30 Vintage Photos of 70s and 80s House Parties

Daniel Bonfiglio Published 11/07/2024 in wow

House parties aren't what they used to be.

In the old days, parents left kids up to their own devices, and trusted them not to burn the house down while they were away. Friend groups rode around on bikes, and teenagers gathered in the rich kid's basement for a night of old fashioned tomfoolery.

In honor of the golden age of house parties, here are 30 nostalgic pics of basement blasts for all ages, from the 70s and 80s.

List View
Player View
Grid View

1.
“House party in 1970.”
2.
“Seattle in 1988 or so. Lots of mullets, mustaches, and acid-washed jeans!”
3.
“My grandparents' mortgage burning party! 1970s.”
4.
Teen party, 1978. The guys hit the couch while the girls play cards on the floor. Typical '70s living room decor. A found Kodachrome slide from the Steven Martin collection.
5.
House party, 1976.
6.
80s house parties.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
16.
“Cocktail party at my parents' house in January, 1978.”
17.
18.
19.
“1979. Two kids from my high school at a house party. She posted this on Facebook a while back.”
20.
House party in Wauwatosa, WI, 1973. Photo courtesy of Kodachrome Milwaukee.
21.
My uncle and Walton Goggins chilling together at my grandparents house during a house party outside of Atlanta, 1980s.
22.
“Mom and Dad at a house party in the 70s. They divorced after 20yrs and remarried but are still good friends. I love the way my dad is looking at mom.”
23.
“At my house party, 1986.”
24.
“My parents at a house party, 1986.”
25.
“Typical house party, 1986.”
26.
“70's house party!”
27.
House party, California, 1970s.
28.
“My dad and my uncles at a Halloween party, circa 1978.”
29.
House party in Madrid, Spain, 1981.
30.
Nirvana playing a house party, late 1980's.

1.
“House party in 1970.”
2.
“Seattle in 1988 or so. Lots of mullets, mustaches, and acid-washed jeans!”
3.
“My grandparents' mortgage burning party! 1970s.”
4.
Teen party, 1978. The guys hit the couch while the girls play cards on the floor. Typical '70s living room decor. A found Kodachrome slide from the Steven Martin collection.
5.
House party, 1976.
6.
80s house parties.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
16.
“Cocktail party at my parents' house in January, 1978.”
17.
18.
19.
“1979. Two kids from my high school at a house party. She posted this on Facebook a while back.”
20.
House party in Wauwatosa, WI, 1973. Photo courtesy of Kodachrome Milwaukee.
21.
My uncle and Walton Goggins chilling together at my grandparents house during a house party outside of Atlanta, 1980s.
22.
“Mom and Dad at a house party in the 70s. They divorced after 20yrs and remarried but are still good friends. I love the way my dad is looking at mom.”
23.
“At my house party, 1986.”
24.
“My parents at a house party, 1986.”
25.
“Typical house party, 1986.”
26.
“70's house party!”
27.
House party, California, 1970s.
28.
“My dad and my uncles at a Halloween party, circa 1978.”
29.
House party in Madrid, Spain, 1981.
30.
Nirvana playing a house party, late 1980's.