Kids party ideas for Victorian families on a budget as Frozen 2 and Star Wars rise in popularity
More ‘Frozeners’ and ‘Warzians’ are being born with the release of Frozen 2 and Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker. But hosting a kids party doesn’t have to cost a lot to get the Insta-wow factor.
Lifestyle
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A new generation of ‘Frozeners’ and ‘Warzians’ is being born with the release of Frozen 2 and Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker.
Party supply stores are stocking up on new merchandise to deal with a surge in demand for everything from confetti Elsa balloons to Darth Vader piñatas.
Anouk Lombard from Lombard The Paper People said the Frozen 2 costumes were selling fast for Christmas – including the adult range.
“The Frozen 2 costumes have been very popular for Christmas presents and the adult sizes too for people dressing up for parties and New Year’s Eve. We are one of the only ones that have the adult costumes.”
Ms Lombard said she expected demand for Frozen 2 and Star Wars party supplies to surge in the new year.
“Generally Frozen is still the most popular partywear range; and the same with Star Wars. We find after the movie has been released, within the first three months the partywear starts to pick up.”
Ms Anouk said families are spending anywhere up to $2000 on party supplies and decorations.
A package taking in a backdrop, balloon garland, and red carpet cost $699. Throw in a couple of giant marquee lights at $99 each and and the bill runs well into $1000-plus.
“It’s all about creating that Insta-wow factor,” Ms Lombard said.
Candy bars are falling out of fashion. The cake is now the hero.
“It’s all about featuring the cake now,” Ms Lombard said.
“It’s all about putting the cake on the plinth with the balloon garland and the giant marquee lights.”
DIY cake decorating is huge from the fondant to cake toppers and trays..
Lolly bags are being replaced by party boxes which include lollies and toy gifts.
And pamper boxes are popular for girls parties.
“They look fantastic on a table and are great to take away at home as well,” Ms Lombard said.
In terms of themes, space and swan parties are making a splash.
“The swan party will be the next big theme particularly for baby showers and first birthdays,” she says.
Emma Kenyon from Entertainment Emporium said first birthdays have become epic celebrations, with a Melbourne family spending $10,000 on an Alice in Wonderland-themed soiree.
“We created a whole wonderland and had Mad Hatter and Alice come,” Ms Kenyon said.
The company, which offers 50 entertainers nationally, charges $300 for an hour-and-a-half of entertainment and $350 for glitters parties which a “huge for girls parties”.
“We go in and pamper the girls by doing glitter on the hair, the arms, the nails, it becomes a glitter fest and we dress up and dance,” Ms Kenyon said.
PJ Masks characters are the most popular at the moment for three to five-year-olds.
Spider-Man is huge “because there are always movies about him coming out”.
Elsa has never died and with the release of the second instalment “it going to explode again”.
“Obviously unicorns are still huge,” Kenyon said.
“I think the parents want to give their children a memory and something that is going to last for a lifetime. I think the parents really want to sit back and enjoy watching their children have a beautiful time and to watch their children celebrate with their friends.”
Warragul mummy blogger Olivia White from House of White says you don’t have to break the bank to get the Insta-wow factor.
Her advice is don’t spend and arm and a leg on cake, catering and decorations when you can easily do it yourself at a budget.
FAKE THE CAKE
Buy a couple of basic round cakes and stack them on top of each other.
Layer with butter icing and you have the perfect base to create whatever you like.
Ombre icing is on trend; divide to three layers of icing and more or less drops of colour.
Or simply decorate with your child’s favourite sweets and toy figurines.
“I can’t bake but I’ll always put a cake together with a Woolies cake,” Ms White said.
Cupcakes are always a winner and kids have fun making them too. Grab a mix for under $5 from your local supermarket.
You can pick up mini cakes from the supermarket and cut and decorate them to suit your theme.
Alternatively head to the frozen food section and grab an ice cream cake for under $15.
PICK A THEME
Colour and theme are central to making an impact.
Align the tablecloths, plates, cups, serviettes and party favours with the subject and shade of your child’s choice.
“I try and keep it focused on what my daughter cares about,” Ms White said.
“I love Pinterest you can type kids birthday ideas. I look for things that are similar or it gives me an idea of what I want to create.”
Balloons are always a winner but the cost of helium balloons stacks up.
Ms White searches fore decorations online where “you can always get it relatively cheap, especially if its from overseas.” But remember to order early as it takes longer to arrive from overseas.
The most important advice is after the party, pop the decorations into a plastic tub and reuse them another year.
“I have a decoration box at home and it has a bunch of stuff that I reuse every year. I have generic stuff including melamine plates instead of paper,” Ms White said.
Ms White never gives lollies for party favours. She opts for keepsakes including pencil cases with pencils and fairy wings she picked up from eBay overseas.
CATER FOR YOU
Build your radar in the months leading up to the birthday party.
Traditional party food is always a winner for the kids. If you keep an eye on sale items, you can stock up early and shave off a substantial amount off your bill.
Cold platters are a hit with adults and give that catering feel. Stock up on cold meats, cheese and dips from the deli and add vegetable sticks and crackers.
“I go to the frozen section and get really cool stuff not just sausage rolls and chips but they have polenta chips, gourmet spring rolls,” Ms White said.
Yoghurt boats, flavoured milk and granola pots are among the funkier food ideas you can add on the menu at a budget.
RAIN, HAIL OR SHINE
Choose a venue to suit the time of the year.
A party in the park is fraught with danger: you need to secure a spot, the elements of nature can be harsh, you need to watch the kids closely and the food may turn foul fast.
Community halls are cheap and you can take your own food and decorations.
Inflatable play centres are fun and fuss free for mum and dad.
And home, well, that is where the heart is.
“I just feel as parents we overcontemplate it, I never have my parties go over 1.5 hours,” Ms White said.
“We have a big yard with cubby house and trampoline. And you can always get dad to be the king of the kids … what’s the time Mr Wolf. And they are free.”