As far as birthday bashes go, laser tag arenas are taking the birthday industry by storm. Gone are the days when only little boys are interested, this is a game that anyone, no matter how big or small can have a great time exploring and makes for an interesting and entertaining birthday party idea. If you have a laser tag arena in your neck of the woods it is very well worth checking out as the perfect location for your next birthday party event.

The great thing about most laser tag arenas is that you do not have to sacrifice the idea of a themed birthday party or gathering in order to incorporate the laser tag action into the party. There are plenty of themed parties that work wonderfully right alongside the action packed time that can be spent enjoying life on the laser tag floor.

Now there are plenty of themes you can bring to the laser tag table with you but my personal favorite is that of a spy mission or secret agent. Most arenas will be happy to play along to your party needs if you are booking with them and let them know far enough ahead of time to make the proper preparations (provided they are reasonable and age appropriate of course). Check and see if they may have a few ‘secret agent’ missions, that they can incorporate into the festivities and make the decorations, cakes, and plates fit with the secret agent theme. You could also have everyone dressed in black from head to foot to pull off the theme even better.

Army men are still fascinating to boys of all ages. Whether the birthday boy in your life is 10 or 25 chances are quite good that he would not turn his back on the idea of a camouflage birthday cake or dressing in his favorite camo for a rousing game of laser tag. It is quite easy at the moment to find all manner of camouflage plates, napkins, and party favors that will accommodate the army greens and be an excellent addition to the party (I wonder if you hide the cake on camo plates if the calories will still count?).

Kim Possible is all the rage on Disney these days and proves that girls can be spies too. If you have a girl that is interested in laser tag there is really no reason whatsoever that she should not have her birthday celebration at your local laser tag center. Girls definitely like to play with these toys too and might just prove to be superior in battle when all is said and done.

If you are interested in a theme that is out of this world for your laser tag festivities there is no reason not to pursue a space aged theme with your laser tag maneuverings. A birthday party is supposed to be fun and you can pretty much do what you want in a venue such as this without the mess and after party clean up. Have fun and choose a theme that the birthday boy or girl will enjoy and appreciate.

When it comes to a laser tag birthday party you need to book early and make sure you have all the information you need when booking in order to ensure that you will have the space you need when you want it. Check with policies on cakes and/or other outside food as it may vary from one arena to the next. Be sure to check out food offerings there, as many will have a fairly decent selection of snacks for your partiers if that is your preference. The most important thing is that everyone involved has a great time. Sit back and enjoy the party while your guys and girls fight it out in the arena. Of course, if you are really brave you can venture into the fray. You might find a hidden talent and a happy birthday boy or girl.

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For pirates of all ages, shapes, and sizes there is little better than a Jimmy Buffett themed birthday party for fun and play. Much more than good music Jimmy Buffett has created a lifestyle all his own through his music and with the enthusiastic support of his fans. His music isn’t limited to one genre and doesn’t appeal to one specific culture, instead the appeal is nearly limitless, which makes this a great theme for a birthday party that is open to an audience of all ages though a firm favorite for celebrating the big 4-0 as the result of “A Pirate Looks at 40.”

To pull off an excellent Margaritaville party blenders and ice are a must. The next thing you need to worry about is food. Some great food ideas for a Margaritaville themed party would be boiled shrimp, build your own cheeseburgers’ (in paradise of course), complimentary finger foods and fixings, and a little bit of sponge cake and/or fruitcake probably wouldn’t hurt things at all. They would definitely work wonders to the Jimmy Buffett approved theme of the party. If you are in serious need of inspiration for menu ideas check out the menu at Jimmy Buffet’s Margaritaville Café.

If you are in the right climate and the weather is cooperative a patio or backyard party is definitely the way to go. Decorate with tikki lights, shark fins, flowers, coconuts, and any other tropical themes that capture your attention and imagination. Be sure to put grass skirts on the tables you set up with the fabulous foods, and place a nice tikki bar for serving the required margaritas. You can also choose to serve non-alcoholic margaritas to the little ones if there will be children in attendance and have them available for adults that are driving or do not wish to partake. Have fun with the food and keep it appropriate for a tropical or Jimmy Buffett theme.

Music is a must for this particular birthday party theme. You simply can’t recreate Margaritaville without the sounds of the town blaring out across your speakers. You do not need to limit the music of the evening to Jimmy Buffett though he should play a prominent role in the entertainment for the evening. Other great sounds that will compliment the theme of the evening include the Beach Boys, Bob Marley, and Bobby McFerrin. Of course use your imagination and go with your taste. My personal preference would be a showcase of all things Jimmy Buffett for the evening but that doesn’t work for everyone.

Be sure to take measures to insure that everyone makes it home safely if you are serving alcohol and work to make sure that everyone has a fun and memorable evening in Margaritaville. You might want to include contests such as the loudest “Hawaiian shirt” for extra fun or the most memorable flip-flops. Remember the goal is to have fun and make sure that everyone attending has fun also. If you have the equipment Jimmy Buffet karaoke is a must and video recordings for future black mail and a recording of the revelry are also highly recommended. All in all, Margaritaville is a place that many of us dream of going to escape the every day. Wouldn’t it be a great theme for a birthday party that makes that day a little more special than the rest for everyone invited and not just the one celebrating?

The next time you are lost for a great theme to add to your birthday party theme inventory, consider the benefit to one and all of adding an evening under the stars and on the sand to your plans. Margaritaville is the perfect setting for a truly festive celebration no matter how old the pirate in your life may be. Just remember to keep the saltshaker in sight at all times and the party should go off without a hitch.

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Reality television seems to be taking the world by storm. What once began as a few shows on cable television dedicated to real life situations has spiraled into what seems to be a gold mine for television studios around the world. With so many people watching television and tuning in week after week as dreams are won and lost it makes sense that children, teens, and adults alike might find the idea of a reality television inspired birthday party appealing on many levels. There are many directions you can take with party ideas such as this and the planning is often the most expensive part of these parties and that requires a little time and attention. You just might take the neighborhood by storm by creating your own reality television inspired birthday party. If you are a little stuck on ideas, perhaps the suggestions below will help.

America Idol. Arguably the most popular of all reality television shows this is one that seems to get the largest audience response and has won top billing in the ratings war since it’s first season. Bring the search for the next American pop star into your very own living room by setting the stage and inviting guests to hit you with their best shots at star dom. You can have a panel of judges that have comments to make after each performance and you can establish a rule that requires everyone to perform at least once. This is a fun party to have but be sure the judges are kind (in other words, no Simon for the sake of fragile egos).

The Amazing Race. This is a fun birthday party idea because the winner isn’t determined by one thing alone. This will require a lot of advanced preparation in order to make entertaining but is a lot of fun when it is pulled off well. Enlist the help of others for any driving that needs to be done and for great ideas for challenges. This is about working together as a team and having fun so keep things somewhat challenging but also fun so that there is a sense of accomplishment for doing a job well for everyone involved.

Survivor. Fans of Survivor know that this is so much more than just a television show. It is a phenomenon that has taken the world by storm. Your first rule of order will be to divide the guests into teams. I recommend drawing toothpicks with different colored plastic on the ends rather than choosing teams so that no one is left out and that one team doesn’t have an unfair advantage because they know each other better. You will want to have challenges that are both physical and mental to help build a sense of team. Be sure to have an assortment of dollar tree “survival gear” to give out as prizes. Campfire foods such as hot dogs and s’mores are a good idea and make for easy clean up without damaging the theme too terribly much. Once all the games have been played you can settle in for a night of Survivor episodes on DVD or DVR.

With reality television being so widely watched it is a great idea to include your favorite show in your birthday party idea box. There are plenty of shows from which to choose the trick is in finding the one show that sparks your interest as well as your imagination. Hopefully you’ve gotten some great ideas for beginning here.

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Hollywood is source of seemingly infinite fascination with teens. They are constantly looking to Hollywood for fashion tips, entertainment, and, far too often, advice and guidance when it comes to daily life. The good news is that while Hollywood may not be the theme you want your teens carrying around with them every day it makes for a great birthday party theme if you are inventive, creative, and can find the good in everything.

There are plenty of events in Hollywood that set the stage for elaborate and very fun birthday party events that will impress even the most cynical of teens and have their friends talking for weeks to come. Your teen’s birthday may even become the birthday event of the year if you plan carefully and put the full power of your creativity into play for the big event. Remember however, that whatever you plan must be somewhat flexible as teens are also notorious for putting bumps into what would otherwise be a smooth ride.

One great Hollywood theme that is often a joy for teen parties, especially among teen girls is the idea of an awards show. This includes the proverbial Red Carpet, plenty of photo ops, and a dress code that is quite formal (this should be noted in the invitations). It is all in good fun however and you do love your children right? Besides, the planning of an event such as this can prove a worthy challenge. You can use glittery star nameplates to indicate seating, have the "Oscar Room" decorated elegantly with a white table clothe and fine china, and have cameras flashing throughout the event to record important moments. Don’t forget the completely "Oscar worthy" goody bag. Great ideas to fill this bag include items for facials, manicures, pedicures, a photo frame for the fabulous photos you will be sending home, and an autograph "scrapbook" in which you can all work to create a scrapbook of the evening with photographs and autographs.

Diva dinner. This idea for a glamorous Hollywood themed birthday is a little more irreverent than the notion of an Oscar party, which might make it a little more entertaining. This is also the sort of party that is best left to girls rather than attempting to include girls and guys. When your guests arrive dressed to impress you will hand out feather boas and sunglasses that are worthy of Hollywood (be fun and think "Glam"). You will want to have plenty of photo ops throughout the evening so be sure to have cameras at the ready and create a backdrop for more formal photos of all the divas together or any diva to take with the birthday diva. You can all get together to make photo frames and bring your photo with the birthday girl or the group en masse home with you when the party ends.

Over the years Hollywood has brought many laughs, tears, sighs, and sobs into our homes. It makes perfect sense that teens are so fascinated with the comings and goings of people in this very unique city. Bringing the glitz and glam of a Hollywood birthday party into your home for a night, or even a weekend is a great way to make your teen a very happy teen but more importantly it is a while it’s fun on occasion to have all the attention that the lights of Hollywood can bring it’s even better to have friends and family who love you.

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If you are like most adults in the world you search far and wide for a somewhat unique theme for the next great birthday bash. If you are at a bit of a loss this year, how about going with a classic movie theme. You can either choose one movie or let guests come dressed as favorite characters from individual movies and have a hodgepodge collection of music and DVDs available to set the theme for the party. You can also elect to have movie posters from the movie (if going with a specific movie theme) or a variety of great classics if going with the flow and letting everyone become their favorite classic movie characters. If you want to get really creative you can assign characters to guests and make an adventure of having guests try to guess the character and the movie.

The sky is the limit when planning a classic movie birthday party. If you are considering going with one specific movie however, please feel free to select from some of the excellent themes and ideas below.

1) The Godfather. I can’t think of a more appropriate birthday party for a good many of the men I know. It’s a great classic movie and the guys will have a great time going over their favorite Godfather lines all night. Have some great Italian music, Italian food, and plan for a night of fun. Don’t forget to have the movie on hand so that arguments over infamous lines and old scores can be settled.
2) Casablanca. This is great theme for a birthday party for the one you love or a romantic celebration such as Valentine’s Day or an anniversary. Have white table clothes, the soundtrack from the movie, an elegant dinner, and dress in clothes appropriate for the era. This is a classic movie and will definitely be a night and a party to remember.
3) Star Wars has finally attained status as a true classic and while it may be more modern than what many have in mind for those of the thirty something generation it is a great movie to incorporate and will make for a ton of fun that really is out of this world. Again the soundtrack and the DVD make lovely companions to a party of this theme and you can argue over favorite lines and make wagers accordingly. Wage war with blasters and light sabers and dress as your favorite characters or assign characters to various guests.
4) Favorite Movie Villains. This is another great theme for a classic movie party that doesn’t get used nearly often enough. I think we all have one villain that we can identify as a favorite rather it was one that scared us into spilling our pop or one that we can identify with to some extent it is great fun to celebrate life by exploring that little touch of darkness within. It also tells a lot about the people you call friends.
5) Old Westerns. For those who are looking for the perfect excuse to start a campfire and sing campy old trail riding music, there is little like a wild western movie theme to make those dreams a reality. You could even complete the evening with cowboy karaoke and s’mores. Just make sure you have plenty of your favorite westerns on hand in case you forget the lyrics.

Classic movies provide an excellent source of inspiration for all manner of wonderful ideas for themed birthday parties. You could even go with a John Wayne theme, World War II theme, Steve McQueen, or Clint Eastwood birthday party theme. Let your imagination run wild and have a great time making the plans and choosing the decorations for your perfect classic movie birthday party ideas. You never know when you’ll end up striking gold and creating the perfect night for the special someone you know and love.

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While girls dream of parties with "jammies" and pillow fights little boys often dream of sleepovers that are held beneath the stars. There are many ways this can be incorporated into a birthday theme for your little man’s big day. No matter what age, there is something that boys find fascinating about sleeping in the great outdoors and a camping birthday party is a great way to do this, even if the great outdoors go no further than your own back yard.

A favorite theme among those holding camping birthday parties is that of a trail ride. With this you can bring your gear along with you, ride horses, cook, eat, and sleep under the stars. If you don’t have a trail ride, horses, or long trails in the wilderness nearby don’t despair. With a Dutch oven, an open fire, a few sticks, and little bit of imagination you can have your very own cowboy camp out birthday bash celebration. Don’t forget the fixin’s for some s’mores while you’re making plans and be sure to have a camera handy as you create an unforgettably fun birthday bash and camping party for that special guy in your life. Be sure to include a few tall tales to share around the campfire. Now might be a great time to brush up on your Paul Bunyan and Pecos Bill stories.

A military camping birthday party is another great camping party idea. Right now boys need good solid heroes and the military is a great place to find them. If you have friends or family that are serving over seas this might be a great way to help your little guy bring them closer to home for an evening and could be the best birthday memory he’ll ever have. Set up pup tents, visit your local military supply or surplus store for MREs (meals ready to eat), have everyone wearing their favorite camouflage, and have an army green face painting contest before bed time.

A safari camping theme is another great theme for a terrific camping birthday party. Begin by having everyone dress appropriately for a day underneath the hot African sun, khakis, and an appropriate hat work well. Create a safari pack (goody bag) for all the kids including really chip binoculars, a net for catching stray bugs (really great for lightening bugs at night), safari themed stickers, and a picture frame that is worthy of a fearless safari adventurer (you’ll definitely want to send them home with photos of their safari attire). Set up camp for the evening and serve animal crackers for dessert. You can populate the tent with stuffed animals of favorite safari animals and supplement the adventure with a trip to the zoo for even grander effect and more fun.

If none of these are getting you very excited you could always go with a Rocky Mountain sort of theme for your camping birthday party. Be sure to have plenty of stuffed black bears and have everyone wear red flannel and denim. This is a great and fun sort of adventure for the little men in your life and a great fun party idea. It also presents a few wonderful photo ops for souvenirs and your very own memory book. Have the tents pitched in the backyard and the grill should be set up to feed your hungry mountaineers. If you are fortunate enough to have a creek on your property or live very near one you could even have your ‘adventurers’ go panning for gold.

A camping birthday party presents endless opportunities to put your imagination to work creating a new and wonderful theme. Even if the weather, for some odd reason, doesn’t want to cooperate you can bring your great outdoor adventure inside and still have a grand time. If you live in an apartment or an area in which you are uncomfortable having a camp out, there’s no reason you can’t have a wonderful camp "in".

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Grown ups deserve to celebrate their birthdays too. Birthdays are after all a celebration of life and one more year on the planet. It makes sense however, that grown ups would like a little something more substantial than the typical cake and ice cream and childish fantasy theme for their celebrations. This doesn’t mean that grown ups have forgotten their fantasies however and this leaves a lot of room for interpretation on the theme of barbecues when it comes to a great birthday celebration.

You can go the Cowboy way when it comes to a birthday party barbecue and throw a shindig that would make old "W" proud. Texas sized ribs, hamburgers, steaks, hot dogs, and country music for all. Be sure to wear your cowboy boots and have gingham table clothes for this event that should be a family friendly way to go. Don’t forget to bring all the "fixin’s" or ask the guests to pitch in their best dishes in true southern tradition. This is a great way to go for those with big families that want nothing more than an excuse to celebrate their lives together.

If the cowboy way doesn’t exactly ring all your bells and whistles there is always the notion of a Caribbean barbecue. This is a party that would make Jimmy Buffett proud. Speaking of Buffett it’s probably a good idea to bring some of his music along to set the tone and there are plenty of other Caribbean or island inspired musicians to get you through the evening. Caribbean Jerk is a great rub or sauce for the chicken or fish you throw on the grill and you can make do with other traditional Caribbean fare for your dining pleasure and that of your guests.

You could also go the humorous route for your big day and go the redneck barbecue birthday party route. You will want to use cheap paper plates, cheap plastic furniture, a metal tub filled with ice and RC Cola (r), plastic forks and knives (the Sunday best of course), and typical redneck food such as pigs in blanket, gumbo, fried chicken, and potato salad. This can be a really fun party if all the guests get into the festivities and dress and act the part. It is definitely a barbecue that will be remembered, and talked about.

One of the favorite types of barbecues for a birthday bash however, is the Luau. There is something about those Hawaiians that really know how to do a barbecue the right way from the very beginning. Decorations should be island and tropical in nature. Be sure to use coconut cups for drinks and have plenty of Spam on hand (it’s a delicacy there)! You will also want to be sure to have plenty of leis for all your guests and grass skirts, hula music, and plenty of loud Hawaiian shirts for the duration. In fact, a Hawaiian shirt contest (for the loudest of course) is almost a pre requisite.

A barbecue is a great way to bring friends and family together to celebrate birthdays. If you are a little lost as to what to do to celebrate your grown up birthday or that of a loved one, try one of the ideas above or choose your own unique spin on the theme of a barbecue.

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Television shows such as CSI (and the subsequent CSI Miami and CSI New York), NCIS, and Cold Case Files have made crime scenes and crime investigations the new murder mystery parties. They are a great deal of fun when properly planned and well executed but leave a lot of room for failure if poorly planned or inflexible. If you are considering a party such as this, a great party for teens and adults alike be sure that you either have an actual mystery to solve as the evening progresses or that you simply use the theme as a backdrop. There is no real right or wrong way to do a birthday party but if you want to throw the party that everyone will be talking about you’ll need to create a crime for the scene you’re investigating and leave clues all around to help with the investigation.

Decorating your crime scene party can be a lot of fun with crime scene tape and chalk outlines on the floor. Be sure to make them realistic in size by having someone actually lay down for you to draw the outline. You can leave fake footprints, fingerprints, and clue cards throughout the room (not too well hidden unless you want people snooping). You can even enlist plenty of help when leaving the clues and decorating because of the novelty of this sort of party. You do not have to limit the festivities to one room and you can, if you are feeling truly adventurous, have a different case going on in different rooms and have the kids draw numbers for teams and race to solve the crime first.

You might also do well to set up a lab, complete with microscope and tables dedicated to sorting out the evidence and make notes for the shocking conclusion of the crimes in question. Of course you will want to make the crimes simple and solvable by leaving clues that the kids will have no trouble finding or deciphering without making it too easy. Use your favorite episode for inspiration if you must and throw in a red herring or two to keep things fun. Young and old alike, the kids will have a good time arguing over the clues and trying to determine who really committed the crimes (and of course making up their assumptions and stories as to why the crimes occurred in the first place).

For food you can have an actual CSI cake or go with cookies that are shaped like footprints or thumb print cookies for an excellent play on words. Of course by the time kids are old enough to enjoy a party such as this they probably would be happy with good food rather than themed food and pizza, sloppy Joes, finger foods, chips and dips, and cookies and cake will make an excellent food addition to the party without needing to fit in with any one theme. Be sure to have plenty of pop and bottled water on hand though because crime solving is thirsty work.

In real life it is best to leave the jobs of solving crimes up to the men and women who were trained to do so. In the world of birthday parties however, crime solving and crime scene investigating reign supreme as the next great thing in birthday party ideas.

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If you want a very happy child, considering throwing a birthday party worthy of the big top. A circus theme for a birthday party is sure to thrill and excite your little one and guests alike. Be sure to make the event one worthy of its title though and keep the action lively and moving throughout the event so that little minds with short attention spans do not have an opportunity to move on to more mischievous pursuits.

The first thing that is an absolute must for a circus theme is a big top. This may run a little high on the decoration dime but can be done quite nicely without booking a huge back yard with a tent. In fact, you can create a tent in your very own living room if you are so inclined to do so. Helium can be rented quite inexpensively and you can create the illusion of a tent top by filling the ceiling with brightly colored balloons and streamers to match. In addition to this you can have the entrance of the room made to look like tent flaps. Push all the furniture along the wall and allow the little ones to seat themselves on the floor along the "center ring" where all the action will be.

Now, you really should make an effort to have some sort of entertainment for the kiddos with an event of this nature. It can be a clown act, magic show, or simply someone making balloon animals for the birthday boy or girl and his or her guests. Face painting is another great activity to include on your list of events and shows and a lot of fun for the little ones. Be sure to include several great games (ring toss, pin the nose on the clown, and corn hole are great games worthy of a circus theme) and a craft activity or two in the running so that the little ones do not sit idly very long. It is always a good idea to keep them occupied and having fun.

The big top provides some excellent dining delights that carry over quite well into the birthday party theme. Hot dogs are an excellent lunch for a room filled with excited little ones. Candied apples, popcorn, and peanuts are also a great and fun addition to birthday party food that work well with the circus theme. Be sure to enlist serious muscle for the clean up when all is said and done.

Goody bags can be a lot of fun for this particular event by using popcorn bags for the bag and filling them with circus animals, bubbles, glow bracelets, circus themed stickers, and other nifty little items. Oriental trading and local party stores might prove to be an excellent resource for goody bag gifts. Don’t forget to include a photo frame with a photo of each child with his or her face painted or balloon animal as a keepsake.

The main thing to remember when planning a party worthy of the big top moniker is that the most important thing is that everyone has a good time. Don’t sweat the small details so much that you aren’t able to enjoy the event. Other great ideas to make this an even bigger event include things such as renting a moon walk for kids to jump and play in, renting a cotton candy maker, and having a real popcorn popper rather than relying on microwave popcorn. There’s something about the smell that just makes it feel like a circus.

Another thing you need to do when planning a big top or circus themed birthday party is plan for contingencies, such as rain if the party was to be held outside. The show must go on whether it is storming or whether the sun is shining brightly so be sure to have a back up plans in case things go awry.

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Ancient Egypt is a fascinating place all these years later. From mummies and pyramids to pharoes and scarabs there is plenty of fuel for the fascination pyre. Keep in mind however, that the goal here is for the kids to have a great time, not to be frightened so keep the scary stuff to a minimum if possible (even if your child is brave to a fault that doesn’t mean that some of the guests won’t be frightened and you want the experience to be pleasant for everyone).

Decorations for this are not as difficult as you may think. In fact, some of these decorations will double quite nicely for Halloween or may already be in your Halloween stash. First of all, if you have a canopy or tent lying around this will make an excellent substitution for a pyramid. You can fill your canopy or tent with relics that are authentic looking for what would be inside an Egyptian pyramid. Use skulls (leftover from Halloween decorations) on the floor, gold coins (or doubloons, which can be purchased rather inexpensively at many party supply stores), sequins that look like jewels, and fake jewelry that might have been worn during the period. Of course the piece de resistance will be the mummy wrapped in the corner (if this isn’t part of your Halloween stash it should be after this).

Now, what self respecting mummies home doesn’t have a great curse to go along with it? Before allowing the guests into the “pyramid” you need to make sure they are aware of the curse that goes along with it. It’s a fun little addition to the theme and a lot of fun to watch their eyes as you tell the tale of the mummy inside and why the tomb is cursed.

If you are still looking for excellent activities you can bury treasure in your sandbox (if you have one) and let them all take turns digging up treasures and/or artifacts that they can take home with them. Make sure everyone has at least one turn and gets one thing to take home from the digging.

You can either barbecue dinner or order pizza or something simple for dinner. I recommend letting the guests eat inside the pyramid for fun (if it isn’t too terribly hot) and allow for a showing of The Mummy afterwards (provided the audience is old enough and interested). You could also allow them to play in the tomb for a while or make it an overnight event and allow them to camp in the tomb if it’s a tent.

Great goody bag gifts include flashlights, glow sticks, spiders, chocolate coins, stickers, and other candy jewelry. One great game for an Egyptian themed birthday party would be wrap the mummy. Divide the kids into groups of three and have them take turns racing to wrap the mummy (a member of the team) in toilet paper. Do this so that everyone has the opportunity to be wrapped – just be sure to use the cheap brands of toilet paper for this particular project and plan on having plenty in case they get a little overzealous.

Most importantly you want to plan an event that is fun to participate in and that will have all your guests eager to come back for the big birthday bash next year. Just remember you’ll be expected to top the current theme and might gain a reputation for throwing the cool parties.

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