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It’s glitzy, it’s glam, it’s oozing with cheese – it can only be the Eurovision Song Contest 2016.
Yes, the Eurovision grand finale will be blaring out from our TV screens this Saturday night (May 14) from 8pm, with duo Joe and Jake representing for the UK with their song You're Not Alone. A Brit hasn't won since 1996, so don't keep your hopes up.
If this feast of brilliantly bad music, outlandish costumes and inevitable scores of nil points is your guilty pleasure, then why not throw a bash at home to celebrate?
Naturally, there is a lot to think about ahead of the big night to ensure it’s a party to remember. You need tacky decorations galore, European themed snacks – we’re thinking go Swedish as a polite nod to this year’s hosts – and a roster of drinking games to up the ante throughout your viewing.
And all finished off, of course, with an obligatory round of karaoke.
Click through our gallery above for our top hints on throwing the ultimate Euro-tastic party.
Have fun…
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ArticleHow to throw the most outrageous Eurovision party at homeEurovision 2016MusiccontestSwedenPartyJONATHAN NACKSTRAND/AFP/Getty Images
Dressing in the most awful, Euro-tastic outfits is essential to the night. Wrap yourself in tin foil like Ukraine's act in 2007, use a pot of gel and bottle of hairspray for Jedward or a brunette wig and beard to create the ultimate Conchita look. Or for the more old school guest, go ABBA. The Eurovision is more about the costume than the songs for some, so your party should be too. The wackier the better...
Decorations are obviously a must, but you don’t have to worry, it’s pretty simple – flags! Flags on doors, walls, windows and even in your food and drinks. Any country that has a space in the grand final deserves a space in your house.
Bernard / imageBROKER/REX/Shutterstock
Considering that this year’s Eurovision is going to be held in Stockholm, it seems only right that Swedish traditions have an invite to your party - so it's time to hit the hard stuff.
Brännvin, or ‘Burn-wine’, is a Swedish special liquor distilled from potatoes. Vodka is the purest form of Brännvin, and is usually seasoned with herbs to create an ‘Akvavit’. For the real party animals, it can also be drunk as snaps, also known as a ‘nubbe’, in a small shot glass alongside a meal. For the less daring maybe, lager beer and sweet cider is also very popular in Sweden. And if you really want to get creative, why not make the Swedish mule cocktail - chin chin!
With all these drinks involved, of course there needs to be a Eurovision-themed drinking game? Take a ‘responsible’ sip every time you see or hear the following...an act wearing sunglasses on stage, when someone says ‘Sweden', there are dancers that have no relevance to the song - whatsoever, there is an act wearing practically nothing, someone is wearing tin foil - again, when the presenter shouts ‘Good Evening’ and finally, when a country's performance is unusually amusing.
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With people flocking to IKEA in search of its famous Swedish meatballs, why not give it a run for its money with a delicious selection of Swedish party food. We suggest you go heavy on the meatballs and throw in a few cinnamon buns and potato dumplings for good measure.
While watching this gloriously tacky competition, why not engage in a little competition of your own? Organise a sweepstake amongst your guests, choosing one person per country and a pound to enter, with the jackpot as the prize.
You can print out the BBC's handy sweepstake kit from here: bbc.co.ukBBC
Create the ultimate playlist with Eurovision hits from over the years such as, Rise Like a Pheonix (Conchita), Waterloo (Abba), Flying the Flag (Schooch), Congratulations (Cliff Richard), Lipstick (Jedwood) and Just a little bit (Gina G). It's bound to get the party started and keep the mood up during any ad breaks.
Olle Lindeborg/AFP/Getty
It wouldn't be the ultimate Eurovision party without a spot of karaoke after it's all over. Even if it's not your thing, it usually ends up being the funniest and most memorable part of the night. If you really can’t wait until the end of the night, why not put the subtitles on the telly or select the sing along version during the contest? You may want to have a few drinks first...
There's a lot to think about...