[Make It a Day to Remember] A Collection of Ideas to Liven Up a Birthday Party!
Here are some ideas to make your birthday party even more exciting!
A typical birthday party has blowing out candles, eating cake, and giving presents.
But don’t you think it would be even more fun if you added surprising twists, performances that wow everyone, and memorable activities?
We’ve gathered plenty of ideas that everyone—from kids to adults—will enjoy, such as handmade items, games everyone can join, and touching surprises.
Feel free to use them as inspiration!
Since birthdays come only once a year, take your time and create unforgettable moments together with everyone!
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[Make it a day to remember] A collection of ideas to liven up a birthday party! (1–10)
paper puppet theater
Papercraft puppet theater that combines kamishibai and puppet shows is called a “peep-sart,” short for “paper puppet theater.” Compared to kamishibai, it has more movement, and the way the characters’ expressions spin and change keeps children engaged.
There are many commercially available sets with a variety of stories, but one of the great things about peep-sart is how easy it is to create your own originals.
For a birthday party, try a story tied into the celebration or one featuring cake and special dishes.
Get everyone involved with gestures and other participation to boost the excitement together!
Gift hunting
Hunting for a birthday present hidden around the house seems like something that would get even adults excited.
It would feel even more like a treasure hunt in a big home.
The fun isn’t just in being handed the gift—it’s in the search.
Since there might be places you shouldn’t open in someone else’s house, it’s a great idea for birthdays at your own home, a facility, or a shop.
You could also make a rule that whoever finds the present gets to keep it.
Tic-tac-toe
Here’s a surprise plan for a friend’s birthday: set up two large goals marked O and X on a riverbank.
Have them choose one, then sprint and crash into their chosen goal.
If they hit the “winning” goal, nothing bad happens—they get celebrated and receive a present.
But if they choose the wrong goal, they’ll end up covered in powder.
If using powder is difficult, you could instead use water or create a slippery zone.
[Make it a day to remember] A collection of ideas to liven up birthday parties! (11–20)
decoration
At 100-yen shops where you can buy all kinds of handy items for just 100 yen, you can also easily get materials for birthday decorations.
By using things like construction paper, colored paper, balloons, felt, crepe paper streamers, and masking tape, you can create various decorations, so give it a try with the help of the video.
Decorating with your family or children is sure to make wonderful memories.
balloon art
Balloon art that you often see at street performances or small shows.
Its colorful look seems perfect for a birthday party, doesn’t it? You could make small accessories and display them on the wall or table as decorations, or create something large—an epic piece—and set it up like an art object to amaze your guests.
These days, balloons come in many varieties and are easy to find at 100-yen shops, so it’s a good idea to practice before the big day.
You might even try doing a live demonstration at the party!
Eat snacks without using your hands
This game involves placing a snack on your face and moving it to your mouth without using your hands.
Tilt your head back, keep your face as flat as possible, and place the snack on the upper part of your face, like your forehead or the hollows around your eyes.
Move the snack by working your facial muscles and bring it to your mouth to eat it.
Of course, you must not use your hands! As you move your facial muscles, you’ll naturally make funny faces, which will surely look amusing to anyone watching.
If you drop it before it reaches your mouth, start over from your forehead!
What’s inside the box?
It’s the classic game you often see on variety shows where you guess what’s inside the box.
Little kids are sure to love it.
Choosing items with unusual textures might make it even more fun.
It’s also recommended to deliberately make a face like “This thing is dangerous!” to put the contestant on edge.