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Wizard of Oz Birthday Party

by Gretchen
(Florida)

We’re Off to See the Wizard party for my daughter’s 5th birthday.

To cut costs down, I designed my own invitations and had them printed. I made my own hot air balloon piñata out of paper mache. I ordered a yellow isle runner from OT (Oriental Trading) and drew lines with marker to resemble bricks for the yellow brick road. The children had to follow the yellow brick road to hear the Wizard of Oz storybook and had to solve riddles to get an Oz treasure.

To enter the road, I had a rainbow arch out of balloons (I used an old wedding arch). There was also a real scarecrow, made out of old clothes & stuffed him with grocery bags. I had her playhouse with poppies around it with the witches’ legs sticking out from it. Poppies I got from a dollar Store. I used a tent, painted it green with sparkles and drew Oz’s face, and had the sound from the movie coming from inside. I also made signs out of scrap wood, and painted, “I’d turn back if I were you.” And “Witches’ castle 1 mile.” At the end of the road, I used an inflatable haunted house (borrowed from a friend) and had a witch make witches’ brew (trail mix), and used cauldrons from OT for the brew!

For the brew I had all the ingredients in separate jars with labels on them (turkey bones =potato shoestrings, bloated red ants=craisins, bat brains=popcorn, etc).

Before we followed the yellow brick road, I had a tent playing the actual movie, to wait for all the guests to arrive. Oz’s treasures included stuffed dog, badge of courage (make your own medals from OT), diploma, heart light up necklace (from OT), poppy flowers, timers (OT), etc.

I also got baskets and lined them with gingham material for the children to collect the OZ treasures. I drew the tin man on a poster board to for the game, pin the heart on the tin man. For a craft project, I had the children decorate the hot air balloon lanterns from OT.

I found Wizard of Oz coloring books at a craft store for 1.00 and the huge rainbow lollipops from OT in gift bags for the party favors. I found blue gingham tablecloths at a discount store, which were cheaper than buying disposable tablecloths.