5 of Our Most Popular Birthday Party Themes Hosted at Our Venue

5 of Our Most Popular Birthday Party Themes Hosted at Our Venue

Our most popular party themes that parents and kids can’t get enough of

We have been on the phone for over 20 minutes.

A typical phone call regarding a child’s birthday party is between 2-10 minutes, with the customer usually asking a few questions. This particular phone call was not our usual party inquiry phone call. 

The mom on the other line wanted to host a birthday party at Bumblebee Playspace for her child. She had already booked and paid the deposit, site unseen (which happens a lot for our play space), but needs help. She was very nervous because this will be her first time hosting a party for her friends and family. 

“What party themes are most popular nowadays?”

“What do you see most people feeding their guests?”

“What decorations do people put up?”

“What do people usually expect of the host?”

I could tell she was truly anxious and unsure of what to do and needed reassurance. 

It was an atypical scenario, but I am sure she is not the only one. 

How do you decide on a party theme for a young child? 

For many of our first birthday parties (one-year-old parties), the parents would choose a theme that is fun and cute. 

We have had themes like Pokemon, Spider-Man, and mermaids – stuff that a one-year old probably would not know much about. 

For the slightly older age group (toddlers and preschoolers), parents would choose a party theme the birthday child(ren) would get excited about. By then, these children have formulated opinions of what is cool and interesting.

We occasionally get some interesting themes (one parent chose a pirate theme that is very well executed!), but there are also the more common ones like superheros and Disney themes. 

Which leads us to the topic of this blog post: 

What are the most popular birthday party themes we have had in the past year? 

Here at Bumblebee Playspace, these themes rotate at least monthly! Sometimes we even have the same themes back to back! 

So let’s get to it!

1. Disney’s “Frozen”

You guessed it! Disney's "Frozen" is an immensely popular kids' party theme. Kids are drawn right away to the captivating storyline, the lovable characters, and enchanting music. Parents also approve of the theme of sisterhood and bravery among the main characters Elsa and Anna. 

The film's wintery landscape allows for some creative party decor ideas and is easy to “dress down” for simpler displays and “dress up” for more extravagant party setups. 

Below are some examples of Frozen party setups, one DIY and the other from our Hive party package. 

Typical theme colors: blue, purple, white, silver

Complimentary Backdrop: choose from “Frozen” characters backdrop or from Ice Castle

Disney Frozen - Hive Party Package

2. Safari Animals

Name me a child who is not intrigued by animals! 

Children are naturally curious, making a jungle or safari theme appropriate as a reflection of a child’s adventurous nature! This theme offers a vibrant and dynamic setting. Think animal prints, lush greenery, and colorful wildlife! There are also many opportunities to add fun, such as scavenger hunts or dress-up as explorers or animals. Plus, this theme is gender neutral. 

Below are examples from a few setups we have had within the past year: one DIY package, one from our Honeycomb package, and one from our Hive package. 

Typical theme colors: green, brown, white, gold

Complimentary Backdrop: Baby jungle animals

3. Unicorn

Bring on the rainbows and pastels! Unicorn-themed birthday parties have been a favorite because of its magic and whimsical elements. The displays are very appealing to the eye with their pastel hues often sprinkled with glitter and the playful atmosphere. We have seen some really gorgeous desserts and cakes for this theme as well! 

But pshhhh! Some children truly believe unicorns are real, so keep the magic alive with zipped lips and let them delight in the fantasy world of unicorns, butterflies, and bunnies!

Check out these DIY backdrop displays!

Typical theme colors: rainbow, pastel colors

Complimentary Backdrop: Unicorn 

4. Cars

Vroom-vroom! A cars-themed party is a common choice for kids because it taps into their love for speed, adventure, and dynamic play. Disney-Pixar’s “Cars” has increased the popularity of the theme with its memorable characters Lightning McQueen and Mater and the excitement that comes with car racing. It also makes for a fun party theme that can be dressed up with checkered flags, car-themed party favor bags, tires, and traffic cones. 

Typical theme colors: red, black, yellow, white

Complimentary Backdrop: Disney-Pixar’s “Cars”

5. Space

This theme only recently started increasing in popularity as we have had at least 5 space themes within the past 3 months. So far, all the displays for this theme vary greatly, from backdrops to even the colors used for this theme! 

Kids are naturally fascinated by the open skies and are introduced early on to the sun and stars. The various planets of our solar system are very distinct-looking and easily recognizable to kids. It makes for a very interesting theme and celebrates the wonder and curiosity of children. 

Below are two space themed birthday parties from our Hive Party Package. Notice the difference in color schemes!

Typical theme colors: varies greatly from color combinations of black, blue, white to combinations of orange, teal, blue

Complimentary Backdrop: N/A

So… did you guess some of these that made the list? 

Focus on the FUN the theme offers

If you are unsure what theme to choose for your little one’s birthday, consider ones that YOU as the parent would get excited about. Oftentimes, children feed off the excitement in the room, so your child(ren) will surely absorb some of your energy. 

Whatever theme you choose for your little one’s birthday party, have fun with it! 

• Simplify decorations to ease the stress of decorating or hire out! (We offer decor add-ons and decor packages for this reason!) 

• It’s okay to play it safe and not be as unique! Order the usual pizza and food trays people tend to like. 

• Remember that the primary goal is for the kids to have fun. Whether the theme is perfectly executed or not, what matters most is that the children are enjoying themselves.

I almost forgot – going back to the mom I was mentioning earlier, she ended up choosing a “Frozen” theme for her daughter’s birthday celebration (can’t go wrong with that!). We worked out some ideas that she felt good about for her party and had a fabulous time! Hopefully, the next party she hosts will be much easier!

And there you have it! Our most popular themes we host at Bumblebee Playspace birthday parties!

5 Tips To Help Make A Baby/Toddler Birthday Party Stress-Free

5 Tips To Help Make A Baby/Toddler Birthday Party Stress-Free

Planning a birthday party with a young child in tow is not an easy feat. Babies and toddlers are still very dependent on parents to fulfill their needs, making party preparations very taxing and stressful. 

Oftentimes, I see a parent trying to decorate, set up the food entrees, and organize the dinnerware, all while a toddler sobs, tugging at Mom’s dress. 

It is a struggle that is real, and stressful to say the least! 

So here are 5 tips on how to ease the stress on the big day!

1. Have a good venue

Choose a venue with as many priority built-ins as possible. Amenities like a dining area, entertainment, clean facilities (especially bathrooms!), and private space for nursing mothers would be very beneficial for hosting a baby/toddler’s birthday party. 

Look into venues like family entertainment centers. These spaces are designed for kids to play and enjoy, come with a multitude of amenities such as cleanliness and comfort for nursing mothers, and also offer convenient party packages. Imagine not having to set up tables and chairs and planning games for the kids! So much labor and time savings right there! 

2. Either have simple decor or delegate out

Simplistic decor has major upsides: budget-friendly and easy set up and clean up. Oftentimes people think simple decor will look bare or under-done. However, there are ways to make simple look elegant and stylish. 

If simple is not what you envision for your party, you may want to delegate decorating to a friend or family member, or hire one. Decorating requires time and focus, and with a young child (or children), it can get especially stressful. 

3. Designate a Cake Cutter

Cake cutting time can be a hectic experience. Designate a family member or friend to assist you with gathering supplies, rounding up guests to gather for the Happy Birthday song, and afterwards, to help with cake cutting and serving guests. 

We have seen families of the birthday child take their positions at the cake table, Mom holding the baby and Dad carrying the two-year-old birthday child, friends and family gathering around them. Then Mom realizes they forgot the candles or the lighter. One parent would then have to shuffle off to grab the forgotten items. After singing the birthday song, one parent would scramble to cut and serve the cake to waiting guests. 

This scenario can be avoided by appointing someone to assist with the birthday ceremonies. 

4. Plan for Clean Up

Another common time of stress during parties is clean up. To keep the hustle and bustle to a minimum, have a plan for clean up time. 

Keep sturdy, easy-to-carry boxes on hand to load whatever leftover food, serveware, and decor you would like to keep. Have a few empty bags ready to help with organizing. A foldable wagon is a must for quick loading and unloading items into a car. 

If the venue does not provide clean up help, delegate some tasks out, such as emptying the trash or sweeping. Your family and friends are probably more than willing to pitch in. 

5. Let go of expectations

Sometimes we grow up with certain traditions on how a party should be, such as the requirement to have a birthday cake, having a nice backdrop with Instagram-worthy decor, or being able to eat together all at the same time. 

While these are certainly nice to have, family and friends will and should understand if you don’t have everything checked off. Being together to celebrate your little one’s milestone is the important thing. 

So relax, let go, and have fun! It is so easy to get caught up in the party details and forget the focus of the celebration. Let your birthday boy/girl enjoy his/her day. Enjoy, take lots of pictures (or not!), laugh, and cherish in the bonding time you have. 

Let Us Help You with Your Party

Here at Bumblebee Playspace, we want to help make your party a special one, but also one that you can enjoy as stress-free as possible. 

We specialize in kids’ birthday parties for children 5 and under and work hard at providing you the comfort of a clean, sanitary space for your little one’s special day. 

What we provide for your comfort and entertainment: 

• Clean dining rooms already equipped with tables and chairs

• Clean restrooms with changing tables in BOTH men’s and women’s restrooms

• Tons of activities for children’s play and fun!

Here’s how we are different from other birthday venues: 

• Two staff members will be ready to assist you with set up and decorating, cake celebration and cake cutting, and clean up

• We have a private nursing/nap room

• We offer complimentary backdrops for you to choose from and set up is done for you

• We have budget-friendly decor add-ons to our party packages

• Easy online booking 

For more information on our services, visit our parties page, or you may contact us at hello@bumblebeeplayspace.com or call us at 510-894-0442. We would love to hear from you!