Evan,

>What exactly is a Theme Party?

It's the Big Event of the week, other than the opening keynote, with lots of food, usually with a cool theme.

In New Orleans, it was the Geek Parade to the House of Blues, great food, then a concert by Marva Wright. In Orlando last fall, it was an outdoors food-fest with BlackJack tables and Roulette Wheels, etc.