Martyn