Ireland’s top themed party ideas

Planning a party but not sure what the best theme would be? At TheBigParty.ie we are getting orders every day for themed parties so we thought a list featuring the most popular would be a help.

Let’s start with the Ireland’s most favourite party theme by far – Hawaiian Party. For the last 3 years this has been at least twice as popular as any other theme. If the weather is good it is great to get out in the garden with the BBQ, get some cocktails ready and imagine you are on a tropical island partying. The fact that all the partygoers can ‘dress up’ with multi-coloured leis or hula skirts is a big winner. Everything is so colourful that if the weather is not as planned you can forget about it while you party indoors. Scene setters and the leis are the ‘must haves’ to make the party happen along with the cocktail glasses & accessories.

A big favourite with the guys for 30^th, 40^th etc. is the Casino party theme. There is everything in this range to turn your venue into a casino which is sure to impress and ensure a night to remember. The casino top hat, the great choice of casino scene setters and the casino chips are among the big sellers. Our favourite are the hanging decorations for the doorway and the ceiling – really creates that Casino feel. Anyone organising a fundraiser can be sure this theme will be a big hit. 

For something with a retro feel why not a 70’s disco party! You don’t have to have been there first time around to know about the great Disco scene in the 70’s and with the music ready made from Saturday Night Fever and Grease all the dancers will be on the floor. Make it DIY fancy dress for some great memories and photos. Our Disco hanging decorations are great for the dance floor along with the Disco ball and pinatas. Just writing about it would make you want to start planning the date!  

Along with these 3 you could go back to the 1950s with a rock n roll theme or get the cow boys n girls out with a Wild West theme Yeehaw.

To check out all the party theme ideas visit our themed party sections http://www.thebigparty.ie/productgroup/19/adult_themed_parties.html

7 great piñata to enjoy at your next themed party

At www.thebigparty.ie our customers love piñata. In Ireland and the UK we are selling hundreds every year. In 2015 there is a trend towards party piñata for themed parties. Probably this is because our customers realise that piñata make great decorations as well as being the number 1 party game. Some fun and colourful piñata hanging from the ceiling or outdoors in a marque or patio helps to get everyone in the party mood.

There are so many piñata to choose from! This blog gives you some ideas based on the best sellers from our website.

The music theme is always popular so from 80s parties, disco parties, 50s rocker parties everyone likes to dress up and dance the night away with friends.

 

The most popular music themed piñata are:

1.     Disco ball piñata

2.     Disco dancer piñata

3.     Jukebox piñata

4.     Guitar piñata

The summer party season is in full swing and what could be more appropriate than a Mexican themed party with some Sombero piñata. As the tequila flows you can get out the blindfold and piñata buster and have some great Mexican piñata fun. Other great favorites for a Mexican feel are the Donkey piñata and the Horse piñata.

For a Wild West cowboy theme it is the sheriff piñata and the horse piñata that are most popular.

Whatever piñata you decide to go for don’t forget to check out our blogpost on the rules of piñata and look out for our next post which will be some great ideas for filling the piñata.

Life’s a party so get out there and enjoy it!

A guide to Ireland’s favourite party game

The most popular game by far that we sell at The Big Party.ie is Pinata.  If you haven’t played before and want to include piñata as part of your next party this is the article for you.

A piñata (Spanish pronunciation: [piˈɲata]) is a container often made of papier-mâché, pottery, or cloth; it is decorated, and filled with small toys or candy, or both, and then broken as part of a ceremony or celebration. Piñatas are most commonly associated with Mexico, but their origins are considered to be in China. The idea of breaking a container filled with treats came to Europe in the 14th century, where the name, from the Italian pignatta, was introduced. The Spanish brought the European tradition to Mexico. Today, the piñata is still part of Mexican culture, the cultures of other countries in Latin America, as well as the United States, but it has mostly lost its religious character.

Before you hang your pinata and have your guests bash it open, here are a few tips to make the game go more smoothly. Below we will detail the best way to fill a pinata, pinata filler suggestions, how to play the pinata game and give you some additional tips. If you are playing the pinata game with toddlers, we suggest buying a pull piñata and guess what! we have the best range in Ireland!

Quick plug: Check out www.thebigparty.ie for the best range of pinatas in Ireland - delivered next working day nationwide.

 

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How to Fill a Pinata 

1. All pinatas have a designated opening for filling purposes. To find this area, look for the sticker on your pinata that says "press here to fill."
2. You can either press into that part of the pinata with your finger or carefully cut a U shaped flap using a knife or scissors.
3. Make sure you do not tear or cut off this section because it will make a hole.
4. Choose sweets or small prizes that will fit into a hole (see pinata filler suggestions below) and place as many as you can inside the pinata.
5. The bigger the pinata, the more prizes it can hold. We suggest that you fill one pinata for every 8-12 guests.
6. After you fill the pinata, push the flap down or tape it in place.
7. Hang your pinata with sturdy rope or string by its plastic handle.
8. We suggest hanging the pinata about 1-2 feet above the guests' eye level.
9. You can even use your pinata as a table decoration and then hang it when it's time to play the game.

Pinata Filler Suggestions

Here are the best ideas to use as pinata filler. A good rule of thumb is to have three to four prizes for every player.

• Miniature chocolate bars – from Supermarket variety packs
• Individually wrapped hard sweets
• Shaped rubber bands
• Party Favours
• Party Poppers
• Child-sized rings
• Fun shaped erasers

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How to Play the Pinata Game

If you are using a regular pinata, you can choose to play the game either with or without a blindfold. Older children/adults should use a blindfold to make the game more challenging.

1. Set up some rules ahead of time to prevent children from grabbing at prizes once the pinata breaks such as:
• Each child can only have 3-4 prizes
• No pushing or shoving
2. Everyone lines up single file according to height.
3. Stand everyone far enough from the pinata so that no one will get hurt by the person swinging.
4. Smallest should play first. (This is a good idea especially if you have children of different ages playing. The oldest child will most likely hit the hardest and break the pinata. This way, everyone should get at least one turn.)
5. If you're playing with blindfolds, tie it around the first player's eyes. You can use a scarf or tie if you don't have a blindfold.
6. Hand the first player the piñata buster.
7. Spin them around three times slowly and then stop spinning once they are facing the pinata.
8. The player now gets three chances to break the pinata open with the buster.
9. After they take their three turns, the next player in line gets blindfolded and spun around.
10. Continue taking turns until someone manages to break open the pinata.
11. After the pinata is open, give your guests empty favour bags to fill with prizes.

How to Use a Pull-String Pinata

If you are playing the pinata game with a pull-string pinata, see the directions below.

1. Set up some rules ahead of time to prevent the children from grabbing once the pinata breaks such as:o    Each child can only have 3-4 prizeso    No pushing or shoving
2. You can use a pull-string pinata one of two ways.
• For younger guests: Have all the guests pull a different ribbon at the same time.
• For older guests: Have the children take turns choosing one ribbon to pull.
3. Only one ribbon will pull open the trap door to make the prizes fall out!
4. After the pinata is open, give your guests empty favor bags to fill with prizes.

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Questions & Answers

What is the recommended age for playing the pinata game?

We highly recommend that children under 3 should not play the pinata game. Pinatas are filled with small prizes that could be choking hazards for toddlers. Also, children under 3 could get hurt during the game. You should also keep pets away while this game is played.

How much pinata filler do I need for my pinata?

Refer to the size of the pinata before you purchase it to make sure it will hold enough candy for all of your guests. If you're having a big party, you may need more than one pinata.

• A 16 to 28-inch pinata can hold about 100 pieces of pinata filler. This is enough for 8-10 children.
• A pinata up to 34 inches high will hold up to 150 pieces of pinata filler. This is enough for about 12-15 players.

When should I use a pull-string pinata?

There are several situations where a pull-string pinata is more appropriate for your party.

• Children between ages 3 and 7 will have an easier time opening a pull-string pinata.
• If your party is indoors
• If you have a lot of children at the party, a pull-string typically has 20 strings to pull.
• A shy group of children may prefer a pull-string

What if my pinata won't break?

Don't panic if your pinata won't break. In some cases, you may need to hit the pinata in just the right spot with just the right amount of force for the prizes to fall out. This will normally be towards the bottom center of the pinata. If you try to hit the pinata in the bottom center and the prizes still won't fall out, cut a small slot in the bottom center and then continue playing the game. This is a rare occurrence but happens sometimes if your pinata is particularly large and sturdy.

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Where should I buy my piñata?

From http://www.thebigparty.ie/ of course! Ireland’s number 1 party website has Ireland’s best range of quality piñata ready for next day delivery to your door. Lots of communion parties in 2015 will be playing piñata in 2015 so join the party!

 

Top 5 bestselling Pinatas list completed according to sales at www.thebigparty.ie

1. Donkey Pinata
2. Unicorn Pinata
3. Horse Pinata
4. Dinosaur T-Rex PInata
5. Soccer Pinata

Turning 30 - 11 ways to celebrate

30th Birthday Party is becoming our most popular party with lots of customers ordering for their weekend celebrations. We thought we would rack our brains in the office to come up with our top 10 ways to celebrate this ‘big one’. As you will guess from the list we had fella and girls debating the top 10 and after all that we ended up with 11!

1. Backyard BBQ - If the heady nightclub days are over there is no better way to celebrate than with a party at home. Relax with friends and family. You’re not excluding anyone i.e. your friends with kids and guests can stay as long as they like. Food, drinks, cake and decorations - not too complicated. See our range here.
   
2. Paintball - Whether you need to vent frustration or are simply looking to have some fun, an intense round of paintball will do the trick. Take a group of pals to a paintball arena in your area for a fun-filled 30th birthday. And then you could end up at home and have a Paintball birthday theme using Camouflage party decorations and tableware.
3. Massage/Day Spa - Get in touch with the benefits of massage, which include stress, anxiety, and muscle tension relief, among other things, on your 30th.
4. Your favourite restaurant - Treat yourself to a special dish at your favourite restaurant. Although it’s one of the simpler 30th birthday ideas, it’s just as good as the rest. There’s something special about dining at your best-loved restaurant. 
5. Take a dance class - Learn how to dance with a group of your best friends. Then, try out the moves you learned later as you hit the town for your 30th.
6. Cooking Class - If there are any cooking classes in your area, take one with a group of friends. You’ll learn how to cook a few new dishes, bond with fellow foodies, and eat good food with good people — what more could you ask for?
7. Plan an epic hike - Plan an epic hike for your 30th. Choose something challenging. A strenuous trek up a mountain or rugged trail will leave you feeling strong, in shape, and ready for whatever life throws at you in your thirties.
8. Themed Party - A Hollywood or Casino party at home or a local pub venue is always popular and a good time guaranteed for all. Best costume prizes are always a great laugh. 70's Disco and
   80's party themes are also huge and we have fantastic decorations for both.
   
9. Book into a cool hotel - Stay at a cool hotel you’ve never been to. There are tons to choose from, with the rising popularity of boutique hotels and the abundance of haunted hotels and historic hotels.
10. Concert or Music Festival - If your favourite band’s on tour or there’s a music festival you’ve always wanted to check out, there’s no better time to do so than your 30th birthday. Music festivals are a great place to celebrate. They include food, drinks, entertainment, and a crowd in the mood to party.
11. Pub Crawl - Celebrate with friends and family at all of your favourite bars with a 30th birthday pub crawl. Map out your master plan on custom invitations. Include costumes in the plan for some great photos and some great laughs.

Halloween Costume Ideas for Couples

With the Halloween approaching and first Halloween fancy dress parties starting this bank holiday weekend we have put together some ideas for couples. It is always nice to show to everyone that the two of you belong together.

Get inspired with our top 7 couples ideas. For more costume ideas see our Facebook Page or have a look at our website: http://www.thebigparty.ie/productgroup/37/costumes__fancy_dress.html.

Vampires

Red Hot Devils

Witch and Phantom of Darkness

Skeletons

American football player and Zombie cheerleader

Jesters

Zombie Police

Candy Buffet

 

Successful in the US, we are now happy to introduce to Ireland the Candy Buffet theme. This range is popular for 18th, 21st, wedding after parties, as well as seasonal and Halloween celebrations. 

Colour is so important to create impact and the colour options from the Candy Buffet theme are truly spectacular. TheBigParty.ie offers a range of products such as striped Popcorn Boxes, Polka Dots treat bags, cone shaped bags, scalloped labels and matching scoops. To maximise the success of your Candy Buffet we have mixed these essentials with matching decorations and tableware to make shopping easier for you.

 

Say yes to our Candy Buffet Theme. It's time to get spoiled! 

 

Oh and don't forget to have a look at our Pick n Mix range, where we have a great selection of sweets in big value packs.

1st Birthday Party Tips and Ideas

After all the hard work of the last 12 months parents and baby deserve a great 1st birthday party celebration. One without too much work and planning would be nice so lets see what tips and ideas we can come up with to help.

First lets look at some handy tips:

• keep the guest list small and let your baby enjoy the party too. No crowds.
• keep it short, an hour and a half max
• have plenty of balloons because ‘babies love balloons’
• get some help, don’t try to do it all yourself. A babysitter or family member will make it much more enjoyable for parents
• create a special play space for the babies away from chairs and other dangers

These are simple but will help to make it a party to remember and will keep the stress levels down for everyone

Our favorite theme for 1st Birthday is the Fisher Price circus theme. It’s suitable for boys and girls, is bright and colourful, is cute, and has a great range of tableware and decorations for you to choose from.

Some people prefer a girl or boy theme for their party. For the girls I would recommend the sweet little girl range which has lots of pink and cupcakes featuring. Again the hanging decorations and balloons are great for decorating at home.

Selecting a favorite for the boys is easy as it’s got to be the My 1st JCB party range.The hard hats, tablecover and balloon are excellent. The pictures will be great to look back on.

This is one of the few parties where you will make the decisions so enjoy it