It’s My Party: Under The Sea With Carousel Horses

Whether your kids are in preschool or high school, planning a birthday party takes some serious thought. Do you invite the whole class? Should we hold the party at home, or seek out a venue that won’t break the bank? Do we go with princesses or Darth Vader?

So. Many. Decisions.

Why stick with just one theme, though? Kids have a million interests, so instead of stressing about one perfect theme, blend a few ideas together, sit back, and watch the magic evolve.

This week’s party did just that. Justine McLaughlin, managing director for The Gallery Players, shares the details for her daughter Ava’s under-the-sea carousel celebration.

CKC: What was the theme of your party?

Justine McLaughlin: Our theme took many twists and turns along the way (as they sometimes do when children feel fickle), however we landed on an under-the-sea theme about a week in advance of the festivities!

What inspired you to choose your theme?

My daughter is a big fan of nature and animals of all kinds, so while she originally began with a character-driven theme (Octonauts), we were able to adapt when she fell out of love with the show a week later…which was good since much of the goodie bag items were en route from Oriental Trading Company!

Tell us about your decorations.

Thankfully the carousel serves beautifully as a centerpiece, so while there were no seahorses to ride, we felt no real need to decorate specific to our aquatic theme. We did have mermaid plates and flower leis just for the fun of it!

Were your food offerings also part of the theme?

I made blue velvet fishcakes for dessert. The rest of our cuisine fell into the pizza, chips, cheese, and cracker family.

What activities did you have for the kids?

I feared the kids might grow weary of riding the ponies, but boy was I wrong. Children and parents alike seemed to enjoy the unlimited access to the carousel. We did find some beach balls with inflatable fish inside for the kids to toss around on the adjacent lawn, as well as having a pin the tail on the whale game for those who were so inclined.

At the very end of the evening we had a crab piñata to crack open. Thankfully it was the pull string kind since I can’t imagine our kiddos swinging a bat around in the dark — no blindfolds needed, of course!

Did you have party favors, and if so, what were they?

We had white party boxes, which included mermaid stickers, mini spyglasses, whale pencils, starfish notepads, fish tattoos, dolphin key chains, sea creature stamps, and the inflatable fish beach balls.

What advice would you offer to those planning a similar party?

As with any outdoor party, there is the danger of bad weather, so be flexible. We originally planned for a party during carousel hours (less expensive but fewer guests allowed), however when we saw rain in the forecast the park allowed us to reschedule for a private gathering beginning at 5pm the day before. This meant that cake was served at twilight, which I hadn’t anticipated but simply added to the delight of my birthday girl.

I have to say that while a private event at the carousel did cost a bit more, I took comfort in the fact that we were supporting our beloved Prospect Park Carousel, and the rental cost seemed less than some of the other venues in the area. The carousel operator and park representatives were very accommodating and helpful. My daughter told me of all the parties we’ve hosted for her, it was her favorite…so far!

Have a great party theme that you’d like to share? Email editor@bklyner.com with the details.