There are year round opportunities to dress up and throw a fancy dress party so there is no need to wait until the traditional times of Christmas or Easter to get in the celebratory spirit.

Christmas is a popular time of year to get into the spirit of the season and throw a party for friends and loved ones. There are an abundance of fancy dress ideas for the festive season so you have plenty of options to choose from.

Father Christmas and Mother Christmas costumes are easy to come by and are perfect for entertaining both kids and grown-ups. Elves, angels and reindeers are other popular costume ideas.

After Christmas and New Year are over, why not brighten up the beginning of the year by celebrating Chinese New Year. Chinese New Year traditionally falls on the first day of the first month of the Chinese calendar and is celebrated in many countries in addition to China.

From dragon inspired costumes to simple Chinese straw hats, there are numerous ideas to take inspiration from. Decorate your home with lanterns and remember red is the colour for good luck and fortune.

For lovers of Scotland, Burns Night falls on the 25th January every year and is the time to celebrate the birthday of Scotland's famous poet, Robert Burns. Dress up in some tartan and cook a Scottish themed feast for friends and family.

Easter is the next significant event on the annual calendar. Easter takes place at a different time each year because it is a moveable feast which can fall any time between 22 March and 25 April.

Easter egg hunts and feasts are common place and there are lots of adult and children's costumes to get dressed up in, no matter what age you are. From bunnies to chickens, get into the swing of things and throw an Easter themed party.

The German festival of Oktoberfest is becomingly popular in countries outside of Germany. Oktoberfest runs from late September into early October each year in Munich, Germany. No matter where in the world you are, you can celebrate Oktoberfest in style. Decorate your house with flags, garlands, butning, stand-ups and cut-outs. When it comes to costumes, take inspiration from Hansel and Gretel and don some Leiderhosen or Dirndl to get into the feel of Oktoberfest.

Halloween is another popular time of year for fancy dress parties. Vampires and ghouls, ghosts and witches, devils and werewolves, there are copious ideas to choose from. As well as donning some Halloween fancy dress you can decorate your home in keeping with the season. Cobwebs, smoke machines and candlelight pumpkins all add to the spooky feel and Halloween themed games only add to the fun.