Trying to brainstorm fun and memorable 5-year-old birthday party ideas? Check out these unique themes, party favors, and activities for boys and girls.
Now that your child is in school, they’ll almost certainly want a birthday celebration for friends—and maybe even the whole class. That’s why the best 5-year-old birthday party ideas will suit a whole crowd of energetic youngsters. Check out our top picks for birthday party themes, with advice about logistics, activities, favors, and more.
A backyard treasure hunt: Create a treasure map and hide small toys or treats around the yard for the birthday child and their friends to find.
A DIY pizza party: Set up a station with pre-made pizza dough, sauce, and toppings, and let the kids create their own pizzas.
A dress-up party: Encourage the kids to come dressed in their favorite costumes or let them create their own with a selection of dress-up clothes and accessories.
An art party: Set up an art station with paints, markers, stickers, and other supplies, and let the kids create their own masterpieces.
A backyard carnival: Set up games like a bean bag toss, a carnival-style ball toss, and a small obstacle course.
A science party: Set up a series of fun, hands-on science experiments for the kids to enjoy. You could make a volcano, create a simple circuit, or conduct a density experiment.
A magic party: Hire a magician or plan some simple magic tricks for the kids to learn and perform.
A petting zoo party: If you have access to a petting zoo or know someone with friendly farm animals, consider setting up a petting zoo for the kids to enjoy.
A garden party: Set up a variety of garden-themed activities, such as planting seeds, creating a nature scavenger hunt, or decorating pots for plants.
A carnival food party: Set up a carnival-style food booth with popcorn, cotton candy, and other fun carnival treats for the kids to enjoy.
A circus party: Set up circus-themed activities like a tightrope walk, a trapeze, and a clown makeup station.
A dinosaur party: Set up a variety of dinosaur-themed activities, such as a fossil dig, a dino egg hunt, and a dino craft station.
A movie party: Set up a movie theater in your living room with blankets, pillows, and popcorn for a cozy movie-watching experience.
A tea party: Set the table with fancy cups and saucers, and serve up some small sandwiches, cookies, and tea (or apple juice) for a fancy tea party.
A nature party: Take the kids on a nature walk to explore the outdoors and collect interesting rocks, leaves, and other treasures to create nature crafts.
A sports party: Set up a variety of outdoor sports activities, such as a mini golf course, a soccer goal, and a baseball diamond.
A baking party: Set up a baking station with all the ingredients and tools needed to make cookies, cupcakes, or another simple baked treat.
A dance party: Play some fun, kid-friendly music and have a dance party in the living room or backyard.
A pool party: If you have access to a pool, a pool party can be a fun and refreshing way to celebrate the birthday.
A carnival-themed party: Set up carnival-style games like a duck pond, a ring toss, and a ball toss, and serve carnival-style snacks like cotton candy and popcorn.
A beach party: If you live near the beach, plan a beach party complete with sandcastle building, beach games, and a beach picnic.
A superhero party: Encourage the kids to dress up as their favorite superheroes and have a superhero training academy with challenges like an obstacle course and a “rescue the damsel in distress” game.
We hope these additional ideas give you more inspiration for planning a fun and memorable birthday party for your 5 year old.