Welcome to the jungle venue! If you have a budding explorer on your hands, a jungle themed party is exactly what they'll love! Get creative with this one; there are so many different ways to go about throwing a party with this theme. Or, follow our guide to a T for an easy, fun experience!
How to Set Up a Jungle Party
If you can, pick a large area to host the party. If you can manage to secure an outdoor location, that's even better. Having a jungle party in the summer will really set the theme, but with a little work this party theme can work at any time of the year! If you're able to secure an outdoor location, try to find one with a pavilion for easy decorating.
Any outdoor party should come with the expectation that rain may occur. While rain will certainly help sell the theme, it won't make for a very fun experience for guests! If you have access to a pavilion or indoor facility, you'll be fine; otherwise, have an alternative plan in mind in case there's inclement weather.
On the day of the party, follow these steps to set up the decorations:
- Place large potted plants, real or fake, throughout the party area.
- Hang mosquito netting over the party table. Tie it back with animal print fabric.
- Make a centerpiece with some coconuts, a few bananas, a pith helmet, and a pair of binoculars.
- Hang bunches of bananas around the party room.
- Using construction paper, cut out paw prints, and make a trail leading from the driveway or walkway to the front door.
- Use the stuffed animals you already own to decorate the party room, or to set up a jungle animal petting zoo.
- Make palm tree with empty wrapping paper tubes, or tubes you purchase at the hardware store. Use green construction paper for the leaves, and brown markers to make the trunks more realistic looking.
Safari Sweets is What's to Eat
Picking the right menu for your child's jungle party is a must! Trying to tie all of the food you serve into the wider theme can feel challenging, but use our ideas and you'll be good to go!
Give each guest a bowl of store bought animal crackers, or make your own with sugar cookie dough and cookie cutters.
Make Hippo Muddy Puddles. Cut brownies into circles, and top with hot fudge mud. Add a marzipan animal to each to make them extra special.
To make a jungle cake, use your favorite recipe or mix. Frost the cake green. Use blue icing to make some watering spots. Brown icing can be used to make mudpuddles. Make palm trees from pretzel sticks and green icing. Put some plastic animals here and there to complete the look.
Make whatever food you can in advance. A cake can generally be made a few days in advance; as long as it's kept in the fridge, it should be fine. If you can, try to make as much as you can one day in advance of the party. This will ensure that your food is as fresh as possible, while still giving you time to decorate the day of. Make any food that you couldn't make in advance as early in the day as possible, so that you have enough time to head to the party location (if applicable) and get set up.
In some cases, it might make sense to have the cake made by a bakery. This will cost more than making it yourself, but it will take one more thing off of your plate. Your child is sure to love it either way!