Celebrating the Moon Landing Anniversary: A Nostalgic Party on Tuesday 16th July

On Tuesday 16th July, we have the perfect reason to throw a party that’s out of this world – the anniversary of the historic Apollo 11 Moon landing! 

Why not take a step back in time and celebrate this monumental achievement with a retro-themed bash? 

Let’s journey back to 1969, not just in spirit but in taste, by serving guests a delightful array of party snacks, meals, and drinks reminiscent of that iconic era.

Setting the Scene

To truly capture the essence of 1969, think bold colours, psychedelic patterns, and space-themed decorations. 

Hang some model rockets, scatter star confetti, and maybe even project the footage of the Moon landing on a wall. Create an ambience that pays homage to the optimism and excitement of the space race era.

1969 Party Snacks

Devilled Eggs: These were a staple at any party in the '60s. Simple yet elegant, devilled eggs are made by mixing the yolks with mayonnaise, mustard, and a touch of paprika.

Cheese and Pineapple Sticks: A British classic, these skewers of cheddar cheese and pineapple chunks on cocktail sticks were the height of party sophistication.

Twiglets: A crunchy snack that’s been a favourite for decades. Their unique flavour makes them a nostalgic treat for any British party.

Classic Meals

Prawn Cocktail: Start the meal with a retro prawn cocktail – prawns in a Marie Rose sauce, served on a bed of crisp lettuce.

Beef Wellington: For the main course, you can’t go wrong with a Beef Wellington. This dish of beef fillet coated with pâté and duxelles, then wrapped in puff pastry, was the epitome of gourmet dining in the '60s.

Coronation Chicken: Originally created for Queen Elizabeth II’s coronation in 1953, this dish remained popular throughout the '60s. Cold chicken in a curried mayonnaise sauce is both delicious and easy to prepare in advance.

Decadent Desserts

Black Forest Gateau: This rich chocolate and cherry cake is a classic '60s dessert that’s sure to be a hit.

Trifle: Layers of sponge soaked in sherry, custard, fruit, and cream – a traditional British trifle brings a sweet end to your meal.

Jelly and Ice Cream: For a touch of childhood nostalgia, serve up bowls of jelly and ice cream.

Drinks from the Past

Babycham: A sparkling perry that was all the rage in the '60s. It’s sweet, fizzy, and perfect for a celebratory toast.

Gin and It: This classic cocktail, made with gin and Italian vermouth, was a favourite in the swinging '60s.

Snowball: A festive blend of advocaat and lemonade, garnished with a cherry, the Snowball is as much a part of '60s celebrations as the Moon landing itself.

Party Games and Activities

To keep the retro fun going, include some '60s-inspired activities:

Space Trivia Quiz: Test your guests’ knowledge of the space race with a fun trivia quiz.

Retro Dance-Off: Play some '60s hits and have a dance-off. Think The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, and The Supremes.

Moon Landing Re-enactment: Have a bit of fun by re-enacting the Moon landing, complete with tinfoil spacesuits and a “moonwalk” competition.

By celebrating the Moon Landing Anniversary with a party that transports your guests back to 1969, you’re not only honouring a pivotal moment in history but also reliving the charm and simplicity of a bygone era. With authentic snacks, meals, and drinks, you’ll create a nostalgic and joyous atmosphere that’s sure to be a hit with all your guests. 

So don your best '60s attire, cue up the space-themed decorations, and get ready for a blast from the past on Tuesday 16th July!

Sandford Orchards Collaborates With Moons Cider to Launch Orchard Moon

Devon's Sandford Orchards, is thrilled to launch, in partnership with Moons Cider, Orchard Moon (ABV 6.5%), a collaboration cider celebrating the best off the West Country. It's a rewarding, full-bodied tasty cider and is available from www.sandfordorchards.co.uk as well as selected retail outlets (RRP £35.00 for 12 x 500ml bottles).

Says Barny Butterfield, Chief Cidermaker at Sandford Orchards: “Moons Cider, from Somerset, was the winner of our 2022 Breakthrough Cider Maker Awards. 

"Part of their prize was to work on a collaboration cider with us and I'm obviously delighted to see this come to fruition. Tom Moon worked closely with our head cider maker, Andy May, using the best apples from both counties to create Orchard Moon.”

Created using Yarlington Mill apples from Somerset and Brown's apples from Devon, Orchard Moon (ABV 6.5%) is a luscious and juicy cider. 

It has deep aromatics and complexity from Yarlington Mill, complemented by the crisp, green apple zing of Brown's, which combine to produce a full-bodied cider with a light sparkle and medium dry finish.

Andy May, Head Cider Maker at Sandford Orchards comments:”Tom was a very worthy winner of the Breakthrough Cider Awards. It was great to be able to share my knowledge and experience with him in blending Orchard Moon. It's a combination of two of my favourite apple varieties, which really represent everything great about West Country cider.”

Tom Moon, owner of Moons Cider said: “I was unsure about creating a medium/dry cider. I was concerned it might be too dry and challenging with the single varieties we were using but it was great to work with Andy, as he made sure to balance the strengths of both so that they complemented each other perfectly. We're excited by the final blend and think this is a cider people will enjoy and keep coming back to.”

Barny continues: ”We set up the Breakthrough Cider Maker Awards in 2019 to celebrate and support excellent whole juice cider producers from around the UK to help secure the future of real British cider. Winners of these awards benefit from priceless help on the journey including the chance to work with us on a collaboration cider.”

He adds:” Tom Moon has been making cider for more than ten years, having started as a teenager. When he won the award, he was producing around 10,000 litres of cider on his own whilst juggling his main job as a builder. We think Moons has what it takes to become a very successful business and are delighted to play our part in supporting Tom to achieve that.”

Founded in 2002, independent, family-owned Sandford Orchards is based in Crediton, Mid Devon in the oldest working cider mill in the UK. The area has long been known as one of the most fertile parishes in all of Britain, both for its grazing and ability to grow apples. Crediton sits in the lee of the moors, so receives the right amount of rain and the right units of heat in summer.

Sandford Orchards takes a fresh, natural and low impact approach to producing cider. Combining tradition and innovation, Sandford Orchards produces an award-winning range of core session, traditional, fine and fruit ciders.

For further information on Sandford Orchards please visit www.sandfordorchards.co.uk, follow Sandford Orchards on X, Facebook and Instagram. 

For learn more about Moons Cider please visit www.moonscider.co.uk and follow them on Facebook and Instagram.