Rainbow Party! -4yr- Rainbow Scavenger Hunt

For my daughter's 4th birthday, we decided to do a rainbow-themed party in the basement.    Invitations - I found a rainbow template on evite.  I always use evite so I can keep track of the responses... and email any people who haven't responded.   

Decorations - I had rainbow balloons with helium and then additional rainbow balloons I blew up since I know kids LOVE balloons.  I bought a disco light with rainbow colors, and had streamers with all the colors of the rainbow attached to the ceiling throughout the room.  I also had rainbow holiday lights taped to the wall. And I created a rainbow photobooth with blue wrapping paper and a beautiful white cloud with sparkly rainbow streamers I got on Oriental Trading. I also had a buffet table set up with a rainbow tablecloth... and a separate table set up for drinks with ice and cups.   

Activities - I had four tables set up in a horseshoe configuration -- two small tables of 8 for the kids and two larger tables of 8 for the adults.  On one of the kid's tables, I had a ton of crayons and coloring books.  On the other kid's table, I had colored popsicle sticks, glue, stickers and foam sheets so the kids could make picture frames.  I also had marshmallows with edible markers so they could create and eat.  I placed a sign that said 'Creation Station' and a description of the activities on the tables.     

The kids could also use the central part of the basement to put together magnatiles or listen to the music.  I had a microphone set up so the kids could sing if they desired and created a rainbow playlist of songs (including 'Somewhere over the Rainbow' and 'The Rainbow Connection').  I also used an instant camera in front of the photo booth to take the photos the kids would put in the picture frame.   

Since we had so many kids of various ages, we only played one structured game.  In the Rainbow Scavenger Hunt, I put colored pipe cleaners in the six rainbow colors all over the 2nd floor of the house.  The kids were given printed instructions to find all six colors of the rainbow and then come down and bring them to me to get a prize.  Once the kids had all six colors, I taped the pipe cleaners together to make a rainbow.  Prizes included rainbow bracelets, rainbow push back cars, rainbow necklaces, and rainbow whistles.     

Food - We bought a sandwich tray and a tray of chicken fritters, and I made slow cooker mac and cheese.  To go with the rainbow theme, we had a rainbow vegetable tray (red peppers, carrots, yellow peppers, cucumbers) and a rainbow fruit tray (strawberries, oranges, pineapple, green grapes, blueberries, red grapes).  And of course for dessert there were rainbow cupcakes (layered with all the colors and topped with rainbow sprinkles).  Above the buffet table, I hung a sign which said 'eat the rainbow!'   

Party Favors - each child received a cello bag with a watercolor set/rainbow bathtub paints/colored pencils, a bottle of bubbles, and a bag of Skittles.   

Other - I made my three girls rainbow tutus from tulle in all six colors.   

All the kids seemed to have a great time!