Western - Cowboy/Cowgirl Birthday Party Ideas

Howdy Pardners! It's time to round up all the cowboys and cowgirls we know for the ropin' ridin' good time of a Western Birthday Party!

Invitations
Decorations
Tableware
Food & Snacks
Birthday Cakes
Games & Activities
Party Favors

Western Birthday Party Invitations

Wanted Poster Invitations

These are so easy to make yourself! (See example to the right) Add a photo of the birthday child in western gear to the center, along with your text and you've got your personalized Wanted Poster Birthday Party invitations.

Print them on parchment paper, then tear and burn the edges for an authentic old-west look.

Roundup Invitation

This is another A super easy make-it-yourself western party invitation. It is similar to the wanted poster invitation, but without a photo. See the example below!

Print them on parchment paper, then tear and burn the edges for an authentic old-west look. Read below to learn how to 'brand' your envelopes.

Brand Your Envelopes

Seal envelopes with your own wax-seal 'brand'. You can create a brand (as in for branding cows) and use it to seal envelopes. Create one using one of your child's initials, or something completely new!

Create the seal out of Sculpey - just shape a handle and a flat round bottom and carve your brand in the bottom with a toothpick (remember to do it in reverse so it stamps the right way).

For the wax, try glue gun sealing wax . It fits in your mini glue gun so there is no burning or melting, and it is softer than traditional wax so it mails better. Comes in a variety of colors, too!

Note: If you make your own seal out of Sculpey, spray it with cooking spray before each use and let it sit on ice between uses. This will make the wax release from the Sculpey easier!

Printable Invitations

HP offers free printable western cowboy style invitations and other western items on their website.

[go to the wild west printable party kit »]

Western Decorations - Cowboy / Cowgirl Party

There are so many decorations that look great at a Western Party! You can use southwestern decorations, 'cowboy' decorations, ranch decorations, and more!

Try some of these decorations at your Western Theme Party:




Other Decorations:

Hay Bales

Set hay bales around for decorations. Have a saddle (or know someone who has one you can borrow)? Set it on a hay bale and let kids go for a 'ride'. Set it in front of the Southwestern Scene Setter (see above right) and get pictures!

Wanted Posters

Make your own Wanted Posters - easy to do on your computer. You can use a picture of the birthday child or other family members, too. Give them a fun name ('Lucky Luke' or whatever). For crimes, you can go with traditional wild west crimes like Cattle Rustlin', Horse Thievin' or Gun Slingin' or make up fun crimes such as Cookie Stealin' or Horsin' Around.

You can make these on paper bags for an aged look. Cut paper bags to a proper size for your printer, and print right on the bags. Make sure the bags aren't too wrinkled, though, or they may become stuck in the printer.

You can put an 8 x 10 photo of the birthday child in this custom wanted poster sign.

Western Party Tableware

There is a great assortment of western themed tableware available for your cowboy party!

Try Bandana print plates, cups, napkins and tablecloth. (see image of napkin at right)

Or try the Wild West pattern (see left). These are available with matching cups, napkins, and tablecovers too!

Prefer solids? Try red and blue for a denim / bandana feel!

Western Party Food & Snacks

Beans & Franks
Hot Dogs & Chips
Corn on the Cob
Sweet Cornbread [recipe below]
Chocolate No-Bake Cookies - Label them 'Cow Pies'
Trail Mix
Sasparilla (Old fashioned root beer in brown bottles)

Serve food in pie tins - just like eating out 'on the range'!

Hang a sign that says 'Chuck Wagon' over your dining area. Label the area where your drinks are 'Saloon'.

Looking for punch for your Cowboy or Cowgirl Party? Try Cactus Juice - Green Kool-Aid or juice and lemon lime soda. Add lime sherbet if you like.

Serve snacks (chips, peanuts, popcorn, etc.) in straw Cowboy Hats lined with napkins.

Ono-Licious Cornbread Recipe
This is a recipe for sweet cornbread that kids love! 'Ono' is the Hawaiian word for Good, and this recipe came from someone in Hawaii. Yes, they have cowboys in Hawaii, where they are called Paniolo!

8x8" Pan
3/4 cup butter
1 1/2 cups Bisquick
3/4 cup sugar
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
3 tablespoons corn meal
3/4 cup milk
2 eggs, slightly beaten

Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease pan. Melt butter and add gradually to dry ingredients. Stir in milk and eggs. Bake at 350° for 25-30 minutes. Enjoy!

Western Cowboy / Cowgirl Birthday Cakes

Cowboy Cake

For a Birthday Cake for your Cowboy or Cowgirl, you can add plastic cowboy figures to a cake. Build a fence out of pretzel sticks stuck together with icing.

Instead of piping a frosting border around the edge, make a 'barbed wire' border out of black rope licorice. Take a piece long enough to lay around the outside edge of the cake. Take another piece and tie around the long piece. Trim to make the barb. Keep adding barbs every couple of inches unitl they go all the way around. Lay the 'wire' around the outside edge of the cake.

Horse Cake

Family Fun has a great horse cake with diagram and photo on their web site. [go to the horse cake diagram and photo »]

Western Party Games & Activities

Panning for Gold
Rope 'em Cowboy
Snake Drop
Hay Search
Pin the Tail on the Donkey
Tin Can Shoot 'em Up
Horseshoes
Rodeo Ridin'
Cattle Roundup
Western Cowboy Vests
Printable Activities

Pan for Gold

This is a fun activity for kids of all ages! It requires a sandbox or a large tub of sand (Kiddie pools filled with sand work great for this too). You need to buy 'treasures' to put in the sand, such as marbles, beads, colorful stones, jewels, etc.

Mix the treasures around in the sand, then give each child a cup (one or two at a time is probably best, based on the size of your sandbox). Keep some extra treasures aside so you can replenish the sandbox. You don't want to end up with the first few gold miners getting all the treasure!

Let them scoop one cupful of sand and pour it into a strainer. For strainers, you can use beach toy sand strainers, flour sifters, or a pie pan with holes punched in the bottom.

They shake the sand from the strainer, leaving them with their treasures. You can make your own loot bags to give the kids to hold their treasure, or use paper lunch bags decorated with cowboy stickers or designs. Let them decorate their own bags as a party activity!

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Rope 'em Cowboy

This requires a rope and something to be roped! You can use a large stuffed animal, kid's rocking horse, or build something yourself. Use the rope as a lasso and let each guest try to rope your horse, steer, or whatever it is you have!

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Snake Drop

Set out a cowboy boot. Have each child try to drop a rubber snake (also works with a bean bag or a clothespin ) in the boot. For older kids, have them stand farther back and try to toss it in.

For very young children, use a cowboy hat instead of a boot and they'll have an easier time making it in!

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Hay Search

Spread out a couple of bales of hay, mix in a large quantity of wrapped candy or small toys, and let the kids search through it to find the treasure.

Note: This makes a good outdoor activity. If you don't want to rake up the hay or leave it in your yard, put it on a tarp to make for easier cleanup!

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Pin the Tail on the Donkey

A classic party game! To change it around, try 'Pin the Badge on the Sheriff' or 'Pin the Mustache on the Outlaw'!

HP has a free printable 'Pin the Brand on the Cow' game on their web site. [go to the Pin the Brand on the Cow game »]

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Tin Can Shoot 'em Up

This game requires squirt guns and targets. For targets, try empty cans or soda bottles - something fairly easy to tip over. Set up a few targets and have party guests take turns trying to knock over the targets with the squirt guns.

Another variation of this is to make targets out of crepe paper - whatever shape you like - and have the kids all fire at their targets at once. First one to put a hole in the target wins.

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Horseshoes

Easy-to-play outdoor game! Kids Horseshoe sets come with non-metal horseshoes so no one gets hurt:)

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Rodeo Ridin'

Play this with hobby horses. You can make your own with brooms, or just use plain brooms and imagination! Have kids run through an obstacle course with their 'horses'. Use bales of hay for obstacles to jump over or run around for added western flair!

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Cattle Roundup

Use your hobby horses from the Rodeo Ridin' activity (above) and balloons. Split guests into two teams, and give a hobby horse to the first person on each team. Put a balloon (the steer) in front of each of them, and have them maneuver the balloon through a course (or across a room) while staying on their 'horse'. They go through the course and back, giving the horse and steer (balloon) to the next person in line.

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Western Cowboy Vests

Make these out of paper grocery bags. Cut a slit up the front, round the neck, then cut out arm holes and you have a free cowboy vest! You can let the kids rip fring on the bottom, or decorate as they like.

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Printable Activities

HP has printable items for your Western Party on their web site.

[go to the wild west printable party kit »]

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Western Party Favors

Squirt Guns
Sheriff Badges
Cowboy Hats
Handcuffs
Bandanas
Toy Snakes
Plastic Cowboy Figures
Harmonicas
Party Favor Box from Birthday in a Box (see left)