HoBo Birthday Party

I don't know about you, but I have a box filled with left over party decorations, favors, candles, and cutlery in my basement.  All of our left over party supplies go into that box for the next party.  Sometimes they get used and some times they don't.  So, instead of buying brand new party supplies last year, we had a "hobo" party.

A HOBO party was by far the easiest party I've ever done.  We saved money by simply not spending it.  We used what we had collected in the basement.  Not only did we save money, but we cleaned some junk out of the basement too!  A win-win situation.  And it's perfect for girls and/or boys!

We rented our same little picnic spot at the lake and we used up all those extra party supplies and favors.

It didn't matter that nothing matched because that was the idea!  We had pumpkin napkins and princess plates and pirate balloons! We had princess necklaces decorating the cake table right beside bugs and pirate coins.  It was a hodge-podge of years past.

Games:

• Water games
• Face painting
• Mix-match contest
• Pie eating contest
• Hire or dress someone up like a clown to serve the cake, hand out the presents and the goody bags
• Carnival games (egg toss, ring toss, balloon relays)

Menu:

• Grilled Chicken or Hamburgers or Hotdogs or Skewers with meat and veggies
• Potato or Pasta Salad
• Watermellon
• Corn on the cob (the best place to get enough corn to feed everyone is at the Amish or a local farmer...or your own garden.)
• Cake or you could do brownies just to be different, since this a HOBO party.  Cup cakes are easy to decorate up as clowns...put an ice cream cone on top to look like a clown hat.

Party Favors:

I stuck with my theme.  I gave away all the left over bags with all the left over junk...I mean really cool toys...from past parties.  If you are afraid you are going to run out of things or goody bags, just buy some filler candy, or a balloon.  I bought balloons to give to each kid along with their "goody bag".  The only thing I was careful about was that little boys didn't get a princess bag!  We don't want mob riots breaking out...the swat team is busy enough these days... 

Invitations:

 We are throwing a hobo bash to celebrate Jo's 11th birthday.  Bring your appetite and come in mix-matched clothes!  The person who looks the worst will get a prize!  (the prize can be something that everyone wants...or it could be something silly like an ugly tie that no one wants.)  I always include a menu and a list of activities so parents will know what will be going on, and in case there are food allergies that you need to be aware of.