Choo choo trains….one of the best toys that has transcended time! Our son was obsessed with Thomas the Train (back in the day), so you can imagine how excited I became when our grand, Owen, also became obsessed with trains. Of course, once one of our grandkids have a theme they love, our daughter takes off to create a birthday party that they will always remember. Such was the case with Owen’s train themed birthday party!
We happen to have Owen and Pappy that share this birthday which doubles the fun! The party is so much more fun if you dress to match the theme….am I right?
Train Themed Decor ~
I have always been a fan of life size cutouts. Throughout the years we have had so much fun working these into the decor…whether purchasing them or making our own from large boxes. This lifesize train became the perfect focal point for the party room. Various colors of balloons and a balloon strip were used to flock both sides of the oversized train to help complete the party vibe!
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Crates of train toys and a train pop-up tent were set out in the party room to enhance the fun. This allows for free play, which is especially helpful with the younger age groups.
Tablescape for Train Themed Birthday Party ~
Plastic railroad track aisle runners were placed on benches along both sides of the table. (This served as a fun seating area….but also saved those fabric covered benches! 😉) A simple black plastic tablecloth was used to cover the table. A fun display of wooden crates filled with trains hats, whistles, bandanas, and other train items created a fun centerpiece!
Adding a couple of lanterns in the middle tops off the festive train birthday table!
Birthday Party Gift Bags ~
Gift bags do not have to be handed out at the end of the party. Using the items you have made/purchased can help enhance the festive table. Take home gifts for the party goers included:
- Red Bandana
- Train Whistle
- Conductor Hat
- Chocolate “Lumps of Coal”
- Gift Bag with Wooden Nameplate (kids LOVE items with their names on them!)
I can hear you saying now, “But what if they forget their gifts when it is time to go home?” I get it…no one wants to deal with a screaming child that has left their goods behind. While this is indeed a possibility, I will say that every time Lauren has done this for her party themes, those kids tend to remember before they leave that they have some loot to take home with them.
Train Themed Birthday Party Food ~
As always, Lauren ordered these AMAZING cookies from Becky at Becky’s Cakes n’ Caboodles. If you live around the Indianapolis area, you seriously need to check out her food artistry.
We made RR Crossing Oreo cookie suckers. These turned out so cute and were so easy to make. An icing pen was used to make the lettering on top. The choice was made to not do everything “train” themed for the savory foods, but a quick look on Pinterest can give you some great ideas if you choose to do that as well!
We, of course, added in a lot of savory foods as well. I would love to say that the kids partook of those just as much….but who am I kidding???? This helped the adults to relax and enjoy the party just as much! Although, if you take a close peek, you will notice that mini cocktail weiners covered in crescent rolls are included in the spread…..this is always a child favorite! Maybe not super healthy, but something to balance out all of the sugar intake!
Since this birthday party was primarily kids aged one to four, there were not a lot of “planned” activities. When children are that young, it seems to work better if you just set out different play items and let the children play at their will. This helps the flow of the party and creates less frustration for you as the party planner.
However, if you are celebrating kids a little older with the train theme, here are some fun games to think about!
All in all, it was a very fun train themed birthday party for our little Owen with the great big smile! He was indeed a happy boy as were all of his friends!
Happy Celebrating My Friends ~
Mimi
