This is the ultimate party game.  Everyone loves pass the parcel.  A mystery gift is wrapped in lots of layers of paper (I use tissue paper).  The paper is peeled off a layer at a time as the music is stopped.  One of your helpers needs to control the music to ensure that each guest gets a go. 

For the younger guests I tend to put a small gift in each layer so that no one is disappointed.  Each guest will get a lolly or small toy.  The last guest to unravel the final layer of paper is the winner.

Items required for this game are as follows:

• The mystery prize
• Tissue paper to wrap the parcel.  You will need one layer per guest plus one for the mystery prize.
• Sweets/chocolate/toy to place between each layer (so everyone gets a prize along the way).
• Cello tape
• Don't forget the music.

Instructions:

• Wrap the mystery prize in one layer of paper.
• Place a sweet/chocolate/toy on top of the parcel and wrap with another piece of tissue paper.  I tend to use a different colour for each layer, this makes it easier for the guest to see when to stop pulling off paper.
• Continue placing and wrapping until you have enough layers for each child to recieve a prize.

For older guests you could swap the lolly or small toy with a forfeit.  Write forfeits on pieces of paper and put these into each layer of the parcel.  As each guest unwraps the layer they then need to complete the forfeit before the music can start and the game can continue.

When everyone one is ready to play, get them all to sit on the floor in a circle and away you go.