It’s that time again… to plan another birthday. This year, why not treat your life to a good, native western. Regardless of age or race, people seem to be drawn to horses, horses and the Old West. Plus, there’s just something fun about eating outside, using a southern accent, and using it to country songs”>. This western theme would party will earn a big “Yee-Haw” from kids and parents.
Birthday Invitations:
Use a Power Point or Word document to create an invitation. Choose a west facing source (as in the old posters). Print “WANTING” on the top page in big, bold letters. Underneath this, type in a smaller font “I AM A BIG CRIME (children’s age).” With digital camera, take a picture of your child dressed as a cow or a cow. To restore the Western image to its old-fashioned appearance, use your software photo to change it to a sepia color and fade it on the edges. Under the photo, add the child’s name and the details of the party. Try something like this, “Y’all come to us at (yourlast name) Villa to celebrate (boy’s name) birthday western style!
After you have completed your “Would” Western party invitations, print them on parchment-colored paper. After the ink is dry, roll up the invitations and tie them together. You will give invitations to your guests.
Cake of the Western Party:
Just as no horse or cowherd is complete without a reliable horse, no western party is complete without a horse cake.
Bake one 13″x9″x2″ cake. Place the cooled cake on a large foil board. Make three cuts on this diagram Leave (or eat) two pieces from the top section of the cake.
To add the finishing touch, you need: a cake decorator filled with white frosting. One white Necco pancake, two black jelly beans, and a bunch of red licorice sticks.
Use the cake decorator to make a horse’s mane out of white frosting. Place the Necco pancake at the eye, and top with black bean jelly. Add another black jelly bean to the horse’s nose. Liquorice plate pieces of red cord to create strips and bits. In a bit, cross sections, put two red lifesaver candles.
The Western Scene:
The fit and rich did not live lavish, elaborate lives. Given this, the decorations and food of a western party should remain quite simple… Think Old West.
The ideal location for a western party is somewhere rustic, like a barn or wooded backyard.
Any western party needs a steady supply of real music to use as boys and girls. Great kids kids choiceDrew’s Famous Kids Pop Country Hits. This CD features “boy friendly” lyrics for popular country hits like “Elvira,” “Boot Scootin’ Boogie,” “Mommas Don’t Raise Your Babies to Cowboys.”
For the dual purpose of providing space for eating and drinking, arrange hay bales to resemble a haystack. Use a variety of red and white disposable tables to cover any tables (or shapeless walls if you’re in a warehouse). These tables are great for decorating because they are inexpensive and stick to a western theme.
Photo of Western Food:
Serve simple party food like hotdogs/hamburgers, pork, beans, chips, peanuts. To add to the fun, they provide the peanuts still in the shell and the children dispose of the western shells… by throwing them on the ground. They feel like a rustic host, serving food in neat foil tins. Instead of plates and bowls, give each guest a ready-made cake.
Western Party Games:
Round Rattlesnake–
Comments needed for this party game: big rubber snake, country music, somebody control music
This game is a western version of the classic annual hot game. For this game, gather a party of guests in a circle. One knight holds out a rubber snake and begins the music. The object is to pass the snake to the boy on the left as quickly as possible. When the music stops, the cowherd comes out holding the “rattlesnake” in his hand. Start the music again and continue this game until only one player remains.
Burlap Sack Race-
Comments needed for this party game: bags of bags, wide space
Equip all the running horses and cows in your last space. Provide each child with a backpack and have them climb inside the bag. The children will jump across the field with sacks. The first boy to the finish line, still inside the bag, wins the game.
Lassing Felix–
Accessories are necessary for this party game: a large hula hoop, a long rope; the old man saw a horse or a barrel
Children, and perhaps parents, will love practicing their skills in this game. To prepare the game, tie the rope to the hula hoop (it will be lassoed). As an object for roping, use an old sawhorse or barrel. You can use them, or get creative and make them look like a horse or a bull. When I used this idea, my husband cut a horse’s head out of a small piece of plywood and attached it to the boat. Then I added a dyed mane, beautiful eyes, facial features. Thus was born “Happy”!
To play this western party game, line up the party guest in one line. One by one, each child gets a chance to throw a “Lucky” tire by throwing a hula hoop. Carefully watch the line far behind the cowherd or the cowherd who is blushing so that the child does not end up tired! The great thing about this game is that many children want to play.
* SIGNIFICANCE Take advantage of the photo opportunity and fit and groom to pose with “Lucky” for group and/or individual shots.
For Western favors:
Provide each cowboy or cowgirl with a western hat upon arrival at the party. These are available through many party supplies stores (Malo Trading Company East). He wore a large bandana to support the party’s western wallet. Then put the bandana on your hand favors in the center. Some great party favors are riding and cow harmonicas, gold and silver gum and chocolate coins, squirt guns, and small . plastic cattle Once the booty is in the bag, fold all the sides of the bandana until it forms a small bag. Tie a party bag with a piece of braid and clip on a sheriff’s badge to complete the look.
The most important thing to remember when party-themes”>birthday party is to both send and receive. When I hosted this party for my daughter, the adults enjoyed it as much as the children did! the last of any good party… the game.
