Planning a Sesame Street birthday party is a fun and exciting way to celebrate your child’s special day with some of their favorite characters like Elmo, Big Bird, Cookie Monster, and Oscar the Grouch. This classic children’s show has been a favorite for decades, teaching important lessons in a fun and colorful way. If your child loves Sesame Street, then a themed party is sure to be a hit! From decorations to activities, snacks, and favors, we’ll guide you step by step on how to plan the ultimate Sesame Street birthday party.
1. Start with the Invitations
The first step to creating a memorable Sesame Street birthday party is to set the tone right from the start with colorful, themed invitations. Whether you prefer digital or printed invitations, you can easily find or design Sesame Street templates featuring beloved characters like Elmo, Big Bird, and Cookie Monster.
DIY Sesame Street Invitations
If you’re feeling crafty, making DIY invitations is a fun option. You can cut the invitations into the shapes of character faces or use bright primary colors to mimic the Sesame Street logo. Include fun wording like:
- “Come and Play, Everything’s A-OK at [Child’s Name]’s Birthday!”
- “Join us for a sunny day where we meet at 123 [Your Address] Street!”
- “Sing, Dance, and Celebrate with Elmo, Cookie Monster, and Friends!”
If you need to save time, you can check out our collection of Sesame Street birthday invitation templates that are free to download and easy to edit and print to help your Sesame Street birthday party preparations.
- FREE Download Sesame Street Birthday Invitations
- (Free PDF Invitation) Gingham Sesame Street Birthday Invitation
- (Free Editable PDF) Joyful Sesame Street Birthday Party Invitation Templates
- Sesame Street Invitation Templates – Editable With Ms Word
- ( Free Editable PDF ) Elmo Sesame Street Birthday Invitation Templates
- FREE Printable sesame street 1st birthday invitations Templates
- Sesame Street All Characters Invitation Template
Don’t forget to include all the essential details such as the time, date, address, and RSVP information.
2. Pick a Perfect Sesame Street Birthday Party Theme
When hosting a Sesame Street birthday party, you can focus on the general theme or tailor it to a specific character your child loves. Here are a few popular options:
- Elmo’s World: If your child is an Elmo fanatic, make him the star of the show! Decorate everything in red and feature plenty of Elmo plush toys, balloons, and party supplies.
- Cookie Monster’s Bakery: For the little ones who can’t get enough of cookies, a Cookie Monster-themed party is a fun and delicious option. Incorporate lots of blue in your decorations, and have cookies be the star treat.
- Oscar the Grouch Garbage Bash: Go for a quirky, playful theme centered around Oscar the Grouch. Include “trash” can decorations filled with party favors or prizes, and decorate with lots of green.
- Rainbow Sesame Street: If your child loves all the characters, go with a colorful rainbow theme to represent the whole Sesame Street gang. Incorporate lots of primary colors (red, blue, yellow, and green) in your décor and have something for each character at the party.
3. Decorations that Bring Sesame Street to Life
To truly transform your space into Sesame Street, you need to get creative with decorations. Whether the party is at home, in a backyard, or at a rented venue, using colorful decor will help set the fun and playful atmosphere that Sesame Street embodies. Here are some decoration ideas for your Sesame Street birthday party:
Entrance
Create a “123 Sesame Street” sign at the entrance of your party, mimicking the famous green street sign from the show. You can also have life-sized cardboard cutouts of characters like Big Bird, Abby Cadabby, and Grover to greet guests as they walk in.
Balloons
Balloons are a must-have for any kids’ party. Choose primary-colored balloons, or better yet, opt for character balloons shaped like Elmo, Cookie Monster, or Big Bird. Tie them to tables, chairs, or create balloon arches for a more festive look.
Table Settings
For the tables, use bright tablecloths in colors that match Sesame Street characters. You can also use themed tableware featuring the characters and scatter Sesame Street toys or cutouts around the tables as centerpieces.
Wall Decorations
Print or purchase Sesame Street posters, banners, or wall decals that depict the characters and settings from the show. A mural backdrop with Sesame Street characters can also serve as a great spot for photo opportunities with the birthday child and their friends.
4. Sesame Street-Themed Food and Drinks
One of the highlights of any birthday party is the food, and for your Sesame Street birthday party, there are endless fun and creative options. You can design the menu to reflect each character or just use the show’s colorful palette to make the treats visually exciting.
Sesame Street Birthday Cake
Your birthday cake is the centerpiece of the party’s food table. You could choose a cake decorated with all the Sesame Street characters or focus on your child’s favorite one. Some popular options include:
- A 3D Elmo cake with red frosting and his iconic orange nose.
- A Cookie Monster cake with blue frosting and cookies scattered around.
- A multi-tier cake with each layer representing a different Sesame Street character.
For an easier option, cupcakes are another fun way to represent each character, with colorful icing, fondant features, and toppers.
Snack Ideas
- Elmo’s Fruit Tray: A fruit platter designed to look like Elmo’s face using strawberries, blueberries for the mouth, and a small orange for the nose.
- Cookie Monster’s Cookie Bar: Set up a cookie station where kids can decorate their own cookies with frosting, sprinkles, and edible decorations.
- Oscar’s Trash Can Snacks: Serve popcorn or pretzels in small metal buckets or “trash cans” to mimic Oscar the Grouch’s iconic home.
- Big Bird’s Nest Noodles: Prepare noodle dishes that resemble a bird’s nest, adding meatballs or chicken to resemble eggs.
- Character-Colored Drinks: Serve drinks in the same colors as Sesame Street characters. For example, red fruit punch for Elmo, blue Gatorade for Cookie Monster, and yellow lemonade for Big Bird.
5. Fun and Engaging Sesame Street Games and Activities
No Sesame Street birthday party is complete without fun activities that keep the kids entertained! Here are some creative Sesame Street-themed games to ensure everyone has a blast:
Pin the Nose on Elmo
A fun twist on the classic “Pin the Tail on the Donkey,” you can print out a large poster of Elmo’s face and have the kids take turns trying to pin his orange nose on his face while blindfolded.
Cookie Monster’s Cookie Hunt
Hide cookie-shaped paper cutouts or actual cookies around the party area and have the kids go on a scavenger hunt to find them all. The child who finds the most cookies can win a prize.
Sesame Street Sing-Along
Have a sing-along session with popular Sesame Street songs like “Sunny Days” or Elmo’s “La La La Song.” You can even hire a performer dressed as one of the characters to lead the sing-along.
Oscar’s Trash Toss
Set up small bins or buckets around the party area, and have kids toss bean bags or crumpled paper “trash” into them, just like Oscar. You can even award prizes for the most accurate tosses.
Character Craft Station
Create a craft station where kids can decorate their own Sesame Street character masks using paper plates, markers, and other craft supplies. They can choose their favorite character and take the mask home as a party favor.
6. Sesame Street Party Favors
As a thank-you to all the kids who attended, prepare some Sesame Street-themed party favors to send home with them. After all, it’s not a party without your guests. Here are some fun party favors ideas to give out at the end of your Sesame Street birthday party:
- Character Goodie Bags: Fill small bags with Sesame Street-themed toys, stickers, coloring books, and snacks. Use colored bags to match the different characters.
- Homemade Cookies: Hand out cookie-shaped favors in honor of Cookie Monster. You can package them in clear bags with a Cookie Monster tag.
- Plush Toys: Mini stuffed animals of characters like Elmo, Grover, or Big Bird make great keepsakes for young guests.
- DIY Craft Kits: Prepare small kits with materials for making more character masks or finger puppets, so kids can continue the Sesame Street fun at home.
7. Costumes and Dress Code
Encourage the birthday child and guests to come dressed as their favorite Sesame Street characters. You can either purchase ready-made costumes or go the DIY route by creating simple costumes using brightly colored clothing and accessories. For example, a red T-shirt and a feather boa can make an easy Elmo outfit, while a green shirt and beanie hat can transform someone into Oscar the Grouch.
If you’re hosting the party, consider dressing up as one of the characters yourself! It adds an extra level of fun to the party, and the kids will love it.
8. Hiring Sesame Street Characters
For the ultimate surprise, consider hiring a professional performer dressed as a Sesame Street character. Many companies offer character appearance services, allowing you to have Elmo, Big Bird, or Cookie Monster show up at the Sesame Street birthday party to interact with the kids, take pictures, and even participate in games.
9. Sesame Street Birthday Party Music and Entertainment
No Sesame Street birthday party would be complete without the show’s iconic music playing in the background. Create a playlist featuring classic Sesame Street songs, including the theme song and character favorites. You can find Sesame Street soundtracks online or use streaming services to put together a fun playlist.
For more entertainment, set up a TV or projector to show a few episodes of Sesame Street. This can serve as a break for the kids, or a calm-down activity towards the end of the party.
10. Planning Tips for Parents
Here are a few additional tips to make sure your Sesame Street birthday party goes off without a hitch:
- Plan Ahead: Start planning your party a month or more in advance. This gives you time to get all the decorations, games, and food prepared without feeling rushed.
- Delegate Tasks: Don’t be afraid to ask friends or family members for help setting up, decorating, or managing activities on the day of the party.
- Keep the Kids Engaged: Plan a schedule that keeps the kids active and entertained, balancing high-energy games with quieter activities like crafts or watching a Sesame Street episode.
- Take Plenty of Photos: Make sure to capture all the special moments with photos. You could even create a photo booth with Sesame Street props for fun snapshots.
Final Thoughts
A Sesame Street birthday party offers endless opportunities for fun and creativity. By incorporating your child’s favorite characters into the decorations, games, and treats, you can create a magical experience that they’ll never forget. Remember, the key to a successful party is planning, creativity, and making sure every detail reflects the colorful and joyful world of Sesame Street. Happy planning!
