Ages 1 to 16
Kids' birthday, planned
What to do and when, how much to buy, and what it costs. Then make it yours in a minute.
Themes
Each comes with decor, food, and activity ideas, and free printables.
What to do and when
Tap a step for the advice. Festidi counts it back from your party date.
6 to 8 weeks out
Pick a date, a start time, and a backup date
Two hours is plenty for most kids' parties. Late morning or early afternoon, between mealtimes, means you can serve snacks and cake instead of a full meal. Check with two or three close friends' families before you lock it in, and avoid holiday weekends.
Set a budget and choose your big two
Pick the two things your child will remember, often the cake and one activity, and spend there. Keep everything else simple. Decor is the easiest place to save.
Write the guest list
A popular rule of thumb for younger kids is their age plus one. Decide now whether parents will stay: for little ones, plan on it and count them for food. If you hand out invitations at school, check whether the school expects the whole class to be included.
Choose a theme together
Offer your child two or three options instead of an open question. Then pick a color palette and one standout moment, like the cake or the entrance, and keep everything else simple.
Lock in the location and a rain plan
Count seats, bathrooms, and where coats and gifts will go. For outdoor parties, name a backup space now, even if it is the garage with a couple of tables, and decide what time you will make the weather call.
Note food, accessibility, and comfort needs
Ask early about food allergies, mobility needs, sensory considerations, and nap schedules. A simple note in your plan now makes the invitation and party day much easier for every family.
4 to 6 weeks out
Send the invitations
Send them 3 to 4 weeks ahead. Include start and end time, address, an RSVP date, whether parents stay or drop off, and a line asking about allergies. Your Festidi invitation tracks the replies for you.
Decide: hire an entertainer or run your own games
A hired entertainer often costs a few hundred dollars and books up on weekends. For ages 3 to 6, a 30-minute show plus free play works well. For 7 and up, organized games or a craft station keep the energy in check.
Book rentals if you need them
Tables, chairs, a tent, or a bounce house should be booked early for weekend dates. Ask about delivery and pickup windows, who does the setup, and what happens if it rains.
Order the cake
Custom bakers have limited capacity, so order 2 to 3 weeks ahead, and sooner for weekends. A grocery-store bakery is a budget-friendly custom option. Count slices, not just kids: parents and siblings will want some too.
Ask helpers and give them roles
Even one helper makes the day calmer. Common roles are food lead, setup crew, entertainment lead, photographer, and a kid wrangler.
Make one contact and confirmation list
Keep vendor contacts, delivery windows, addresses, balances, and a parent emergency contact in one spot. This is the list a co-host can use if you are busy greeting guests.
2 to 3 weeks out
Order decor, tableware, and favors
Order about two weeks ahead so shipping delays do not catch you. Choose one color palette from your theme, buy plain plates and cups, and add one themed centerpiece. For favors, one small item beats a bag of extras.
Plan the menu and check allergies
Pizza, fruit, and cake cover most kid parties. Ask about allergies on the invitation, keep ingredient labels for anything packaged, and set aside a safe option for any guest who needs one.
Plan 3 or 4 activities, plus a backup
Young kids do best with games of 10 to 15 minutes. Mix one active game, one calm activity, and some free play. Keep a backup ready for rain or for a game that flops.
Follow up on RSVPs
Text families who have not replied once, and keep it warm. Count kids and adults separately, and give your cake and food numbers a final check.
Build your one-stop shopping list
Add every supply, serving item, favor, and party-kit essential to one list. Group the list by store or delivery date so a last-minute dash does not turn into three trips.
The week before
Confirm every vendor
Reconfirm time, address, phone number, and payment method with the entertainer, rental company, and bakery. Save their numbers in your phone and share them with your day-of helper.
Lock the headcount and shop for food and drinks
Buy shelf-stable items now and fresh items a day or two out. Plan for a few extra plates and cups. Ice, napkins, and trash bags are easy to forget.
Prep favors, decor, and a playlist
Do anything you can ahead of time: fill favor bags, assemble centerpieces, and print signs. A playlist of kid-friendly songs that runs the whole party keeps things lively without you touching your phone.
Write the party-day schedule
Write a simple run of show and share it with your helpers. Leave a little slack for late arrivals.
Send the final party note
Send one cheerful reminder with the address, parking details, what to bring, and the exact pickup time. It saves you from repeating the same answer on party morning.
The day before
Pick up the cake and set up what you can
Pick the cake up the day before or the morning of, based on your baker's advice, and keep it cool. Set out tables, chairs, and any decor that will not get damaged overnight.
Pack a party-day kit
Scissors, tape, wipes, trash bags, extra candles and a lighter, first-aid basics, a phone charger, and a few balloon fixes. Keep it all in one box so anyone can find it.
Charge devices and share the run sheet
Charge phones, camera batteries, portable speakers, and the card reader if a vendor needs it. Send the final run sheet and vendor contacts to helpers before everyone goes to bed.
Make the final weather and space call
For an outdoor party, decide whether the backup plan is in effect and tell helpers early. Move umbrellas, shade, towels, or indoor activity supplies into position now.
Party day
Set up an hour before
Start with the food table and the activity area, then the entrance. Assign one person to greet guests and another to take photos so you can be in the moment.
Run the party and finish on time
Follow the schedule loosely and end while everyone is still having fun. Save the cake moment and favors for the end so kids leave on a high.
Reset the space and check for left-behind items
Put food away, take a quick sweep through the activity area, and collect gifts, cards, and jackets into one safe place. A small cleanup assignment now makes the after-party much calmer.
After the party
Share photos and settle any remaining balances
Send a small photo album to guests while the day is still fresh, then check that every vendor has been paid and every rental return or pickup is confirmed.
Send thank-yous
Within a week is great. Kids can draw a picture and add a line or two about the gift. Jot down who gave what as gifts are opened to make this easier.
Save photos and notes for next year
Back up your photos, note what worked and what did not, and save vendor contacts. Next year's plan starts here.
Leave a quick note for your future self
Record the guest count, real spend, favorite moment, and anything you would skip next time. Your next Festidi plan can begin with the lessons from this one.
Party-day run of show
For a party starting at 2 pm.
- Final setup and safety checkSetup crew gets food, activities, and the entrance ready.
- Arrivals and free playKid wrangler greets kids and keeps an eye on arrivals.
- Main game or entertainerEntertainment lead runs the planned game or entertainer.
- Snacks and drinksFood lead puts out snacks and checks dietary labels.
- Cake and candlesPhotographer gets the group shot before serving.
- Craft, favors, and goodbyesThe host ends on time while energy is still high.
- Quick resetCollect gifts and check the space for left-behind items.
What it costs
Festidi's three budget levels for 20 guests. Try your own numbers.
| Level | Per guest | 20 guests |
|---|---|---|
| Simple Home food, homemade games | $15 | $260 |
| Standard Bakery cake and one hired activity | $25 | $540 |
| Splurge Entertainer, rentals, and custom decor | $50 | $1,000 |
A rough split of the standard budget:
| Where it goes | Share | Of $540 |
|---|---|---|
| Food and cake | 40% | $215 |
| Entertainment and activities | 25% | $135 |
| Decor and tableware | 20% | $110 |
| Favors and extras | 15% | $80 |