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Wild West Party

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Invitation

A “Wanted” poster makes a great invitation. It’s easy to create and makes a lovely keepsake for the birthday child as well. Use a picture of your child as the focal point of the poster. Print out on yellowing
parchment for an authentic touch. Download and print out the invitation template from: http://www.yourparenting.co.za/tools/free-downloads/


Decor

Be inspired by the little towns you’ve seen in Western movies. Create different areas, using bales of hay and Western-type signs to demarcate. “Grub” can be used to label the food area, “Saloon” for the drinks table, and a sign for “Outhouse” can show guests to the bathroom.

Print out more “Wanted” posters, featuring your child’s photo or even the faces of some of her friends. Decorate the garden with ropes, old cowboy boots, horseshoes, bandanas and stuffed farm animals. Use tin plates and cups and red and white striped napkins for an authentic Western look.


Games

Cattle roundup

Give each child a stick and a balloon and see who is the quickest to round up their cow (balloon) and get it though an obstacle course and into the pen (a cardboard box on its side).


Cowboys and sheriffs

Divide the kids into two groups (cowboys and sheriffs) and give them all water pistols.


Saloon-style card games

All you need is a pack of cards to get the rummy going!


Pan for gold

Fill up buckets or sandpit shells with sand and water. Toss in a couple of coins and gemstones and let the kids pan for gold. We used gold beads so that kids could string them into necklaces as take home gifts.


Moustache Pete

Give the kids water-based paint and brushes, or face paint, and have them paint moustaches on each other. The most realistic or dramatic one wins a prize.


Horse lasso

Set up a wooden rocking horse in a spot and arm the kids with ropes. Let them try to lasso around the horse’s neck. It’s pretty hard, but great fun to try!


Boot toss

The children toss bean bags into big Wellington boots or a large cowboy hat.


Horseshoe toss

Put a sturdy stake in the ground. The aim of the game is for guests to get the horseshoe around the stake. Real horseshoes are heavy and hard to come by, but you can make them out of heavy cardboard.


Tip

Hire a mechanical bull as part of the entertainment. Suitable for kids from 8 and up. 


Looking for a cowboy themed cake for your child's wild west party?

go to: http://www.yourparenting.co.za/child/parties/cakes/cake-ideas

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