How to Throw a Western Cowboy Themed Birthday Party

It's that time again...time to plan another birthday party. This year, why not treat the cowboy or cowgirl in your life to a good, old-fashioned western birthday party. Regardless of age or gender, people seem fascinated with horses, cowboys, and the Old West. Plus, there's just something fun about eating outdoors, adopting a southern drawl, and boot-scooting to a country song. This outdoor western party theme will earn a big "Yee-Haw" from the kids and parents alike.

Western Birthday Party Invitations:

Use a Power Point or Word document to make the invitation. Choose a western-looking font (like on old wanted posters). Print "WANTED" in large bold letters across the top of the page. Under that, type in smaller font "FOR THE HIGH CRIME OF TURNING (your child's age)." With a digital camera, take a picture of your child dressed in cowboy or cowgirl attire. To give an old-fashioned western look to the picture, use your photo software to change to a sepia hue and fade it on the edges. Underneath the photo, add your child's name and the details of the western party. Try something like this, "Y'all come join us at the (your last name) Ranch to celebrate (child's name) birthday western-style! (We'll provide the hats and grub.)"

Once you've completed your "Wanted" western party invitations, print them on parchment-colored paper. After the ink is dry, roll up the invitations and tie them with twine. Personally deliver the invitations to your party guests.

Western Party Cake:

Just like no cowboy or cowgirl is whole without a trusty horse, no western party is complete without a horse cake.

Bake one 13"x9"x2" cake. Place to chilled cake on a large foil-covered board. Make the three cuts shown in this diagram. Discard (or eat them) the two pieces cut from the top section of the cake. Be sure to save the piece taken from the bottom. Place this section on the top of the horse head to form the ear. Secure it with a small amount of frosting. Frost the entire cake brown.

To add the finishing touches, you will need: a cake decorator filled with white frosting, one white Necco wafer, two black jelly beans, and a package of red rope licorice.

Use a cake decorator to make the horse's mane out of white frosting. Place a Necco wafer for the eye and top with ½ of a black jelly bean. Add another black jelly bean for the horse's nose. Braid pieces of red rope licorice to create the reins and bridle. At the cross-sections of the bridle, place two red lifesaver candies.

Western Party Scene:

Cowboys and cowgirls did not live fancy, elaborate lives. Keeping this in mind, the decorations and food for a western party should remain fairly simple...think Old West.

The ideal location for a western party is somewhere rustic, like in a barn or wooded backyard.

A must for any western party is a steady supply of country music for the cowboys and cowgirls to enjoy. A great choice for kids is Drew's Famous Kids Pop Country Hits. This CD features "child friendly" lyrics for popular country hits like "Elvira", "Boot Scootin' Boogie", "Mammas Don't Let Your Babies Grow Up To Be Cowboys".

For the dual-purpose of providing seating and eating space, arrange bales of hay in the shape of a horseshoe. Use disposable red and white checkered tablecloths to cover any tables (or unsightly walls if you're in a barn). These tablecloths are great for decorating because they are inexpensive and the pattern compliments the western theme.

Western Party Food:

Serve simple western party foods such as hotdogs/hamburgers, pork and beans, chips, and peanuts. To add to the fun, provide peanuts still in the shell and let the children dispose of the shells western-style...by throwing them on the ground. Staying with the rustic feel, serve the food in disposable foil tins. Instead of plates and bowls, give each guest with a disposable pie tin.

Western Party Games:

Rattlesnake Roundup-

Supplies needed for this party game: a large rubber snake, country music, someone to control the music

This game is a western version of the classic game of hot potato. For this game, gather the party guests in a circle. Hand one cowboy the rubber snake and begin the music. The object is to pass the snake to the child on his/her left as quickly as possible. When the music stops, the cowboy left holding the "rattlesnake" is out. Start the music again and continue this game all over until only one player remains.

Burlap Sack Race-

Supplies needed for this party game: burlap sacks, a wide open space

Line up all the cowboys and cowgirls at the far end of your space. Provide each child with a burlap sack and have them climb inside the bag. The children will hop across the field in the burlap sacks. The first child to reach the finish line, still inside the sack, wins the game.

Lassoing Lucky-

Supplies needed for this party game: a large hula hoop, long piece of rope, old saw horse or barrel

The children, and probably some of the parents, will love practicing their rodeo skills in this game. To prepare for the game, tie the end of the rope to the hula hoop (this will become the lasso). For the roping object, use an old sawhorse or barrel. You can use it as is or get creative and make it look like a horse or bull. When I used this idea, I had my husband cut a horse head from scrap plywood and attach it to the sawhorse. Then I added a yarn mane, googly eyes, and facial features. That's how "Lucky" was born!

To play this western party game, have the party guest line up in a single line. One by one allow each child a chance to lasso "Lucky" by throwing the hula hoop. Be careful to keep the line far behind the cowboy or cowgirl who's roping so that no child ends up lassoed! The great thing about this game is you can play as many times as the children desire.

*HINT-Take advantage of the photo opportunity and get the cowboys and cowgirls to pose with "Lucky" for group and/or individual shots.

Western Party Favors:

Provide each cowboy or cowgirl with a western hat upon arrival at the party. These are available through many party supply stores (I prefer Oriental Trading Company). To make a western party favor pouch, use a large bandana. Lay the bandana out then place the party favors in the center. Some great party favors for cowboys and cowgirls are harmonicas, gold and silver coin gum and chocolates, squirt guns, and small plastic farm animals. Once the loot is in the bag, fold up all the sides of the bandana until it forms a small pouch. Tie the party bag off with a small piece of twine and clip on a sheriff's badge to complete the look.

The most important thing to remember when throwing this western birthday party is to let loose and have fun. When I hosted this party for my daughter, the adults ended up enjoying it as much as the children did! Which, after all, is the ultimate goal of any good party...having fun.