Best Ideas for Planning a Dinosaur Birthday Party

Whether you decide to go the light route and just include a couple of dinosaur-themed features such as the cake or favors, or you want to go all in and transform the party venue into Jurassic Park, we've listed the best dinosaur birthday party ideas below.

Dinosaur Birthday Party Food Ideas

If you'd like to keep the snack selection on the healthy side, opt for grapes as "dinosaur eggs" and cut up a watermelon in triangles to resemble the spikes of a stegosaurus. You can also prepare fruit skewers and have the final piece of fruit be in the shape of a claw (a simple cookie cutter will do the trick). Sliced kiwis can work as dinosaur tails.

Indulge the kids in some sugary treats, place small chocolate balls in containers and call them "dinosaur eggs" or "dinosaur poop." Yogurt-covered pretzels can become "dinosaur bones," and any small cone-shaped crispy snack (such as Bugles) would make for believable dinosaur teeth. Cupcakes are a birthday staple but stick these dinosaur toppers in them to make them more on-theme. And don't forget to offer multi-colored gummy dinosaurs that you can easily order online or purchase in your closest grocery store.

You can also create a cheese and meat plate for "carnivores" and one with veggies such as broccoli, carrots, and cucumbers (you get bonus points if you shape the cucumber slices as claws) for "herbivores."

Dinosaur Birthday Party Decorations

No party is complete without a cool birthday sign, and this volcano banner will do the trick. To recreate a lush prehistoric jungle, make sure you have plenty of dinosaur-shaped along with garlands hung throughout the venue. Welcome every child to the party with a fun hat with spikes or these origami-style Triceratops hats. If you are short on time, there are many decoration kits available online, which include almost all of these items.

Lastly, if you are having a pool party, you can place a couple of these dinosaur floaties in the pool for the kids to play with.

Dinosaur Birthday Party Supplies

It never hurts to have a few extra dinosaur-themed supplies to contribute to the overall Jurassic Park vibe. Serve cake and snacks in these cute dinosaur side plates and platters, and make sure there are plenty of dinosaur napkins on the table to clean up potential messes. Drinks (and even smaller snacks such as pretzels or chips) can go into these T-Rex party cups. 

When it's time to blow out the candles, opt for these glittery dinosaur-shaped toppers that will make your little one's big moment even more special.

Dinosaur Birthday Party Activities

The key to having a great and memorable birthday party is entertaining children with fun activities. Watch kids quickly transform into the cutest group of tiny T-Rexes with mini capes. Challenge their creativity and imagination with a dinosaur craft kit or coloring posters. If free play is what you had in mind, then keep them busy and engaged with puzzles and a topple game (plus, this one helps them develop their motor skills).

You can also fill up a small inflatable pool with sand (use your sandbox if you have one), bury dinosaur figures in it, and then ask the kids to dig them up like paleontologists.

Dinosaur Birthday Party Favors

Send kids home with a party bag full of fun goodies such as dinosaur tattoos (here's another great option), stickers, and a mini activity kit. And don't forget to personalize the favor bags with a gift tag with each child's name.

Dinosaur Birthday Gifts

Finally, if you're in search of a dinosaur theme birthday gift, you can never go wrong with a train set inspired by the fascinating world of dinosaurs. A three-year-old will also love this 24-piece personalized puzzle with beautifully illustrated dinosaurs. Or you can teach your little one all about paleontology with this 10-piece doll set that includes a compass, a dinosaur map, and a camera, among other things. Lastly, this island playset will keep them entertained for hours with eight dinosaur figures, dino eggs, a tree, and a waterfall.