The top kids’ birthday themes this winter

You hear “Après Ski”, we say Après Three! This ski lodge-inspired party is an epic way to bring the snowy and sporty energy of the season to your little one’s celebration. By the way, this party can totally work for any age, even if it doesn’t rhyme with ski! The design on your Invitation plus other thoughtful details will help communicate your theme just as well. 

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Whether you live somewhere where it’s actually snowy or not, bring the beauty of the outdoors inside through little details like “snowy” cupcakes covered in dried coconut shavings or hand-cut paper snowflake garlands for decor that doesn’t break the bank! FYI — these pair nicely with white paper chains that you can cut out and make using printer paper you have around the house! 

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💡 Supplies & activity ideas: 

• A snowy backdrop makes for an epic photo op. 
• Channel some sweet slope vibes with these on-theme cake toppers. ‍
• Beanies make the perfect party favor! Consider taking them to a local embroidery shop to add a customization that’s specific to your birthday kiddo.

If you don’t have “Let It Go” stuck in your head for at least half of December, is it really even winter?? This Disney-inspired party channels beloved princesses Anna and Elsa (and their awesome friends like Olaf and Sven) for a truly ice-tastic party! 

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Don’t be afraid of a little word play! If your kiddo is turning four, try turning one of the classic movie songs into a “4 the first time in forever” party theme, or make it a “brrrrrthday party”. 

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💡 Supplies & activity ideas: 

• A “build your own Olaf” station is a must for this bash! 
• Roll out the blue carpet and encourage friends to dress as a princess of their choice. 
• Grab a mini karaoke machine for an epic movie singalong.

This is a great way to take the beloved “Beary First Birthday” theme and make it work for all ages! Whether you go for teddy bears or polar bears as your main motif (or even a Winnie the Pooh birthday), this party brings the great outdoors inside for your little one’s big day. 

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For a winter bear party, consider an indoor activity like a trail walk “scavenger hunt” to search for hidden bear clues or toys around the house. You can also lay sleeping bags out on the floor and bring “camping” inside with an afternoon movie watch party featuring a build-your-own trail mix bar! We recommend s’more-inspired elements like mini marshmallows and chocolate candies, plus nuts, pretzels, and other fun treats. Just make sure to check if any guests have allergies before you shop for the ingredients. 

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Bonus tip: You can even add a "hibernation zone” if parents are invited to your party! Create a cozy corner of the house for parents to relax and socialize while the kids are busy with activities. 

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💡 Supplies & activity ideas: 

• Try a polar bear adoption center with these adorable stuffed animals (plus, add an extra activity with a collar making station with beads and string).  
• Use these window and floor decal stickers to create bear tracks around the house!
• Add some faux moss to your snack table to bring the forest indoors.  ‍
• Honey sticks make a sweet and on-theme snack (pro tip: call it “bear food” to make it extra fun!).

An ice skating party is loads of fun in the winter! You can opt to take your crew to a local ice skating rink, or you can create the essence of the ice rink at home with some simple additions! 

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If you’re at the rink, try playing group ice skating games like red light, green light or freeze skate (although, older kids may prefer skating leisurely if they’re too cool for games!). 

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If you’re channeling the ice skating experience from home, invite your guests to “skate on over” to your snowy chalet — AKA your house, decked out with some faux icicles and a shimmery birthday garland. Then, try winter-specific activities like personalizing ear muffs or making an ice skating photo booth setup with an icy tinsel backdrop. 

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💡 Supplies & activity ideas: 

• If your little one loves ice skating, try making some DIY lace charms for their skates. 
• Turn their birthday cake into an ice rink with white frosting and a skating cake topper. 
• Popcorn makes the perfect easy snack that looks like fluffy snow and is easy to make loads of for your crew of hungry kids!

This whimsical wonderland is snow much fun! Create your kiddo’s dream snow day by asking them what their winter wonderland would look like: would it start with homemade waffles? Would they want to stay in their pajamas all day? Take a few key points they love and turn them into the activities for the event so it feels truly personal for them. 

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This theme really comes through in the little details. Try a tower of powdered donut holes as “snowball” snacks. Coat pretzel sticks in white chocolate and sprinkles to make edible icicles. And, yes, you can absolutely label the water station to make it “melted snow”.

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Psst… if your child is turning “one”, this is the perfect opportunity to make it a “winter onederland” party! 

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💡 Supplies & activity ideas: 

• Create a sensory “snow” zone with a whole lot of white pom-poms.
• Clear snowflake balloons are such a gorgeous way to fill empty space at your venue! 
• If it’s before Christmas, try a classic activity like decorating gingerbread houses.

If you want something warm and cozy but not totally winter-themed, an at-home pizzeria is a delicious and engaging party theme that people of all ages will love! The main course of this party (AKA the main activity) is homemade mini pizza making! You can pick up pre-made dough, jars of sauce, and loads of toppings, and set it all up for a build-your-own pizza station! 

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A few toppings we’d recommend if you need some inspiration for your shopping list: cheese, pepperoni, peppers, olives (if you’ve got an adventurous eater), basil, pineapple, and onion. 

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Pro tip: Use Evite’s guest poll or messaging tools to see if any of your guests have dietary restrictions so you can prepare ahead of time! 

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💡 Supplies & activity ideas: 

• Get ready for the day by letting guests decorate their own apron or chef hat with fabric markers, stickers, or patches. 
• Create a cozy restaurant vibe with classic red checkered tablecloths (plus, these are wipeable which makes cleanup so much easier).  
• Prep for leftovers with mini cardboard takeout pizza containers so guests can bring their pizza home!

At-home cafe parties have been totally trending for the grown-ups this year, so we thought it was about time the littles got in on the fun! A cocoa cafe is an adorable party that’s so simple to host from home and is packed with places to add some personalization for your little one. 

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Try making a custom sign with their name (“[Name]’s Cafe”) to hang above a hot cocoa bar stocked up with all their faves — from marshmallows and sprinkles to whipped cream and cookies. You can also get compostable cups and add custom stickers for your kiddo’s cafe! Plus, you can write guest names on each cup so they don’t get all mixed up! 

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💡 Supplies & activity ideas: 

• If you’ve got time, start the day at a Color Me Mine location and let each kid customize their own hot cocoa mug! (Just make sure to let parents know they’ll have to pick them up at a later date.)  
• Simple party favor: Prep some “hot cocoa on-the-go” kits with packets of instant hot cocoa, mini marshmallows, and some candy canes tied into a bag with a bow!

February is still winter, so go ahead and channel this season’s loveliest holiday with a theme that’s full of heart! The concept for this one is simple: it’s an arts and crafts extravaganza that truly spreads the love for your little one. 

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There are a whole bunch of fun craft activities that are great for birthday parties, so feel free to choose based on your kid’s specific interests. Here are a few ideas to start:

• Make-your-own charm bracelets ‍
• Air dry clay sculptures 
• DIY slime (just make sure the group is old enough to not eat their craft!)  

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💡 Supplies & activity ideas: 

• Make sure to decorate with lots of hearts — this felt garland is a great place to start! 
• Adding heart sprinkles and candy canes on top of hot cocoa with whipped cream is too cute.  
• Take a break from crafting to snack on some grilled cheese sandwiches cut into the shape of hearts using a cookie cutter!