Saturday we had a blast throwing a train themed birthday party for our son's second birthday! We had about twenty family members over to celebrate! These train themed birthday party ideas were fun and easy to pull together to celebrate our new little two-year-old!
Train Themed Birthday Party Ideas
Train Themed Birthday Party Decorations
Of course, balloons! What 2-year-old doesn't love them? I also made some handmade tissue pom-poms with kits I got at the store. Plus, I used gingham fabric and pom pom trim to make a pennant banner. I also used the gingham fabric for table cloths and runners, and accented with red bandanas! (I'm saving all this for future parties! The beauty of permanent decorations!).
Our son wore an train engineer costume, and his younger cousins joined in with fun hats and bandanas of their own for the party (which were their party favors!). Also, wooden train whistles, which kept the house sounding like a train station all night!
I also made him a train bib to wear to the party! Cake's gonna be messy!
Train Themed Birthday Dinner
Dinner was a delicious BBQ of pulled pork sandwiches, baked beans, coleslaw, and salad. It was so easy because I made everything the night before and put it in the crockpot. Definitely saved me time in the kitchen!
Train Birthday Cake
The train cake was inspired by so many great Pinterest photos... and my sister's help with frosting was a lifesaver (I have no patience for sticky things!). We used separate loaf pans to create each "car" on the train and decorated them differently.
I had to give an assist with the candle blowing ... we would've been there all night with how gently he blows out candles!
Train Dessert Table
I saw this fun idea for mini marshmallows as "train smoke" on Pinterest and expanded it into a 'Rail Mix (trail mix) bar for guests to snack on or take for the ride home (every train ride needs snacks, right?). The ingredients came together well for a yummy Trail (er, 'Rail!) Mix!
- Pretzel stick rails
- mini marshmallow train smoke
- chocolate covered craisin coal
- honey roasted peanut gravel
- red M&M train signals
Of course, cars and trains were a big part of his gifts this year, but also he got lots of summer clothes, which this mama is very excited about!
I can't believe he's two! It's really gone by just as fast as everyone says it will...
Happy Birthday, my little engineer!
What kinds of themes have you done for birthday parties? Do you do a big "kid" party or family parties (or both)?
Happy (albeit belated) Birthday to your little guy! He's grown so much... (But you probably don't want me to remind you about that, eh?) 😉
I love the train theme. And the cake is very cute. (I need to get up-to-date and take a look at Pinterest; I keep hearing about it...)
We usually do family parties -- with a few friends who are "like family" added. It works best for our space and schedules right now...
Being a lit teacher, you'd enjoy knowing that we recently celebrated with a "Little House in the Big Woods" theme for E's sixth b-day. It was fun! 🙂
http://www.sonidosserranos.blogspot.com/2012/02/celebrating-little-house.html
Wow - everything looks great and your son looks adorable!
What a great idea! I love the train cake and the make your own Rail Mix is wonderful!
For Lil Sister's birthday last month, we did a Jenny Linsky cat themed party. We did that party for friends and then a smaller party for just family. This way she had a chance to get used to the attention. It was a grand party and so much fun.
Asher's party looks incredible. You did a beautiful job, Julie. He seems a bit overwhelmed which I would completely share with him.
What a cute birthday party. I love the Rail Mix.
I love the 'Rail Mix. So cute and fun. One of my kiddos had a train cake when he turned one. We don't tend to have formal parties either, so I haven't really dealt with the whole theme thing.
I have seven kids and I have a goal of having no repeat cakes for my kids. My kids decided once they turn 13 they can have a repeat if they want -- mud pie is a favorite. For cakes we've done a lot of things over the years... train, a dog similar to Blue on Blues Clues, ice cream cone cakes, hot air balloon, purse, bird house, race track, carousel, hot dog with fries, hamburger with fries, pizza, Hello Kitty head, Batman logo, Elmo and Cookie Monster faces, Barbie in a cake dress, ballet slippers, caterpillar, space ship with alien, chess board with real pieces, fish.... I believe between my husband and I we have created 55 different cakes to date. (My MIL did make a couple for us. - Mater, Veggie Tales, and Superman flying across a city. She an artist.) And no, I am far from an artist or expert froster.
Such a cute party! You did a great job! Your son looks adorable! Happy Birthday to him!
The Rail Mix is so cute and creative - love it! Looks like it was a fun party. 😀
My family has always just had a small, immediate family celebration for birthdays. The birthday person gets to pick their meal and what games to play in the evening.
Everything looks amazing! I love the Rail Mix and Cake and your Bunting! Oh and A's outfit and the hats. So fun! 🙂
Wow, looks everything is good. Happy Birthday to your son.
Everything looks wonderful!! You're brave giving wooden train whistles out as party favors.
Everything looks wonderful!! You're brave giving wooden train whistles out as party favors.