How to Throw a Camping-Themed Birthday Party

Phyllis Inspiration 11 Comments

Planning a party for boys is no small task. For my grandson’s 6th birthday, my daughter-in-law Katie planned a wonderful party with the perfect theme for the birthday boy—Camp Hays. Since Hays is an outdoorsman, she planned a camping party complete with a campfire, s’mores, hot dogs, and all the water balloons they could stand. My son Eric, Hays’s dad, served as the master hamburger and hot dog chef, orchestrating the campfire roasting time. Since the Dads came with their sons, it was a fun time for all the guys.

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I wanted to share this party with you in hopes that it would give you some great ideas for parties for the guys in your life. The tartan plaid tablecloths and burlap gave the perfect background to the aluminum pie plates that she used instead of dinner plates. I thought that was so creative, and the boys loved it. They had so much fun catching lightning bugs in jars too. What little boy doesn’t love that? The hobo sticks with red bandanas contained the boys’ party favors and served as hiking sticks to steady their climbs.

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One of the cutest things was the Camp Hays cake that Dottie Smith created at Edgar’s Bakery. She always amazes us with her innovative designs. Her icing campground was perfectly appointed with a campfire. When you lit the birthday candles, the campfire just glowed. With all the touches from the sunflowers to the chocolate-dipped pretzels, it was a smashing success.

Do you have any themed summer parties planned? If so, what kind?

Celebrate Magazine July August 14

Get even more party ideas!

Comments 11

  1. great idea for a party…my son is 22 now but i remember some of the themed parties i had for him when he was a little boy…one of them was a pirate theme…we had a treasure chest filled with gold covered chocolate coins,a treasure hunt in the back yard and our deck served as the ship and lookout point…

  2. One of my favorite memories of growing up in the South was the lightning bugs! Our boys loved catching them too, when we would go home for a visit to the South! I do miss the lightning bugs. One day if I have a grandson, I hope that I can remember this birthday party theme and hopefully either help give or give one for him. What fun!

  3. What a great idea for a young boys birthday. Hays is one lucky fellow.
    On another note, I am looking forward to receiving my first issues of Victoria & Southern Lady!
    As always Phyllis, I look forward to your posts!

  4. I love the camp theme and each detail that she choose for a birthday celebration to remember ! Including the dads was ingenious !

  5. What a fabulous birthday part theme! And, having Dads attend is the best. Our grandsons would love this too! We do not have fireflies out here on the west coast, but our son, a student in Boston this year, and has expressed his delight of his first firefly viewing as he walks home from classes in the late evening. Love your blog posts as always.

  6. I have just received my wonderful present of Southern Desserts. It is the yummy-ist book! I can’t wait to try out some of the recipes. Thank you again for your wonderful blog!

  7. I love The note about the lightening bugs. Growing up in Oklahoma as kids we used to catch lightening bugs and put them in jars and play with them after dark, When my children were young and we would visit my parents that was a fun experience for them.

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