If you’re throwing an ocean themed birthday party then check out this guide which includes 37 ideas that will surely inspire you. These ideas include invitations, decorations, activities, foods, and party favors to ensure every aspect of your party transports your guests to an under the sea adventure.
Invitation:
First impressions are always important, and the first impression anyone will have of your party will be through the invitation. This makes picking out your invitation an important part of your party planning. One of my favorite places to look for invitations is through Etsy. There are hundreds of different styles to choose from and the templates are all customizable. Invitations to choose from feature ocean creatures, scuba divers, boats, corals, and bubbles. Check out these invitations that can be customized for any age.
Decorations:
What is a party without decorations? Backdrops, table cloths, centerpieces, and balloons can all be used to transform your party into an underwater masterpiece.
- Backdrop with Seaweed Covered Wall
A good way to convert your walls into an underwater landscape is to cover them with seaweed. Just take a green streamer, hold each end, and loosely twist it. Tape each side to your wall vertically and soon enough you’ll have a kelp patch at your party. Use this seaweed to surround an Ocean Themed Backdrop. - Hanging Paper Lantern Jellyfish
If you want some sea creatures hanging out during your party then make some jellyfish from paper lanterns. Just add some streamers to the bottom of the lantern and hang it from the ceiling to create your floating jellyfish.
- Pool Noodle Coral Reefs
If you’re looking for an inexpensive decoration that creates a huge visual impact, then you should make a coral reef from pool noodles. Check out this video by That Lovely Feelling which will show you four different types of corals that you make for your reef. - Ocean Themed Plates
Check out these Ocean Themed Paper Plates with matching napkins, cups, and forks. They feature adorable cartoon sea creatures that would perfectly tie in with the rest of your decorations. Another option are these Seashell Paper Plates. Their scalloped edges and iridescent sheen make them look just like real seashells. - Fish Net Table Runners
To truly make your tables feel like they are part of the ocean, consider using Fish Netting for your table runners. Cut a fish net into a long strip and place it along the center of the table. You can also wrap up sea creature figurines and fake kelp in the netting to complete the look.
- Paper Plate Scales for a Backdrops
A unique idea for an under the sea themed backdrop is to use paper plates to make a scale pattern on your wall. To do this, overlap your paper plates in rows along your wall. You can even use different shades of whatever color you chose to create an ombre pattern. - Ocean Bubble Balloons
Add little bubbles throughout your party by using white or clear balloons. Make the balloons different sizes to add some dimension to your decorations. - DIY Sea Urchin and Blowfish Creatures
An easy DIY decoration you can add to your party are some home made sea creatures. To make a sea urchin, just stick googly eyes on a spiky rubber ball. For a blowfish, just choose a ball with more air. These sea creatures can be placed on your tables as centerpieces, hung from the ceiling or even used in a backdrop.
Specialty Foods:
Now that your guests have arrived, it’s time to feed them. This list of ideas includes sides, main dishes, and desserts to ensure your whole menu is fit for an ocean voyage.
- Seaweed Dip
If you’re planning on serving chips at your party then you should also serve this spinach and artichoke dip by Onion Rings and Things. Its green color will match with your ocean theme perfectly, especially when you label it as Seaweed Dip. - Watermelon Clam Fruit Tray
Serve your guests some fruit from inside a giant claim. Just cut out a clam shaped mouth into a watermelon, remove the insides, and then load it up with the rest of your fruits. You guests will now have to brave the clam’s jaws every time they reach for fruits. - Turtle Kiwis
Make these cute little fruit turtles with kiwis and grapes. Just use a slice of kiwi for the turtle’s body and attach grapes to make the turtle’s arms, legs, and head.
- Sea Water
If you’re looking to serve a signature drink at your party, then serve up some sea water. Check out this Ocean Water recipe by Lil Luna. Made from coconut extract and sprite, this beautiful blue drink will look just like the ocean. - Seaweed Pinwheels
Pinwheels are a great party food and are easily turned into an ocean themed food. Just use a green tortilla and they will look like they are wrapped in seaweed. This food is especially great because of how versatile it is. It can be filled with whatever you like. Check out this recipe by A Couple Cooks which uses cheese, spinach, and sun-dried tomatoes for the filling. - Burger Ships
Burgers are a great party food that can easily be turned into miniature boats. Just add a tooth pick with a sail attached to each bun and you’ll have an adorable armada of ships.
- Crab Sandwiches
Create sandwiches with crescent rolls for an easy entree that looks just like a crab. Add some eyes to the top of each sandwich and don’t be surprised when they start crawling away with each guest that passes by. - Coral Candy Reef
Create a coral candy reef to delight your guests. This reef should contain sour straws as “seaweed,” sticks of rock candy as “coral,” and sour strips layered on a kabob as “kelp.” You can even add some gummy fish, sharks, and worms swimming throughout the reef. - Sand Pudding Cake
A vanilla pudding cup is a delicious treat that can easily be turned into sand pudding cups. Just layer vanilla pudding and smashed vanilla cookies into individual cups and you’ll have a beachy treat.
- Aquarium Terrariums
Check out this recipe for Aquarium Terrariums by Craft Land. It uses blue Jell-O to and smashed vanilla cookies to create an ocean in a cup. You can even add fish, candy rocks, and mint leaves to complete these terrariums. - Sand Castle Cake
For the birthday cake, consider turning the cake into a sand castle. For the cake’s shape, you can choose either round or circle as long as you remember to add some towers around it. You can also add flags and some candied seashells to complete the look.
For more ocean themed foods, check out 23 Sea Worthy Foods – The Perfect Menu for an Ocean Birthday.
Activities:
- Coral Reef Painting with Sponges
If you’re looking for a painting activity to do at your party, then have your guests make a coral reef with sponges. Just cut the sponges into different coral shapes and provide plates with different colored paints. Have your guests dip their sponges into the paint and press them to their canvases to create a colorful reef. This painting activity is great for guests of any skill level. - Create Jellyfish with Paper Plates
Have your guests create a jellyfish out of a paper plate. Cut the paper plate in half to make the jellyfish’s body and then tape paper streamers to the cut side for the tentacles. Finally, add some paint and googly eyes and your guests will have their very own jellyfish.
- Create a Jellyfish in a Bottle
If you want crafts at your ocean party then you’ve got to check out this tutorial for a Jellyfish in a Bottle by Our Little Project. The craft uses a plastic bag to create a realistic looking jellyfish floating in a bottle. It’s a super easy craft and your guests will love getting to take home their very own jellyfish. - Catch the Fish
Draw a picture of a fish with chalk on the cement. Then, have your guests throw a hula hoop at the fish to try and “catch” it. Whoever gets the closest to catching the fish is the winner. - Fish Bowl Toss
Set out some fishbowls on the ground and have your guests try to throw balls into the bowls. Just like a real carnival game, you can make the bowls worth different points depending on their distance and hand out prizes to those who get the most points. Check out this listing for 12 Plastic Fish Bowls that would be perfect for this activity.
- Crab Walk Relay Race
Have your guests participate in a relay race, but with an ocean themed twist. Instead of running, your guests will have to walk like a crab as they make their way towards the finish line. - Sand Dig
Playing in sand is a great sensory activity for children. You can provide buckets and shovels so your guests can make some sandcastles, or you can hide treasures in the sand for a treasure hunt. - Feed the Sharks
Let your guests feed the sharks by throwing plastic fish into their mouths. Just paint some sharks on a wooden board, cut holes where their mouths are, and provide buckets full of their favorite treats.
For more ocean themed activities, check out 24 Under the Sea Birthday Activities Kids Will Love.
Party Favors:
The most successful party is one that is remembered well past the party date. A great way to help your guests remember is by sending them home with a souvenir. Check out these ideas for what to include in your favor bag.
- DIY Aquarium Kit
Give your guests the gift of the ocean by providing them everything they need to make an ocean aquarium. Make kits with rocks, animal figurines, and ocean plants for your guests to fill their aquarium tanks with. Check out this Under the Sea DIY Tank for a pre-made. It includes 6 acrylic boxes, sea animals, water plants, water beads, and pearls. - Adopt a Sea Creature
Let your guests pick out their very own sea creatures. Check out this listing for Mini Plush Marine Animals. These animals come in their very own carry cases and with an adoption certificate.
- Ocean Themed Book
An ocean themed book makes a great gift for your party goers. Some of my favorite books are the Step Into Reading Series. These books come in nearly every theme and can help improve reading skills as well. Check out this book: Big Shark, Little Shark. - Popper Sea Creature Keychains
Check out these Under the Sea Popper Keychains. They come in 16 different types of sea creatures and are all popper toys. - Sea Creature Figurines
What better way to remember a party than by getting to take home some ocean animals. Just fill a bag with a few miniature animal figurines and add a thank you label. Check out this pack of 52 Ocean Animal Figurines that would fit an ocean theme perfectly.
- Shark Tooth Necklaces
Nothing is cooler than getting a tooth from a real shark. String a shark tooth through some cordage and you’ll have a shark tooth necklace that every little kid will obsess over. Check out this listing for 12 Real Fossil Shark Teeth to make your necklaces. - Bucket and Sand Toys
Instead of using a bag or a box for your party favors, consider putting everything into a sand bucket. This way, every time your guests go to the beach with their bucket, they will remember your ocean themed party. You can even add some shovels and other sand toys for a complete beach kit.
- Pre-made kits
Don’t worry if you don’t have time to make your own good bags. There are plenty of pre-made options online. This Pre-made Ocean Themed Kit includes coloring books, stickers, slap bands, stamps, and color scratch off pages.
For more party favor ideas, check out 21 Ocean Party Favor Ideas that Will Make a Splash.
I hope this guide has inspired you. Let me know in the comments if you plan to incorporate any of these ideas into your ocean themed party.
