When my son turned five, we threw him an epic shark birthday bash. Since I hear it is ‘Shark Week’, I realized it would be the perfect opportunity to share the details from the party we held a couple summers ago.
With a late August birthday, we thought it would be fun to host my son’s fifth birthday at a local water park and with that, I knew a shark theme would be a must. Unfortunately, there was a major storm the week of his party and we had to reschedule it to a Community Centre in late September. So while it wasn’t exactly how I envisioned it, plan B still worked out pretty well.
Without the water park to keep the kids occupied, we had to settle for a play gym with a bouncy castle. Of course for the kids, this was still great. I decided it also meant to dressing up the decor a bit to match the theme. The kid’s tables were adorned with brown craft paper covered with wrapping paper and sand pails I found at a local dollar store. Each place setting had handmade shark party hats.
For those DIYers out there, I created the shark hats by using a party hat template (similar to the one found here), cutting the hats out of grey card stock. In the same slot where the hat connects to make the cone shape, is where I added a shark fin cut out of the same card stock. I simply added a bit more space the end of the fin and folded over the bottom 1/4″ to slip in to the slot and added tape inside the hat to hold it down. The hats were finished off with sticky google eyes, shark teeth cut from white address labels and an elastic tied through two holes on each side.
The dessert table for this party was enjoyable to put together. There were buckets of salty “ocean themed” treats and a shark bait candy bar, complete with gummy worms and chocolate and gummy goldfish. Also on the table were “lifesaver” donuts and small cups of blue jello with fish “swimming” around.
Inspired by the wonderful Jenny Cookies, I attempted doing my own cupcakes, sugar cookies and cake for this party. Thanks to her easy instructions and great techniques, I think they turned out pretty well. The “shark” and “five” cookies were displayed on “sand” (which was simply brown sugar sprinkled on a plate). The three layer vanilla cake was topped with blue colored icing and a shark fin I cut out of a plastic cake base and painted the top silver.
Other food served, included star shaped sandwiches, sushi and veggie and fruit cups.
In the goody bags, which I also picked up at a dollar store, kids received a beach ball, shark tooth necklace, bubbles and of course, goldfish and candy lifesavers. They were put on a table where I also displayed a picture of my son in his stark costume. It was fitting he was a shark the previous year.
Soon, my once five year old boy, turns seven and there is talk of a bowling birthday party. Must start planning! In the meantime, enjoy Shark Week!
SaveSave
SaveSave
