Holiday Themes

• Christmas, New Year's, Easter, the Fourth of July and Thanksgiving are holidays that lend themselves to having festive-themed luncheons. For example, a Thanksgiving-themed luncheon could involve a pilgrims and Indians theme, and a Christmas luncheon could be decorated with a red-and-green color scheme. Food ideas for such luncheons are easy to come by, as cookbooks and online recipe sites offer a plethora of holiday-centered recipes.

Significant Days of the Year

• Lunch parties held on or near notable days of the year pose a fun, and less-conventional luncheon theme: the celebration of a "non-holiday." These annual lighthearted days include Valentine's Day, Earth Day, Groundhog Day, a friday that falls on the 13th, or a day that coincides with a full moon. The Earth Day-themed luncheon, for example, could offer organic, locally grown foods and eco-friendly tableware.

Dining for a Cause

• Spend an afternoon with a purpose -- to raise awareness or funds for a cause close to your heart. During an awareness luncheon, give a short, concise presentation about the issue, and follow it with a short documentary on the cause or hand out pamphlets providing additional information.

Cultural Themes

• Celebrate a culture, and enjoy the exotic and foreign foods it is known for with others for a cultural-themed luncheon. There are countless options, depending on your preferences and culinary skills, including a Spanish luncheon, Thai luncheon, Mexican luncheon, Japanese or sushi luncheon, or Middle Eastern luncheon.