31 Potluck Themes to do in March
When it comes to hosting memorable gatherings, there’s nothing quite like a themed potluck. It’s a chance for your guests to showcase their culinary creativity while also providing a sense of shared purpose and community.
March, with its plethora of national celebration days and significant dates, offers a gold mine of inspiration for your next potluck. Whether you’re honoring renowned personalities, indulging in delightful food-focused days, or simply celebrating the arrival of spring, there’s a theme to make every gathering in March unforgettable.
Dive into this list of unique potluck themes inspired by the calendar of March 2024, guaranteed to make your next get-together a hit, filled with delicious dishes and memorable moments.
What Potluck Themes to do in March 2024?
Using a theme for your next potluck adds an element of fun and creativity, encouraging your guests to think outside the box with their culinary contributions. It also fosters a sense of unity and shared purpose, turning a simple gathering into a memorable event where every dish is part of the collective celebration.
March 1st – National Dress In Blue Day – Blue Food Potluck
For a unique potluck theme on this day, you could encourage participants to bring blue-colored dishes. Ideas might include blueberry muffins, salads with blue cheese, or even blue corn chips and dip. You could even have some fun with it by using food coloring in white dishes! There are tons of Blue Snacks too!
March 2nd – Read Across America Day – Book-Inspired Potluck
For Read Across America Day, invite everyone to bring dishes that are mentioned or inspired by a book. This could be anything from the “Eat Me” cakes from “Alice in Wonderland,” to the hearty breakfasts described in the “Redwall” series, to the Turkish Delight from “The Chronicles of Narnia.” This theme encourages creativity and lets participants celebrate their favorite literary works in a delicious and unique way.
March 3rd – National Cold Cuts Day – Deli Sandwich Potluck
For this day, guests can bring different types of cold cuts, breads, cheeses, and condiments. You could set up a sandwich making station where everyone could make their own custom sandwich.
March 4th – National Grammar Day – Punctuation Potluck
To celebrate National Grammar Day, you could host a “Punctuation Potluck.” Participants could bring dishes shaped like punctuation marks. For example, curly fries for commas, round cookies or donuts for periods, or triangle-shaped sandwiches for carets.
March 5th – National Cheese Doodle Day – Cheese Potluck
What better way to celebrate Cheese Doodle Day than with a cheese-themed potluck? Have your guests bring their favorite cheesy dishes, such as mac and cheese, cheese fondue, or cheesecake.
March 6th – National Oreo Day – Sandwiched Food Potluck
In the spirit of the Oreo, celebrate National Oreo Day by hosting a “Sandwiched Food Potluck.” Invite guests to bring foods that embody the concept of being sandwiched, much like the structure of an Oreo cookie. This could range from classic sandwiches, stuffed pasta like ravioli, or stuffed pastries, to desserts like ice cream sandwiches or macarons. This theme adds a fun twist to your potluck, offering a variety of dishes beyond just desserts.
March 7th – National Cereal Day – Breakfast-for-Dinner Potluck
On National Cereal Day, why not host a breakfast-for-dinner potluck? Attendees could bring their favorite cereals to share, or dishes made with cereal. You could also extend this to other breakfast foods, such as pancakes, waffles, and eggs.
March 8th – International Women’s Day – Heirloom Recipes Potluck
For International Women’s Day, host an “Heirloom Recipes Potluck.” Encourage guests to bring dishes that have been passed down from the important women in their lives, like their mothers, grandmothers, or aunts. This theme not only pays tribute to these women but also allows for the sharing and preserving of beloved family recipes.
March 9th – National Meatball Day – Around the World Meatball Potluck
Have a “Global Meatball Potluck,” with attendees bringing different types of meatballs from various cuisines – Swedish meatballs, Italian meatballs, Turkish koftas, and so on.
March 10th – Mario Day – Super Mario Bros. Potluck
Celebrate Mario Day by hosting a Super Mario Bros.-themed potluck. Encourage your guests to get creative with dishes inspired by elements from the game. This could include “Power-Up Mushroom” stuffed mushrooms, “Brick Block” brownies, or a salad filled with green veggies to represent Yoshi. This theme will certainly spark creativity and nostalgia among your guests.
March 11th – Johnny Appleseed Day – Apple Potluck
On Johnny Appleseed Day, host an apple-themed potluck. Attendees can bring apple dishes, like apple pies, apple salads, apple cider, or caramel apples.
March 12th – National Plant a Flower Day – Flowering Food Potluck
On National Plant a Flower Day, hold a “Flowering Food Potluck”. For this theme, invite guests to bring dishes made with foods that are derived from the flowering part of plants. Dishes could feature broccoli or cauliflower (flower buds), artichokes (immature flower heads), onions (bulbs), lemons (fruit from flowering plants), or even use spices like saffron (flower stigmas). This theme not only aligns with the day but also provides an interesting botanical twist to your potluck.
March 13th – National Jewel Day – Jewel-Toned Food Potluck
To celebrate National Jewel Day, you could ask attendees to bring dishes that are the color of their favorite gemstones. For example, a beetroot dish for rubies, a spinach dish for emeralds, or a lemon tart for yellow diamonds.
March 14th – Pi Day – Pie Potluck
On Pi Day, host a pie potluck! This could include both sweet and savory pies – apple pies, cherry pies, chicken pot pies, quiches – anything pie!
March 15th – True Confessions Day – Guilty Pleasure Potluck
For True Confessions Day, host a “Guilty Pleasures Potluck.” Everyone can bring a dish they secretly love but are somewhat embarrassed to admit – like a love for boxed mac and cheese, fast-food style burgers, spam, bologna sandwiches, or even cheap instant noodles.
March 16th – National Corn Dog Day – Fair Food Potluck
On National Corn Dog Day, consider having a fair-themed potluck. Along with corn dogs, people could bring other fair favorites like funnel cakes, cotton candy, or popcorn.
March 17th – St. Patrick’s Day – Green Food Potluck
In honor of St. Patrick’s Day, host a green food potluck. This could include savory side dishes like spinach pasta, guacamole & chips, and green salads. Plus those green sweets like mint choc chip ice cream or green velvet cupcakes.
March 18th – National Sloppy Joe Day – Messy Food Potluck
To celebrate National Sloppy Joe Day, have a “Messy Food Potluck.” Apart from sloppy joes, attendees can bring any deliciously messy dish they love – nachos, ribs, wings, or gooey desserts.
March 19th – National Poultry Day – Bird-Themed Potluck
For National Poultry Day, have a poultry-themed potluck. Guests could bring dishes featuring chicken, turkey, duck, or any other bird – the more the variety, the better.
March 20th – Spring Equinox (Vernal Equinox) – Fresh Spring Produce Potluck
The Spring Equinox is a great day for a “Fresh Spring Produce Potluck”. Guests could bring dishes that feature fresh spring produce, such as asparagus, peas, radishes, zucchini, or rhubarb.
March 21st – National Fragrance Day – Aromatic Food Potluck
In honor of National Fragrance Day, host an aromatic food potluck. This could include dishes known for their enticing aroma – such as fresh baked bread, garlic shrimp, or cinnamon rolls.
March 22nd – World Water Day – Seafood Potluck
On World Water Day, you could host a seafood-themed potluck. Guests could bring their favorite seafood dishes, such as shrimp cocktail, crab cakes, salmon, or even sushi.
March 23rd – National Chip and Dip Day – Chip and Dip Potluck
In honor of National Chip and Dip Day, host a Chip and Dip Potluck. Encourage your guests to bring their favorite combination of chips and dip. This could include traditional pairings like tortilla chips with salsa, potato chips with onion dip, or perhaps something more adventurous like pita chips with homemade tzatziki, or multigrain chips with spicy corn dip. The variety of textures and flavors will make this potluck a hit with everyone.
March 24th – National Chocolate Covered Raisin Day – Chocolate and Raisin Potluck
In honor of National Chocolate Covered Raisin Day, host a potluck where guests are encouraged to bring dishes that include chocolate, raisins, or both. This could include everything from traditional chocolate covered raisins, oatmeal raisin cookies, chocolate chip cookies, to more adventurous dishes like chocolate cake with raisin filling or a savory mole sauce (which often includes chocolate and raisins) for tacos. This theme will allow for a variety of sweet and savory dishes to cater to everyone’s tastes.
March 25th – Elton John Birthday – Goodbye Yellow Brick Road Potluck
Celebrate Elton John’s birthday with a “Goodbye Yellow Brick Road” potluck, featuring yellow foods. This could include a range of dishes like corn on the cob, lemon chicken, a yellow vegetable curry, or desserts like lemon bars or banana pudding. This theme not only pays homage to one of Elton John’s biggest hits but also adds a splash of color to the potluck spread.
March 26th – Purple Day – Purple Food Potluck
For Purple Day, host a purple food potluck. Guests could bring dishes made from purple foods, such as purple cabbage slaw, roasted purple potatoes, or a dessert made with blackberries or blueberries. For more snacky foods, check out our list of Purple Snacks!
March 27th – National Little Red Wagon Day – Childhood Favorite Potluck
Celebrate National Little Red Wagon Day by hosting a potluck where guests bring a dish that was a childhood favorite. This could be anything from homemade mac ‘n cheese, to meatloaf, to a dessert like rice crispy treats.
March 28th – Lady Gaga’s Birthday – Outrageous Food Potluck
In honor of Lady Gaga’s birthday, why not host an “Outrageous Food Potluck?” Guests can bring foods that are uniquely prepared, unusually colored, odd parings like bacon and chocolate, or arranged in a striking way. Maybe someone will even bring a meatloaf shaped like a high-heeled shoe!
March 29th – Good Friday – Fish Potluck
Good Friday is traditionally a day when many people eat fish. You can ask your guests to bring their favorite fish dishes, like fish tacos, salmon patties, or a classic fish and chips.
March 30th – National Virtual Vacation Day – Dream Vacation Potluck
For National Virtual Vacation Day, host a “Dream Vacation Potluck”. Encourage guests to bring a dish inspired by a place where they would love to vacation. This could mean Caribbean jerk chicken for someone longing for the beaches of Jamaica, cheese fondue for another dreaming of the Swiss Alps, or perhaps a seafood paella from someone wishing to be in Spain. This theme allows guests to share their dream destinations through food, providing a delicious and imaginative escape.
March 31st – Easter – Egg-themed Potluck
Finally, celebrate Easter with an egg-themed potluck. This can include traditional Easter dishes, such as deviled eggs, as well as egg-based dishes like quiche, egg salad, or frittatas. For dessert, consider egg-shaped cookies or chocolates.
Fun Potluck Theme Ideas for March 2024
There you have it – a diverse collection of potluck themes inspired by the celebrations of March 2024. By infusing a bit of creativity, these themes can turn any gathering into an exciting event where the food is not just about satiating hunger, but also about telling a story, honoring traditions, or exploring new culinary territories.
So, why not take the initiative and turn your next potluck into an exciting culinary adventure that will be remembered for years to come? The key is to have fun, encourage participation, and most importantly, enjoy the delicious spread of diverse dishes. Happy hosting!
