Our Dazed and Confused 10th Anniversary Party
“Not to worry. There’s a new fiesta in the making as we speak. It’s out at the moontower. Full kegs. Everybody’s gonna be there. You oughta go.” -Wooderson (Matthew McConaughey), Dazed and Confused
For those of y’all that don’t know, there’s an early 90’s cult classic that has woven itself into the fabric of Austin over the past 20 years: Richard Linklater’s Dazed and Confused. Filmed right here in town, the movie just feels like the city. You can still spot some of its filming locations around the city (Top Notch Burger being the most recognizable one), see Matthew McConaughey’s iconic “alright, alright, alright” quote on T-shirts and bumper stickers, and catch hints of it’s laid-back 70’s design influence as you visit Austin’s hottest spots.
Set on the last day of school in 1976, the movie follows a bunch of teenagers, cruising around, getting into trouble and, ultimately, ending up at a keg party at one of the city’s historic moontower’s (an early version of the streetlamp erected in the 1890’s). It’s a fun, nostalgic, easy watch.
So yes, our name is a nod to the movie. But the connection goes beyond that. The spirit of Dazed and Confused feels a lot like the spirit of Party at the Moontower: creative, a little unconventional, distinctly Austin, and always up for a good time. And at the end of the day, we really only have one goal—to help people throw damn good parties…and have a good time while doing it!
Designing an Anniversary Party for a Drive-Thru
When we started to plan our Dazed and Confused-themed 10th business anniversary party, we had one location in mind: the drive-thru burger joint where iconic scenes from the movie were filmed. Lucky for us, the Top Notch Hamburgers owner has kept it looking exactly like it did when Dazed was filmed. (Here’s a scene for reference!)
One of the first things we dreamt up was a photo op designed around the iconic Top Notch sign that’s featured in the movie. We fabricated an oversized 3D wall that was designed to feel like an Old Hollywood movie set backdrop and added our party logo, designed to mimic the Dazed and Confused movie logo. We rented a classic 69′ bright red mustang and filled the trunk with disco balls. We even had our own mini moontower flanking the setup. This was the first thing guests saw as they arrived off Burnet Road, setting the tone for the night.
A Luxe Kegger? Alright, alright alright.
We knew we wanted to include a lot of elements that felt like the movie: self-serve kegs, red solo cups, Top Notch burgers and fries, cigarettes and custom gold matchbooks, and a 70’s classic rock cover band. But, we also work in high-end events so we wanted to make sure the design as a whole felt elevated.
The juxtaposition of a drive-thru burger joint and luxury event rentals was something we leaned into. We had custom, velvet banquette seating made to line the outside of the building, custom pillows from authentic, vintage 70’s fabric, cigarettes and red solo cups on silver trays from Table Manners, lounges that felt modern and funky, and a 16′ Painkiller Bar that was covered in fringe against a Cherry Wood Backbar with velvet drape.
We topped it all off with a big, spinning disco ball and mood lighting from Altared Weddings and Events, and a metallic silver and gold streamer ceiling treatment. These two elements ultimately made the drive-thru awning feel like the focal point, telling guests that it was where the main aspects of the party would happen.
A thoughtful floor plan and run of show, decor to transform the drive-thru lot, and specifically curated entertainment and activities made for a really fun night. The beer pong tables were competitive, the dance floor was full, the bar was busy, the band was perfectly 70’s (Jodi from Lucky Girl Music lead us to The Motts and we couldn’t recommend them more!), and the ambiance was perfectly old-school Austin.
The vibes were just right but you don’t have to take it from us. Here’s what one of our event industry peers said about the anniversary party:
“Last week we attended the most ICONIC Austin-Vibe Party of the Year. The scent of Fried Chicken & American Spirits filled the parking lot which had miraculously been transformed by the most incredible team @moontowerrentals. The party was Dazed and Confused theme at Top Notch Hamburgers — the very spot where the movie was filmed. A little Austin nostalgia, a lot of disco, burgers, margaritas, and a packed dance floor all night.”
HUGE thank you to our Partners in Party! We worked with the best of the best in Austin to make this evening happen:
Venue & Catering – Top Notch Hamburgers, Day-Of Coordination – Satin Wedding Co., Photography- Constanza Ulloa-Colina, Spinning Disco Ball & Lighting – Altared Weddings and Events, Glassware Rentals- Table Manners, DJ- Dart Collective, Live Music- Lucky Girl Music, The Motts, Vintage Car – Ed’s ’69 Mustang, Luxury Restroom Trailer- Happy Wagons, Frozen Drinks- Woolf’s Ritas, Cake- Olive and Aries, Mister Fans- Reventals, Event Load-Out Help- Limestone Moving Co.
- All
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