Winter is here and one of my best seasons to hold parties since we can finally make use of outdoor spaces. When it comes to hosting kid-friendly parties I always suggest an outdoor venue but keeping in mind the heat and monsoons we have to wait for the winters.
Outdoor open spaces are much better to use for kids parties, one reason being kids can run about without obstructions and can have a lot of outdoor rides as children hate being space bound. With outdoor spaces in hand, we have the liberty to have all sorts of amusements and arrangements for hosting the perfect party for kids.
So, let me guide you through various ideas on outdoor events and how to ace hosting one such party. Scroll down to read more.
Venue selection:
In winters we don’t really have to bother about the weather, heat and its consequences and hence the options are aplenty. The first being your residential garden, poolside, parking lot, of course, all subject to availability.
Besides that there are several venues available, we can opt for a poolside, a seaside, grassed lawns that are available on hire. If you opt for a poolside, it has to have a large space around to accommodate food and event elements.
Timings:
The days are shorter in winters, unlike in summer and hence, so plan such that you can make good use of the daylight. Plan for a hi-tea invite scheduled around 4pm- 5pm. Works best.
Invites
Your invites should mention ‘Let’s celebrate the outdoors this winter’ or something similar, so your guests have dressed appropriately (to protect from the cold) and would also get the idea beforehand.
Theme & Decor:
An open venue has ample space and scope to decorate, so the places to concentrate would be the entrance, the backdrop, ceiling and the peripheries. Here are some ideas for choosing the right theme and decor this season:
Image source: vanspaperie.com
Santa’s Village/ Xmas: If the dates fall around Christmas
Winter land / Winterliscious / Frozen: this theme works just apt for the weather. Right from the entrance, a snow alley can be created using white sheets/fabric and we can spray paint it with smudges of light blue. The ceiling can have danglers of snowflakes, paper lamps, flurries, etc.
Igloo photo booth: This can be made either in 3d/4d with professional help or just a flat igloo entrance cutout on any door with board material. Dry trees can be placed around the venue with rice lights on them. Lights effects will definitely play a vital role in this theme and hence they should be added.
Balloons: should be white, silver and shades of blue. This theme can also be improvised by adding Elsa, Anna, Olaf and the other Frozen characters. The girls are crazy about them!
Activities: The activities around this theme can be- make your own snowman or Xmas tree, making warm sock puppets or a snow pit can also be created using magic snow.
Don't forget to make thank you cards that mention ‘Thank you snow much for coming’!
Winters at the beach:
Who says beaches are just for summers? For places like Mumbai, beaches are even more fun in winters. Convert the venue with benches, deck chairs, umbrellas, floats, etc. For activities, you could set up a beach spa with masseurs with deck chairs, you can also have a beach salon with activities like tattoo, nail art, hair braiding. These stalls can be created with logs or simply just place beach umbrellas with a table set up. A lot of beach games can be played in the outdoor, right from volleyball to throwball, frisbee and lot more.
We could also try other out-of-the-box, outdoor themes such as:
Boot Camps / Camping: This theme will need tents, bonfire, obstacle courses which can be created with wheels, plank balancing, rope maze, etc.
Picnics: Picnics are great fun! Hire a bus and travel together with loads of food and lots of picnic games.
Carnival/Fun Fair: One of the best themes to have is The Carnival or Fun Fair. It’s filled with Game stalls, Activities and lots of rides.
The most important part of outdoor venues are the rides. I would strongly recommend you to make the best use of an open area by throwing in lots of rides like trampolines, bouncies, carousels, merry-go-round, Ferris wheels, etc.
Food and beverage:
Food, Beverages and Desserts can be selected as per personal choices but I have mentioned a few that can go well with the cold season. You must remember that food will definitely get cold quicker in outdoor especially during winters, Hence the food should be chosen accordingly and served hot. Here are some options:
- Live Pasta counter
- Pav Bhaji
- Thai Curry and rice
- Crispy orientals
- Barbeque
- A little Spicy food for adults can also be fun.
Image source: karaspartyideas.com
Beverages:
- Soups
- Hot chocolate
- Tea/ Coffee
Desserts:
- Hot chocolate fountain
- Hot jalebi with rabdi
- Hot halwa
- Hot honey fried noodles with ice-cream
- Hot fudge/ brownies
Return Gifts:
Here are a few ideas that could go along with this season. To find out more on budget-friendly return gifts you can give, check out this article.
- A hamper with a large mug with hot chocolate ingredients saying ‘ A hot chocolate for the sweet you’.
- A kit of woollen scarf, caps, socks.
- Kangaroo ball
- Pogo Sticks to bounce in outdoors
- Board Games that can be played indoors for places that are really cold with a note, maybe saying- "Indoors are fun too!"
Have fun planning the right party this season and let us know how it turned out!
Mansi Zaveri
Neha Savla
KSP Team
