vintage birthday party

Once in the not so distant past all you needed to get a party going was a cake, clown and group of energetic kids. Now hosting a splashy birthday has fallen into the annals of team tryouts and college acceptance letters in the game of parental oneupmanship. As a possible safeguard against future teenage pressures, we find keeping it simple with a classic twist to be a successful model.

A homemade cake with a themed pattern and treats achieve a festive setting.

You don’t have to go vintage overload with pin the tail on the donkey and musical chairs to achieve the overall effect. It’s all in the mix by having sports gear readily available along with potato sacks for races, a piñata, or guessing the amount of gum balls in a jar. Kids will be further incentivized if there is a prize attached.

: Guess the gum balls for a simple game.

: Make the treats part of the decor.

: Fondant cookies lend a theme.

5 steps to a vintage birthday party:

Pick a theme: Whether it’s a sport’s team, food or color set the style based on your child’s preference and have him be a part of the hosting process.
Bake a cake: It’s doesn’t get better than a made-it-yourself cake. The only issue is you may not have leftovers for breakfast because it tastes so good.
Decorations: Keep it simple and timeless with party horns, paper goods and something timeless like a cotton bunting you can use every year.
Classic party games: Sometimes the best games are the ones you played as a child. Revive those favorites like hot potato and musical chairs that the kids will love.
Add something unique: No commercial space can match a homemade menu or memorable activities like having guests make their own chocolate covered pretzels and decorating a party tree with favors.