After seeing the “Walking with dinosaurs” movie last year, my son Emile had his mind set on a dinosaur-themed party. When I started looking for dinosaur party paraphernalia a few months ago I was relieved to find “friendly” dinosaur party supplies (see photo below). I chose yellow, green and orange as the colour scheme for my son’s party, but this was just my preference. This theme will work great for girls as well.
With the shops being stocked up with a variety of egg-shaped chocolates and candy, the months leading up to Easter would be a good time to have a party with a dinosaur theme. If you’re looking for tips and ideas on planning a dinosaur party, look no further. I have included information on the invitation, the birthday cake, the party food – both home-made and shop-bought, party supplies and last but not least where to find dinosaur-themed kitchen equipment.
Dinosaur Invitation
I decided on a baby dinosaur hatching from an egg.
Dinosaur Birthday Cake
I asked Maryne Botha (maryne.botha@gmail.com or 083 384 1452) to bake a 3-D Dinosaur Cake. I asked Maryne to “build” a special surprise into the cake and she did not let me down! I wanted “dinosaur” eggs to spill out when we cut the cake. The kids loved it! I got the idea from a Gender Reveal Cake which originated in the U.S. The cake is served at a Gender Reveal Party where the parents-to-be reveal the gender of their baby to their guests when they cut the cake.
Party Food
When planning the party food for a dinosaur-themed party, think nests, eggs, bones/fossils, teeth, footprints and nails!
Home-made party food
- Dinosaur-shaped biscuits (find recipe here)
- Dinosaur Jelly – use 2 x 80 g packet of jelly (I used Greengage) and make it according to the instructions on the packet. Divide the mixture between 12 x 100 ml plastic tubs with lids and set aside to cool. Once cool, add one gummy dinosaur to each of the tubs and cover with a lid. Place the tubs in the fridge until set – about two hours.
- Dinosaur-shaped chocolates or biscuits (see recipe here)
Shop-bought party food
- Dinosaur-shaped Gummy sweets – about R100.00 from Makro (24 x 50 g packets) or Haribo Dinosaurs Gummy Candy
- Jelaxy Bones – about R5.00 for a 80 g packet (Westpack, Blairgowrie Plaza, off Conrad Drive, Blairgowrie, Randburg.)
- Cadbury’s Mini Animals Dinosaurs – about R30.00 for 110 g (Dischem Pharmacies) – these are bite-size and the back of the biscuits is coated in chocolate!
- Cadbury mini eggs or Walkers Milk Chocolate Mini Eggs – about R22.00 (Dischem Pharmacies). I picked out the white and yellow ones and used it inside the cake.
- Chips – chosen for their colour
– Simba NikNaks
– Simba Baked Puffs
– Simba Chipniks
– Hermes Sugar Treats Rings (I used the green, yellow and orange)
Party Supplies
- Dinosaur-theme party favour bags, table cloths, hats, plates, glasses, invitations, etc. (Impala Flora, 177 Beyers Naude Drive, Northcliff (011) 888 5646)
- Plain Party plates, plastic tablecloths and plastic tubs with lids (Westpack, Blairgowrie Plaza, off Conrad Drive, Blairgowrie, Randburg.)
Dinosaur-themed Kitchen Equipment
- Linda’s Bake & Pack (011) 482-2125,90 Aberdeen Street, Melville
Dinosaur-shaped cookie cutters (photo’s under home-made party food)
- The Kitchenware Shop (011) 447-7392, 35 4th Avenue, Parkhurst
Giant Cookie Cutter that cuts 9 puzzle pieces. When you put the puzzle pieces together, you have a giant dinosaur! – about R28.00
