There is that little kid in all of us that wishes we could
have been around in the days of the Wild West. Whether your interests were in
blazing new trails into undiscovered country, riding the range, going on a
cattle drive, homesteading, or panning for gold there is something romantic
about the old west that so many of us find appealing whether male or female, old
or young.
The Wild West lends itself to many wonderful and exciting birthday party themes
for the brave host or hostess. Hopefully some of the ideas mentioned below will
get your creative wheels turning and help you plan the perfect birthday party
for the Wild West Wannabe in your life.
Wagon Trail. You can create a wagon trail of sorts of your own, in your own back
yard. This is great for younger cowboys and trailblazers. All you really need is
a covered wagon (feel free to use your imagination for this), an open fire
(check with local regulations but open fires are great for cooking hot dogs,
s'mores, and using a Dutch oven for stew as well as warmth and light at night
(especially if this is an overnight party).
Gold Rush. This can be a blast, literally if you aren't careful with the TNT.
Seriously make fake TNT for decoration as well as rocks that have been painted
gold, frosted mugs for the root beer (especially if the crowd is under 21), and
chicken nuggets and corn nuggets for lunch with a gold themed birthday cake to
top things off. Have everyone dress up like prospectors and go out panning for
gold if you have a creek nearby that would be safe for 'prospecting'. It's a
great outing and a lot of fun for everyone. Even if you don't strike gold you
might find an interesting rock or two that make excellent keepsakes.
Of course there are the cowboys of the old Wild West. You will want to wear
cowboy boots, a hat, a bandana, and a six-shooter on your hip for added effect.
Great food would be anything that can be made on a grill though hot dogs are a
general favorite among a younger cowpoke audience. Barbecue is a good choice for
adult Wild West parties and the cowboys need to be sure to have a good cowgirl
by their sides. Square dancing is a great entertainment that can be fun even in
birthday parties for little ones. Of course the birthday boy or girl should get
a sheriff's badge to distinguish them from all the other guests at the rodeo. In
fact, you might find that a trip to the rodeo is a perfect accompaniment to the
Wild West Cowboy party theme.
The important thing when bringing a touch of the Wild West to your birthday bash
is to remember to work to make it fun for everyone. If you are going to have
guests of all ages, make sure that there are appropriate activities to keep them
all entertained and happy rather than; isolating events to suit the target age
group of the big event. This makes for happier parents, happier children, and
guests that stick around longer and want to return next year to see what new and
wonderful ideas you will come up with.
