A shark birthday party is actually a really great theme for kids because it's got sea life fun with a dash of excitement and danger! One caution is that a lot of party goods and ideas are geared towards Shark Week and therefore a bit scary for the younger crowd. This party planning guide is chock full of shark birthday party ideas for kids!
Our oldest son has been choosing his own birthday theme for the past three years. For his fifth birthday, he threw me a curve ball by chosing... SHARKS! I immediately added all the shark birthday party ideas I could find to my Pinterest Birthday Parties board!
Review products were sent for the purpose of this post. All opinions are my own.
Shark Birthday Party Ideas for kids
After some searching, I finally found a complete set of shark party decor supplies at Oriental Trading. A smiling and not-too-scary shark on cups, napkins, plates, hanging decorations and a table centerpiece! It's a huge relief to know that no matter what happens in the party prep, I had all the basics covered and ready to go!
For interactive play, the Shark snapper toy from Safari Ltd. made the rounds of all the kids (and adults!). We hung the cardboard shark photo prop from our Learning Tower for the kids to play with, which made us all laugh! (I made the boys shark tees and pajama pants too!!).
Of course, you know I can't let a birthday party go by without a little DIY project, so I did have to make a few things!
Easy shark party backdrop with balloons and streamers
One of the hardest parts about decorating our dining area is that we have red walls, so most party colors don't blend in well. However, this year I spread a silver plastic tablecloth against the wall and decorated over it, which improved the look.
I taped twenty-two streamers to the wall and twisted them for an ocean waves effect. We saved money and did without the helium tank this year. I just blew up the balloons and tied them one after the other on a long length of curling ribbon. Suspending them from the wall created an oceany "bubble" effect across the ceiling.
Finally, I strung a shark photo garland across the waves. I love the effect! It's my favorite party decor to date! I'm definitely leaving it up for awhile. Plus I love looking at the photos of our son!
I had this idea for a birthdayphoto garland using pictures from each of my little boy's five years. Be forewarned, the danger of this type of project is you'll cry a lot! After I was done with the crying, I traced a bunch of sharks onto various shades of blue cardstock and cut them out. I cut the photos into circles and glued them onto the shark. I taped the sharks to the thread, which worked just fine, although maybe next time I would punch a little hole and string them on.
Shark birthday party food & dessert table
The food for this party came together easily (very little cooking! Beach-themed, remember!?) and it was delicious. Here's the shark birthday party menu:
Appetizers: Shrimp (because, yeah), veggies & dip (sea cucumbers and crab legs with an octopus pepper! Loved making that!), fish and chips (blue corn chips make awesome shark fins!).
Dinner: Submarine sandwiches (ordered from the deli!), Macaroni & cheese (coral reef), and salad.
Beverage: Squid Ink Punch (grape juice, lemonade, and Sprite or seltzer) - it was a huge hit! Plus water (fresh, not salt!).
Dessert tables have been a huge hit at parties for many years now. However, they can be sugar heavy, so we wanted to keep it simple. Instead of bowls of candy, we opted to tuck a few candies in with some healthier snacks.
I filled mini popcorn boxes with "shark bait" party mix with popcorn (sea foam), pretzels (driftwood), peanut butter crackers (sand dollars), and mini marshmallows (sea sponges). Then on top, some Surf Sweets peach and watermelon gummi rings (life preservers), jelly beans (shark eggs, yes some sharks lay eggs), and gummi worms (eels). These party mix boxes were a huge hit and chomped down quickly!
For the food signs, I just designed my own with picmonkey and printed them out on cardstock. Then I used my Stampin' Up flower circle punch to make the "bite" in the corner of each sign! Leave a comment below to ask for the printable and I'll email it to you. One of these days I'll get around to uploading it here to click and print.
Shark party birthday cake idea
The shark cake was probably my hardest challenge. I had to make it full of sharks, but not scary! Fortunately, I got to work with Safari Ltd. again this year. Their hand-painted, realistic animal figurines are the perfect sharkparty accessory for cake toppers, cupcakes, party favors and games!
Using Safari Ltd's TOOBs of mini shark figurines, our oceanic cake swam with an awesome variety of sharks! I placed a large Great White Shark splashing down into the cake. And the shark snapper toy (pictured above!) made his way around the dessert table chomping on everything. Safari Ltd. large shark figurines were great for decorating dishes and tabletops...unfortunately, the trouble with using cool toys as decorations for a kid party is.... They often get shark-nabbed!
The gummy candies swam in the shark bait mix and cake decor. Gummi rings and gummi bears became swimmers on inflatable tubes! Gummi worms and jelly beans marked off the "safe waters," and my son was so taken by the "diver below" buoy made of jelly beans, that he chose that corner as his birthday slice!
Overall, this has been my favorite birthday party yet! The excitement on my son's face when he came down in the morning to see all the sharks and ocean decor made my day!
Disclosure: Affiliate links have been used in this post. Purchases made after clicking the links may generate a small commission for me. All opinions are my own.
Hi there!
You have some wonderful, creative ideas! Thank you for sharing!
Could you e-mail me your printable for your food signs please? And , if you have a template of the shark you used for the garland, that’d be much appreciated!
Hi there! Do you have the template that you used for the shark cutouts to make the garland that you could share? My kiddo is having his shark party next weekend and I think this would fit in perfectly!!
I’m planning a shark party for my son’s first birthday. I am constantly referring to this page. I Love your ideas! Can you please share the printables?
I would love the template for printing the cute labels for shark food! My son Luke is turning 6 next month and we are planning a shark party at the park. Thanks so much for your inspiration!
Hi,
Loved the shark theme party.
My soon to be 4 year old asked for a Shaek themed birthday party this year.
I will appreciate if you can send me the printables.
I’m planning my sons first birthday shark theme! I’m so excited! I love all of your ideas. And i would love to they the pro tables for the food signs! 🦈
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Hi! My five year old LOVES sharks and wants a shark birthday party. Your ideas are soooo cute but I was wondering if you'd possibly share your shark garland template and where you purchased the shark backdrop for the table. Great party and thank you!
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Doing a shark themed party for my one year old! Love your stuff! Would you mind sharing your food name card template? Please email if you don't mind!! I love it!
You are so creative! I love the decorations and small touches like the coral reef mac 'n cheese. If my daughter ever decides to like sharks, I'm stealing your ideas. 🙂
very cool! What activities did you do?
Hiii! I loved your ideas and would love your printable. Thank you for sharing!
Hello. I'd be so grateful if you could email the food labels.
Could you please send me the link for the card so I could print them out? Thanks
I would love to use your food printable for my granddaughters shark themed birthday party! Thank you, Pat
Hi! I’d love to get a copy of the food cards for my son’s shark themed birthday!
Thank you so much!
Are you still sending out the food labels? I would love to receive the templates for those darling cards! Thanks!
Hi there!
You have some wonderful, creative ideas! Thank you for sharing!
Could you e-mail me your printable for your food signs please? And , if you have a template of the shark you used for the garland, that’d be much appreciated!
Hi there! Do you have the template that you used for the shark cutouts to make the garland that you could share? My kiddo is having his shark party next weekend and I think this would fit in perfectly!!
Could you please send the download for the food signs? That'd be awesome! Thanks so muc. Love the design!
love this so much! could I have a printable please?
Love these ideas, could you please make the cardstock labels printable, please? Thank you!
I would love the labels, please! So creative and clever!
I would love the labels
Can you send me the food labels?
Can you send me the food labels? They're great!
Can. You please email me the food labels?!
Can you please send the food labels? My daughter’s 1st birthday is baby shark themed.
Hi, would love if u can send me the baby shark printable cards for my sons 2nd birthday.
Please and thank u .
I am interested in the food cards. How did you make them? Did you have a link to them? Love all of your ideas!!
Such a cute party! I would love the printable for your food signs! 🙂
I’m planning a shark party for my son’s first birthday. I am constantly referring to this page. I Love your ideas! Can you please share the printables?
hi do you have the template for the shark banner?
I'd love for you to send me the template too! Thank you so much!
Would love to get my hands on the food signs please! Love these ideas, they are so cute!
Hi!!! I love your ideas. Can you please share the template you used to make the shark photo garland?
Thank you!
Could you send me the printable template? How did you cut the sharks for the garland? Very cute party!!
Thx for sharing.
I would love to have the template emailed to me
Thanks!
Hi,
If possible I would love to get the templates for the food signs please.
Thanks!
I would love the template for printing the cute labels for shark food! My son Luke is turning 6 next month and we are planning a shark party at the park. Thanks so much for your inspiration!
If you don't mind sharing your templates for the food tags or anything else, I'd love to use them for my daughter's upcoming party. Thank you!
I would love a copy of the template for food labels! I am doing a shark theme party for my 2 year old and these would add the finishing touch!
Hi, I would love a copy of the template! Please and thanks! Your son's party turned out awesome! Veru creative!
Hi,
Loved the shark theme party.
My soon to be 4 year old asked for a Shaek themed birthday party this year.
I will appreciate if you can send me the printables.
Thanks,
Zeth
I love your ideas and have to borrow some. I would like a copy of template for the cards please and thank you in advance.
Hi there wondering if I could get the template for the food signs would appreciate it. Thank You
Gorgeous party! Would love the food label template you designed for my daughter’s shark themed bday party this Saturday! Thank you very much!
I’m planning my sons first birthday shark theme! I’m so excited! I love all of your ideas. And i would love to they the pro tables for the food signs! 🦈
Love your shark birthday party decor. Would love to see all the food printables as I am starting to prepare for my son’s 1st birthday. Thanks!
Can I please get a copy of the template for food labels. They are super cute! WE are doing baby shark but this will work perfectly! Thank you
Love all of this! Can I please get the printable items, like the food tents? Thank you so much!
Can I have the food tents as well? So cute!!
How can I get the printable? would really appreciate it!
Great ideas! Would you be willing to share your food table printable?
Thanks!
Do you mind sharing the labels....love these party ideas!!!
Mind sharing the food label printing link?? My Granddaughters first birthday is going to be shark themed
Would love the templates! Thanks!
Me too please!
Can you share the template for food signs, or where you got them from, thx
Hi! My five year old LOVES sharks and wants a shark birthday party. Your ideas are soooo cute but I was wondering if you'd possibly share your shark garland template and where you purchased the shark backdrop for the table. Great party and thank you!
Doing a shark themed party for my one year old! Love your stuff! Would you mind sharing your food name card template? Please email if you don't mind!! I love it!
super super super cute! Good job mama! Love this beachy theme. Wait, are sharks beachy? 🙂
CUTE t-shirts and pj pants!
You are so creative! I love the decorations and small touches like the coral reef mac 'n cheese. If my daughter ever decides to like sharks, I'm stealing your ideas. 🙂
Julie, I love the photo garland.
Julie, I love the photo garland.