Setup and decorating Decorate your house with our downloadable posters, and create some of your own. Protect your furniture and furnishings from accidents the best you can. Clear everything unnecessary from tables and end tables and set out plenty of coasters. Think of them as little drum covers. Keep a towel near you for quick clean up of spills. Remember, you're not judged on the mistakes you make, but on how you recover from them. There will probably be someone at the party who doesn't know what drum corps is. Try to help them understand it, or at least enlist their help for food prep and clean-up. Recipes Serve your food as a buffet since nobody will want to sit long in your dining room for a formal dinner. Add your favorite local finger foods and snacks to the menu (Bugles, anyone?), and, finally, make all of your food in advance: You won't want to be stuck in the kitchen missing the show.

World Champion Green Machine Party Dip

· 1 pkg. frozen spinach thawed
· 1 jar marinated artichokes, chopped
· 8 oz. Philly cream cheese
· 8 oz. sour cream
· 3/4 c. shredded Parmesan cheese
· 8 oz. shredded Monterey Jack cheese
· 1/2 onion finely chopped
· 1 stick butter
· red pepper flakes to taste

Saut?© onions in butter, adding ingredients in a geometric, drill-like fashion while mixing, marching and blending well after each addition. Add ingredients in this order: Spinach, Cream Cheese, Sour Cream, Parmesan Cheese, Artichoke Hearts, Crushed Red Pepper Flakes. Remove from heat and put in crock or microwave dish. Top with Monterey Jack Cheese and melt. Serve hot with chips or bread. May also add Mozzarella Cheese on top and lightly brown

Brownies from the Dark Side

· 4 squares unsweetened chocolate
· 3/4 c. (1-1/2 sticks) butter
· 2-1/2 c. sugar
· 5 eggs
· 1-1/4 c. flour
· 1 8 oz. pkg cream cheese, softened
· Red food coloring

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease a 13x9 baking pan. Read through this recipe entirely before you begin, as you will need to divide ingredients into separate batters in order to create two layers. Microwave together the chocolate and butter on high setting 2 min. Stir in 2 cups of the sugar and blend well. Stir in 4 eggs and 1 cup of flour. Spread this mixture in the greased pan. Beat cream cheese with a few drops of red food coloring (add until you get the desired color of red), gradually adding remaining ingredients. Combine well. Spoon second mixture over batter already in pan. Swirl together lightly stirring with knife to create a marble-like pattern. Bake in pre-heated 350 degree oven for 40 min. or until toothpick has grainy fudge bits but is not clean, like in a cake. Be careful not to over-bake or be led away by the devil.

Make Him a Meatball He Can't Refuse

· 2 lbs. ground chuck
· 1 to 1/1/2 c. Progresso Italian bread crumbs
· 2 eggs
· 1/2 c. milk
· 1/2 c. Romano cheese
To taste:
· salt and pepper
· garlic powder
· onion powder
· oregano
· basil

Mix all ingredients together. Add spices to taste. Roll mixture into balls and place in cooking spaghetti sauce. Make sure meat is fully cooked before enjoying. Party Games
Divide your guests into corps and give each corps five word cards that you've prepared in advance. Everyone takes turns trying to get their corps to guess the drum corps-related term that they're acting out. The corps that guesses the most words wins. Use a timer to keep things fair. Here's a list to give you some ideas:    - Drum Major
   - Tuba
   - Color guard
   - Snare Drummer
   - Judge
   - Corps Director
   - Field painters
   - Corps identities
   - Polishing a horn/ Shoes
   - Corps show titles Send your own party ideas to feedback@dci.org. We may share your party tips in an upcoming feature on DCI.org. Don't forget to include your name and hometown.