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So, you’re looking to host the Secrets of Valley View – A Class Reunion Murder Mystery, and need some ideas for the party?

We’ve got you covered with a selection of food, drink, and décor ideas that will have your guests feeling that old high school pride!
Go Valley View Vultures!


What’s a class reunion without having a little something to imbibe so you can loosen up and let your old classmates know what you really think of them?
That, or you can always go with a non-alcoholic option, here are some ideas for either!



No Valley View school event would be complete without the appearance of the classic (we won’t say Retro) Valley View Party Punch. A blend of creamy citrus sherbet scoops, tart fruit juices, and of course bubbly ginger ale, this Party Punch is sure to shine like a homecoming crown. Feel free to put the ‘fun’ in “not a school sponsored function” by making a boozy version of the Valley View Party Punch; just add vodka, white rum, or the alcohol of your choice. Enjoy responsibly and go Valley View Vultures!





DIRECTIONS (MAKES 12 SERVINGS)

STEP 1 – FREEZE SHERBET SCOOPS:
Scoop 6 scoops each of the orange and lime sherbets into a 12-cup standard muffin pan, about 1/3 cup per cavity. Freeze until ready to serve.

STEP 2 – MIX PUNCH:
Combine ginger ale, cranberry juice, pineapple juice, and 2 cups each of the remaining orange and lime sherbet in a large punch bowl, stirring occasionally, until sherbet melts, about 5 minutes. Stir in frozen scoops of sherbet, lime slices, and orange slices. Garnish with mint. Serve immediately.




Spill secrets, not drinks, with the Bloody Secrets Spritzer. This wine spritzer brings together bright white wine, sparkling club soda, and the dark depths of blood orange juice. These drinks, like some secrets, are to die for!





DIRECTIONS (PER DRINK)

STEP 1 – Fill a glass half full with ice.

STEP 2 – Add 1/2 cup of blood orange juice.

STEP 3 – Add white wine to half full.

STEP 4 – Top with a splash of club soda and garnish with orange slices.


Your guests will need a lot of brain power to reveal the Secrets of Valley View, and nothing gets the noggin going like some tasty treats! Here’s a few ideas in case you’re coming up short!



Would any get-together count as a party if someone didn’t bring a classic crockpot delight? Here we have a recipe for the principal’s patented Varsity Queso Dip, an improvement on the tried-and-true block cheese style chili con queso dip, because you may want to impress your old classmates a little, but not like… that much, right?





DIRECTIONS (15 SERVINGS)

STEP 1 – Brown the sausage and onion in a large nonstick skillet, breaking the sausage up as you go. Once browned, drain off some of the fat.

STEP 2 – Chop the cheese block into cubes and add along with the chili powder, cumin, diced tomatoes and green chiles, and chopped green chiles – juice and all.

STEP 3 – Cook over a low heat until it all starts coming together. Then, stir in the diced jalapeno. Serve with chips.




If you had a dollar for every tray of finger sandwiches a wannabe Martha Stewart PTA-Mom brought to a class party, school function, or really any gathering of more than five people, you’d probably have too much money to bother attending a high school reunion. However, as an adult you’ve probably realized they’re a classic for a reason and Martha Stewart maybe had the right idea. With endless variation potential, from easy cucumber and cream cheese, to posh prosciutto and fig, to downright decadent chocolate and jam, these Celebration Sammies are sure to make you the star of the reunion!

 



The basic assembly instructions are very similar from sandwich to sandwich. Feel free to make whatever kinds you wish!

DIRECTIONS (MAKES 4 FINGER SANDWICHES)

STEP 1 – Take two pieces of bread and lay them open next to each other.

STEP 2 – Spread both pieces with your dressing of choice (mustard, mayo, jam, cheese, etc.)

STEP 3 – Top one slice of bread with your desired fillings. Some ideas are:
Cucumber with herbed cream cheese
Bacon, lettuce, and tomato for mini-BLTs
Prosciutto with fig jam
Nutella and raspberry jam
Turkey and swiss

STEP 4 – Once your toppings are fixed, place the second slice of bread on top. For a cleaner look, you can trim the crusts away! Then, cut the sandwiches across both diagonals, leaving you with four finger sandwiches per two slices of bread.

In case you want to take your Murder Mystery experience to the next level, here are some cost-effective decoration ideas to help pull off that Class Reunion Vibe!
🎈 BALLOONS 🎈
Simple, cheap, yet packing a powerful punch, adding some balloons to the mix can help with the celebratory expectation of a class reunion!

If you really want to be on theme, the school colors for Valley View are burgundy, blue, and white.
🎊 STREAMERS 🎊
Another inexpensive yet easy-to-install decoration to add a little something to the reunion atmosphere! Don’t worry if they don’t look great, remember, this isn’t your house, it’s the “Principal’s”.


🔖🔖🔖 BANNER 🔖🔖🔖

Easy to design, print, and hang up, a banner is a great way to welcome guests to the party!
Here’s a simple one that says,
“V A L L E Y   V I E W   H I G H”
One letter per page!



Feel free to design your own!

🎵 MUSIC 🎵

It’s your party, so you can play whatever music you’d like!
Since the Secrets of Valley View takes place during a thunderstorm, you can also add in some ambient background noise by searching “Thunderstorm Sounds” on YouTube. There are plenty of hours-long videos so you can just turn it on and let it do its thing!