Crash, Smash a Monster Jam Birthday Bash
Crash, smash, it’s time for a Monster Jam bash! This year the behind-the-scenes theme was simplicity. When preparing for my son’s birthday party, I spent most of my time in the planning stage to maximize the theme’s effect while conserving both time and money. Read on for simple tips to create your own birthday bash!
Snack Table
Often at any kind of party, the food is a focal point for many guests. This year’s party occurred mid-afternoon, and the snack table consisted of themed foods. Food tents are available on Etsy and are a cute, easy addition that ties the table together.
- Spare Tires. Little Debbie mini donuts, especially chocolate ones, make for excellent Monster Truck spare tires. While most of the donuts used were chocolate, I also incorporated some powdered and glazed for assortment.
- Dip Sticks. Pretzel rods dipped in melted chocolate are the perfect stand-in for dipsticks! They can also be prepared ahead of time, so you won’t have to do much with them on the day of the party.
- Nuts and Bolts. Who doesn’t love party mix? Like the dipsticks, this can be made up ahead of time and is a simple, easy snack to prepare. I made sure to include cheerios and small pretzel sticks for the desired ‘nuts and bolts’ effect.
- Stop Light Skewers. A refreshing fruit option is a must at any summer party and these cute skewers with strawberries, pineapple, and grapes were a huge hit! For maximum freshness, I waited to prepare these the morning of the party. Fortunately, they are super quick and easy to assemble!
- Mud Shots. Chocolate pudding topped with crushed Oreos in individual plastic cups was the perfect chilled sweet treat. Because our party took place on a hot summer day, I found that packing these in a tray of ice kept them fresh for the full afternoon.
Birthday Cake
The birthday cake was homemade, and I am grateful my son chose a theme that was easy to create on a cake through the magic of chocolate frosting and Oreos. I used Hershey’s “Perfectly Chocolate” Chocolate Cake recipe, which is easy to make for even the most novice of bakers. To create the desired effect of having hills, I baked both a 9×13 cake as well as a 6×9 cake. I cut down the smaller cake to provide height for the larger cake. A hearty dose of buttercream frosting, a sprinkling of crushed Oreos over the entire cake, and a handful of strategically placed mini donuts made for a nice Monster Truck arena; a 1:64 size Monster Jam truck and three Hot Wheels brought the arena to life. For the final touch, I cut out a small ‘Happy Birthday’ banner and attached it using toothpicks.
Monster Jam Scavenger Hunt
As part of the entertainment this year, I created a Monster Jam Scavenger Hunt that led guests around the yard in search various of Monster Trucks. Guests searched for six different Monster Trucks and were rewarded with a party treat bag. Get your Scavenger Hunt printables here for your own backyard hunt! The same food tents I’d used for the snack table, doubled as thank you notes stapled to the treat bags.
In the end, planning your child’s birthday party should be enjoyable. Have fun creating a special day and making unforgettable memories with those you love.
