Indiana Jones Birthday Party Plan

Host Bee on Thursday, April 2nd, 2009

Celebrate a Child’s Birthday Indiana Jones Style!

This birthday party plan is really versatile since it can appeal to a child who loves the action packed Indiana Jones movies, or one who adores Egyptology or even the idea of ancient exploration! If your son or daughter falls into one of these categories, this is the celebration for you!

Indiana Jones Party Invitations

For an Indiana Jones party: an easy fill-in-the-blank option is available from Party Express to set the tone for your party! (Indiana Jones Invitations, pictured above right)

For a more general explorer or Egyptian party:

consider crafting a clever invitation from parchment paper with singed edges! (a parent’s job!)
write the party details on the parchment and add some fun hieroglyphic patterns.
roll the parchment and secure with twine.
Two tiny rocks tied onto the ends of the twine offer extra punch!
Mail the invitations in a mailing tube or hand deliver. (For sample hieroglyphics, take a look at Hieroglyphic Writing)

Indiana Jones Paper Party Supplies

Party Supplies Kit – One option is to purchase a party package which will cover all of your basic party needs with table cloths, cups, plates and napkins all featuring Indiana Jones! (Indiana Jones Party Kit, pictured at right)

Creative Option – serve lunch in tin mess kits as preferred by all explorers! Five piece mess kits can be found at reasonable prices, like this one: Academy Broadway 5 Piece Deluxe Scout Mess Kit.

Indiana Jones Party Decorations

Raid your Halloween supplies to make this table stand out!
Cobwebs, spiders, skulls, plastic snakes and even a tray filled with sand and some creepy creatures will set the scene!
To go that extra mile, grab a few rolls of brown paper! First, use the paper to cover the table and then detail the paper with treasure map symbols and hieroglyphics.
Then, wrap an assortment of square boxes in the paper, tie with rope and label the boxes “explosives,” “danger,” “Property of Indiana Jones,” “Monkey Skulls” – you get the idea!

Indiana Jones Party Menu

Cook Over a Grill – Anything cooked over a grill will bring to mind the outdoor nature of this theme!
Eat Under A Mosquito Netting Canopy – But no matter what you choose, serve your menu items under those mosquito netting canopies normally used at picnics and feel free to add gross names, like “monkey brains” or “alligator eyes.”

Dessert – Indiana Jones Party Cakes

The birthday cake is a terrific opportunity to get really creative!

Egyptian Pyramid Cake – One clever cake idea replicates an Egyptian pyramid complete with palm trees and gold candles (Desert Oasis Cake)!
Dinosaur Dig Site Cake – Another cake idea looks just like a dinosaur dig site! (Dinosaur Dig Site Cake)
Treausre Chest Cake – Lastly, a treasure chest works well too, with its nod to the loot from those exciting adventures! (Treasure Chest Cake)

Indiana Jones Party Activities

This theme lends itself to so many kid pleasing activities, ranging from simple pen and paper, to outdoor extravaganzas that it will be hard to choose just one or two!

Treasure Hunt – provide the children with either a map or series of clues that will lead them to the treasure chest which can contain an assortment of candy (think: chocolate coins and ring pops!) or their party favor!
Mummy Wrap – allot one roll of toilet paper to each team of two kids and time them as they wrap one partner “mummy style!”
Egyptian Charms – using the hieroglyphic alphabet, (see above) provide each guest with Sculpey clay and have them translate their initials onto a small piece of clay using a toothpick or other small tool. Bake the clay pieces and create a charm or necklace.
Pyramid Dig Kit – easy and fun, purchase a set of six Pyramid Dig Kits that include chisels and brushes used to reveal a buried Egyptian “relic!” (pictured)
Design a Pyramid – using a simple kit, the kids can assemble and decorate their own 3-D Cardboard Pyramid! Have the children work on this project as they wait for all of the guests to arrive.
Geo-Safari Group Dinosaur Dig – this memorable project will require a bit of parental preparation, but will be well worth it since all of the children can be involved at one time! The Geosafari Dinosaur Dig Kit includes everything you need to create a realistic T-Rex dig in your own backyard such as 30 snap together parts, trowels, brushes, stakes and more!
Treasure Stones – these stones mimic real rocks which the kids can chip away at, like real paleontologists, to reveal small prizes, like dinosaurs, Egyptian treasures and more! You can purchases these stones with themed hidden treats like: A Treasure Chest; Dinosaur; or A Spider’s Nest!
Make Your Own – Or you can make your own with a tricky concoction of household items, see Family Fun Magazine!

Indiana Jones Party Favors

This party also lends itself to a lot of cool party favors!

I Dig Treasures – the hands on “digging” toy mentioned above also makes a great favor! (I Dig Treasures)
Adventurer Fedora, Satchel and a Bandana – choose one, two or all three of these accessories as a favor that can be worn throughout the party and then taken home! (Fedora; Satchel; Bandanas)
Bug Bands – this is my favorite choice – hip wristbands featuring an assortment of real bugs permanently encased in clear, lightweight and indestructible Lucite! Nylon bands are adjustable to fit every child perfectly! (Bug Bands)
Traditional Goodie Bags – fill simple brown paper lunch bags with true “adventurer” loot, including chocolate coins, ring pop “jewels,” rubber snakes and spiders and a compass. Fold over the top of the bag, punch two holes and close with a length of rope! You could also package these types of treats in a bandana!