Party like it’s 66,000,000 B.C.: the ultimate guide to planning a dinosaur birthday party

Your little dinosaur fan has a birthday soon and wants to have a Jurassic birthday bash. The idea seems simple.

But how do you ensure it’s what your resident dinosaur expert is envisaging? How do you remember everything with so many balls in the air? And how do you ensure it’s a dino-mite success without becoming a roaring mama T-Rex in the process?

Planning.

This ultimate guide tells you exactly what you need to be doing or thinking about when planning a dinosaur birthday party and when you should be doing what. Our checklist makes it so much easier to have a dinosaur birthday party as unique as your little dinosaur aficionado. Simply follow this plan to ensure everything is ready on time, without the stress.

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Planning a dinosaur birthday party: learn from my mistakes

In 2019, our LDA and I visited Amsterdam for our inaugural mother-daughter trip. We only saw two – unexpected and scientifically-inaccurate – dinosaurs, but that did not detract from our trip.

On the train home, she announced, “I want a dinosaur birthday party.”

“Great idea, little dinosaur“.

The unruly hamster wheel spun in my brain. How would I pull this off in only three days?

At home that evening, I fired off some hasty “ROAR, I’m turning 4!” texts via WhatsApp. I didn’t even add dinosaur emojis, let alone make or buy themed invitations.

An amazon deep dive only proved nothing useful would reach us in time for the party. No Jurassic Park plates. No Stegosaurus adorned serviettes. And nothing suitable for a girl who loves dinosaurs.

Less than 3 days to prepare AND limited to things we already owned or could source locally.

A good weather forecast, our dinosaur pool, some rainbow-coloured plates and cups, a banner unearthed from the depths of a cupboard, and a few clever dinosaur-themed food names and I had hope.

Paper mâché dinosaurs from the local craft store saved our theme. We painted them in bright colours to match the pool and gave them birthday hats. They were a hit: our LDA still has them on display in her room.

Our party favours, on the other hand, were a sad disgrace. Forgotten until the morning of the party, I scrambled to assemble some semblance of a gift bag with some balloons, lollipops and candy I found while searching for sticky tape. No fun dinosaur candy, no quirky dinosaur-themed gift, not even dinosaur gift tags.

Red-faced with equal parts sunburn and embarrassment, we returned to the craft store after the party. Armed with more paper mâché dinosaurs, little paint pots, paintbrushes and some dinosaur gummies, we made revamped dinosaur favour bags for our guests and hand-delivered them.

Three days, much stress, and some roaring from my inner-mama T-Rex and we (barely) pulled off our LDA’s rainbow dinosaur pool party. It was a lovely day, but the antithesis of what I would recommend when planning a dinosaur birthday party. Or any party really.

The ultimate dinosaur party planner

Planning a dinosaur birthday party – or indeed any birthday party – can be overwhelming and stressful, especially if you don’t have a plan. If party planning has you frazzled, you’re more likely to forget some key element, like the favour bags (ahem), or only remember at the last moment when even amazon can’t help. Cue roaring and stomping.

We’ve put together a master list of everything you need to know, consider and do and turned it into a dinosaur party planner with a checklist designed to give you ample time to get everything done without the stress.

This ideal timeline spreads the dinosaur birthday party planning over several weeks. There’s no need to worry if work deadlines or illness have you pushing to get something done in the assigned week: flexibility is built in.

Note: This ultimate guide on planning a dinosaur birthday party is not just for dinosaur birthday parties. The general timelines and to-do lists work for almost any birthday party and other celebrations, too, like the first day of school, a baby shower, or even a dinosaur engagement party.

Planning the ultimate dinosaur birthday party

What follows is the ideal timeline and checklist.

Each party will be different. Each situation will be different. Every little dinosaur fan is unique and deserves a unique dinosaur party.

This list is long, but not all the elements of this checklist will be relevant to your party. You might not want some elements, they might not be in the budget, or you might not have time to do them. Consider each element, but if it’s irrelevant, unwanted, too expensive or takes too much time, discard it and check it off as complete.

Some decisions might decide more than one element at once. Your location choice, for example, might include decorations, activities and even food.

Take this timeline and checklist as intended: as a guide, not as the dinosaur party planning law.

12 to 6 weeks before

• Set the date

• Decide on a guest list

• Select the location (& book)

• Set a budget

• Refine the theme

• Brainstorm theme ideas (decorations, invitations, food, activities, etc.)

• Find supplies

• Start a gift wish list

Let me guess: you’re already panicking because there are fewer than 12 weeks to go before the big day and you haven’t even started planning your dinosaur birthday party.

Don’t worry, there is some grace built into this timeline to account for work, illnesses, other major and minor life events and even just not having flour on hand to make fossil eggs.

Whenever you are starting, it’s important to decide on several interrelated issues first as they will shape your dinosaur birthday party and your to-do list.

Yes, you’re planning a dinosaur birthday party, but the theme is not the only consideration.

Set a date

When will the party be held?

Do you need to consider anything when setting the date?

• Is it the school holidays – will your guests be away?

• Does it coincide with another celebration? – Is there another birthday in the family or group of friends?

• Is there another event at the same time? Is it a public holiday? Will guests be playing in a baseball tournament?

• Is there a time limit on when you can use any special birthday deal (such as reduced entry prices to a water park for the birthday boy and 4 guests?)

• Will any guests be coming from further away (e.g., interstate)? Will the party be at a time the guests can travel?

• Don’t just think about your guests: will your helpers be available to help? Or will they need to be elsewhere (e.g., working, or at the baseball tournament with an older child)?

Don’t forget to set a time for the party too. Consider the age of the birthday boy/girl and your guests, as well as what times may be available for any bookings.

• Late morning or early afternoon will often be most convenient for families.

• Small children often nap after lunch: morning tea or late afternoon might be better for this age group.

• An evening party, or even a sleepover, might be more appropriate for older children or adults.

Decide on your guest list

While you don’t have to finalise it, start writing your guest list now.

Is the party for family or friends? Will it be a small group of best friends or a larger group like a class? Will you be inviting your parents and baby group – are you catering for small children and their parents?

The guest list will directly affect your venue choice and your budget.

Decide on a venue

There are numerous places to hold a dinosaur birthday party. The key question is: will you hold the party at home or not?

• Throwing a party at home can save money but set up and clean up (and cleaning before, on top of other things to organise) may leave you feeling stressed. You may also find you spend so much time tidying and setting up the next activity and spend almost no time with the birthday boy/girl. Consider the weather, too: do you have enough space to hold the party indoors or outdoors?

• Do you have an option B? Do you have a friend or family member with a large garden who will let you hold the party at their house? What about a local park or beach?

• You’re unlikely to want to “hire a venue” for a simple dinosaur birthday party. Instead, consider holding the party at a museum or dinosaur park. This would take care of the activities for the party, but will impact costs and guest list numbers.

• Make sure you check any age (or size) requirements of any rides or activities your venue may offer. It would be disappointing if your guests are not tall enough to go on the dinosaur rides at the amusement park or old enough to see the movie you’ve chosen.

• If your party is a reasonable size (up to about 25 people), consider making a reservation at a restaurant. A dinosaur birthday party can be held at a local burger restaurant or doughnut shop, for example. Dinos & Doughnuts Party anyone?

• Consider your guest list: do any guests need accommodations, like disabled access or baby change facilities?

• We may not like to think about it but: will any COVID restrictions affect your choice? Are vaccinations mandatory? Do guests need tests? Are venue numbers limited? Is the venue even open? Do you need to have a virtual dinosaur birthday party?

If you are not holding your dinosaur birthday party at home, find your venue and make a booking. Be conscious of your budget.

Set a budget

You might not be able to afford a big birthday party – not on top of birthday presents. But a dinosaur birthday party can be as small or as large as your budget allows.

• The lower budget party: A dinosaur watch party, with two or three of your dinosaur fan’s best friends watching a favourite (age-appropriate) dinosaur movie and eating coprolite pops (recipe coming soon) and frozen pizza on the couch.

• The higher budget party: A Pangea Party, where your dinosaur fan and a small group of friends visit an amusement park with dinosaur-themed rides. Park tickets can be expensive…

Setting your budget may eliminate venues and activities which are out of your price range or limit the number of guests. Parties can be expensive, so setting a fair budget and sticking to it is vital.

• What is your overall budget, the total amount you want to spend on the dinosaur birthday party? Some people feel around $400 is normal, while others (me included) know you can keep costs well under $150 (including food).

• Break down the elements of the party (e.g., venue hire, food and drink, cake, invitations, favours, decorations, activities, rentals, and miscellaneous) and decide how much (if anything) should be spent in each area.

What to do now?

Brainstorm and finalise some details now to reduce pressure later. General delays in deliveries seem to be continuing, so order any necessary supplies as soon as possible. Believe me: being too late to order and limited to what you can find in your cupboards is not good for a Mamasaura’s blood pressure.

1. Sit down with your little dinosaur fan and define your theme. Will it be just dinosaurs, or something more specific? We’ll look at this in more detail in a separate post, but even dinosaur parties can be unique.
   Is it a Camp Cretaceous theme? Are you celebrating your dinofile’s favourite food (Bronto burgers)? Or are you going to have a Plesiosaur Pool Party with an inflatable dinosaur pool or pool float or celebrate at the local dinosaur pool?
2. Begin brainstorming (and researching) how to incorporate your theme into your decorations, cake, favours, etc. Start ordering what you can’t purchase locally or make yourself. Remember: your little dinosaur fan’s toy dinosaurs make great decorations.
3. Find and order invitations or order the supplies needed for homemade cards. We’ve got some great news to help you with your invitations – stay tuned!
4. Start shopping for gifts for your little dinosaur fan! Check out our list of gifts from your local museum for inspiration.
5. Put together a gift list: Guests will probably ask what they can get your little dinosaur. Some of our local toy stores let kids put together a basket of books, toys, etc. they’d like for their birthday (they also give you vouchers to add to your favour bags). Does your local toy store do something similar?
   Amazon lets you share a wishlist with guests. Have a list ready so your little dinosaur fan doesn’t get three of the same dinosaur (to go with the 2 she already owns).

3 to 5 weeks before

• Prepare the invitations and invite guests

• Create a food plan (and find a caterer, if appropriate)

• Decide on the birthday cake (or dessert) (and order)

• Start sourcing and making decorations and favours

Planning your dinosaur birthday party is about to get real: it’s time to finalise the guest list and send out invitations.

Finalise and send invitations

You probably already decided on a guest list, or at least guest numbers when you were setting your budget. Hopefully, you’ve also had a chance to buy or make your invitations. If not, do it now!

4 invitation types to consider

1. Store-bought (including online stores): There are dinosaur birthday invitations (for girls too), but these might not fit your specific theme.
   
2. Custom-made: These tend to be a little more expensive but will get your guests excited. Sites like etsy have editable versions (enter names and details to your invitations before printing).
   
3. DIY: Sometimes you won’t find a custom-made invitation to suit your needs (depending on your theme). You can still make your own for a custom look. For online designs, I like Canva (there is a free version and it’s instinctual), but you can use PowerPoint or even Word if you are more comfortable with them.
   
4. Handmade: Grab some cardboard, text markers, and scissors and create your own (I recommend using your largest cookie cutter). It might take longer but can be a lot of fun. And you little dinosaur fan can help.
   
5. Don’t forget electronic invitations: You can buy (or make) an invitation and send it via WhatsApp, Messenger or email.

Finalise your guest list, grab their details, and send out your invites!

Are you sending them to a physical address? Is your little dinosaur fan giving them to friends at school? Do you need telephone numbers or email addresses to send them electronically?

What to include on your invitations:

• The little dinosaur fan’s name
• The name of the guest
• The party’s start and end times
• The address/directions to the party location
• Your phone number
• RSVP information
• The party theme
• Any other information (bring your bathers, wear comfortable shoes, please have a COVID test before)

Ideally, you should send out invitations at least 3 weeks in advance to give your guests time to organise their calendars.

Decide on food

This is an important step in planning a dinosaur birthday party: how will you know it’s a dinosaur party unless you have dinosaur-themed food? We’ve got ideas for you. It’s time to create a plan for food and beverages.

What you serve will depend on where you are holding the party.

• If you are holding the party at a restaurant, doughnut shop or the like, there will be catering for you.

• If you are going to be watching Jurassic World or another dinosaur movie at the cinemas or drive-in, you can do drinks and popcorn at the cinema.

• If you are at a museum or dinosaur park, there may be a catering package you can purchase.

• Make sure you are clear on any minimum spend rules or what is included in your package.

If you are holding the party at home, you can still decide whether you are going to self-cater or have someone cater for you. Catering could be as simple as ordering pizza and buying a few snacks/cutting up some fruit. Self-catering could be grilling some Bronto Burgers and warming some fries in the air fryer, or making up a big pot of Chili con Carne-taurus in the Instapot and toasting some bone chips.

If you are intending to use a caterer, arrange it now. Make sure you are clear on what is included in the cost and what is not, and when you need to inform your caterer of any dietary restrictions or allergies, final numbers, etc.

If you are planning to cater the party yourself, come up with your basic menu. This will give you a framework to adjust, if you need, for dietary requirements and let you purchase ingredients on sale in advance.

The food does not need to be specifically dinosaur – check out 7 ways to give almost any dish a prehistoric twist. Look for easy-to-prepare dishes, which are popular with your guests, appropriate for their age and within your budget. If you can prepare all or some of it in advance, it’s a bonus.

Be realistic about how much food you will need. A party two-hour party may only need refreshments and cake. A longer party will obviously need more food.

Don’t forget: some kids eat and eat, especially if they are in the middle of a growth spurt! If your little dinosaur fan is in the middle of a growth spurt, assume some of their friends will be too. It’s better to over-cater than have guests go hungry.

Decide on the dinosaur birthday cake

What would a dinosaur birthday party be without a dinosaur birthday cake?

At this stage of your dinosaur birthday party planning, it is important to decide what type of cake it will be, assuming your little dinosaur fan wants cake…

Help them decide on a flavour and whether they want the cake to look like a dinosaur (fossil) or have a dinosaur cake topper.

You then need to decide whether you are going to make the cake yourself or order one from a bakery or cake decorator. If your favourite bakery is popular (especially in the middle of wedding season), you should order your cake now.

If your little dinosaur fan doesn’t want a cake, what would they prefer instead? Cupcakes? Brownies? Pie? Cookies? Ice cream? Why not? You can even have some of these as well as a cake.

Do you have candles? Do you want some dinosaur decorations on top of your cake? Are you going to buy one or make a cake topper?

Order or source your supplies.

Start sourcing and making your decorations and favours

Dinosaur decorations and favours are some of the easiest ways to infuse some of your chosen theme into your dinosaur birthday party. So many are cute and fun!

At this stage of your dinosaur birthday party planning, the question is whether you need decorations. If you are not celebrating at home, you may not. Many places offering birthday party packages provide decorations or have a generic pre-decorated birthday area. You might want to add a couple of dinosaur balloons.

If you are holding your party outside, such as in a park, there might not be many places to hang decorations. Concentrate instead on your birthday favours for your guests.

Simple decorations can include:

• Streamers
• Balloons
• Tablecloths
• Centrepieces
• A birthday banner or sign

All can be homemade if you wish; you do not need all of them.

Other possible elements to help convey your dinosaur theme include:

• Plates and serviettes
• Party favour bags
• Party favours
• Food labels
• Cake topper
• Party hats or dinosaur tails.

Making decorations and favours can save money, but they will take time to make. Some things might be easier or more convenient to purchase.

Shop now for your decorations and favours. We’ve got some fun and simple ideas for you, like some dinosaur fossil eggs. This gives you time to order items online if you can’t find them locally.

And if you are going to DIY any decorations or favours: start now!

2 weeks before

• Settle on your menu

• Finish any homemade decorations

• Choose games/activities and gather necessary materials (and prizes)

• Pack favour bags

• Organise any assistance

• Arrange Plan B

• Donate any no-longer-loved toys

The countdown is on. If you’ve been following our advice on planning a dinosaur birthday party, you are on top of things and are well on the way to ensuring the party will be a roaring success. With only two weeks to go several things still need doing.

Settle on your menu

If you have a caterer, finalise your numbers and let them know of any food allergies or dietary preferences, so they can adapt the menu as needed.

If you are catering the dinosaur birthday party yourself, you’ll need to finalise your menu plans, too. Check whether your planned recipes work for any food allergies, or whether you need to find different recipes or provide alternative dishes. Finalise your grocery shopping lists, too.

If one of your guests (or their parents) has indicated they have a food allergy, and you are unsure whether you can serve something: ask! Parents are normally happy to check your recipes or a list of products you intend to use for allergens.

We have a friend who is allergic to eggs, dairy products, and certain nuts. I avoid any obvious ingredients and save the packaging of any mixes to let his mum double-check for allergens. Sometimes I will photograph the ingredients (e.g., edible cake decorations) and send the photo to her in advance.

If you’re unsure what you can serve, ask the parents what their child can (and will) eat instead. If the allergy is severe or they have a tricky diet, some parents will prefer to provide ‘safe’ food for their child to eat during the party. This is fine – keep the food separate and put it on a fancy dinosaur plate to make it look festive and part of the party.

Don’t forget the birthday cake and favours. Make sure you have an appropriate alternative dessert ready if one of your guests can’t have cake. Or make sure your cake accommodates the allergies (like we did with our vegan, nut-free dinosaur cupcakes).

Check any sweets you intend to put in your favour bags too. These often contain dairy products, gelatine, and nuts. If you are gifting something like dinosaur soap or bath bombs, check for allergens like coconut oil, too.

How much to serve

Dish type	Per guest	Amount
Main dish	1 guest	1.5 servings
Appetizers	1 guest	6 pieces
Chips	10 guests	1 large bag
Dip	10 guests	1 cup
2-layer cake	16 guests	20cm (8-inch) cake
Cupcakes	1 guest	1.5 cupcakes
Ice cream	8 guests	2 litres (5 gallons)
Drinks	10 guests	8 litres (2 gallons)

This guide will need to be adapted to suit what food you are intending to serve, the age of your guests and how distracted they will be by the activities you are planning. Young children will not eat as much, nor will busy children. Though some little dinosaurs are perpetually ravenous…

Finish decorations and “pack” your favours

Except for balloons, which would go flat before the party, now is the time to finish making and sourcing any decorations. Double-check you have everything you need – plates, cutlery, serviettes, cake decorations, party hats, banners, balloons to show the way, signs for activities or food…

Remember: you do not need everything, and it does not all need to be dinosaur themed.

Now is also a good time to pack your dinosaur favour bags/dinosaur party boxes.

What should be in your favour bag? A good rule of thumb is two to three theme-related things and two to three edible things. It’s possible to double-up, e.g., dinosaur gummies.

If you have an activity or two planned during the dinosaur birthday party, consider anything your guests make or find as part of their favour bag.

Some examples:

• If you are going to let your guests make a dinosaur keyring, just add some dinosaur stickers or tattoos, and some candy (themed, if possible).

• If you are having a palaeontologist party, you might want to have your guests “dig” for a few fossils (using our fossil eggs). You can let them take home the safety glasses and paintbrushes they used to find the dinosaur safely, as well as any dinosaurs they uncover.

• If the dinosaur birthday party will be at an amusement park, you might want to make a t-shirt (so they are easy to spot in a crowd – go for a distinctive colour or print) and personalised drink bottles (to save money on drinks – grab plain bottles and label with your Cricut). Remember to get a matching bottle and t-shirt for the little dinosaur fan too.

Choose and gather materials for games

You might be lucky enough to have your party activities built into your venue, such as a tour with someone from the museum or park, or fossicking in a fossil pit, but arranging your activities – and gathering any necessary materials – is an important part of planning for a dinosaur birthday party.

There are plenty of party games and activities to choose from – we’ll share some ideas in another post – but you need to decide what you are going to do to entertain your guests. Consider their age and the games your little dinosaur fan likes to play (you don’t want to choose a game which excludes half your guests).

If you’re not holding the dinosaur birthday at home, avoid activities requiring a lot of equipment. You don’t want to have to arrive at your location too much in advance just to set up a game (like a complicated scavenger hunt).

Finally, it’s important to supervise any activities to ensure no one gets hurt. This is particularly true, for example, when using hammers to excavate fossils, or while swimming at a plesiosaur pool party.

Music is always good too. Try a playlist from your favourite provider.

If the activities are competitions, don’t forget to get a small (dinosaur) prize for the winner of each game.

Arrange some help

When planning a dinosaur birthday party, you should also look to organise some help. You do not need to do everything yourself.

This might come in two forms. Is there someone who can come and help you on the day?

• Setting up and putting up decorations
• Delivering food
• Entertaining the guests
• Providing supervision (especially if you’re having a pool party)
• Taking photos
• Cooking some of the food
• Decorating the birthday cake

Is there something you need to borrow?

• Seating for the party?
• A tent in case of rain?
• Glasses or serving platters for your food?

Contact the people you plan to borrow from, check it’s okay and arrange a time for pick up.

Do you have a small child or pet?

Is there someone who could distract your child for a few hours before the party to give you time to prepare? Hire a babysitter and have them take your child to the park. Don’t forget to pick your child up with enough time to look at what you’ve prepared before the guests arise.

Or do you have a pet (especially a dog) that might be scared of the guests or them of it? Can they visit someone for a few hours while the party is on? This will save your pet from stress and you from worrying one of your guests is going to leave the gate open and let them out.

Arrange plan B

Every good plan needs a Plan. B.

Do you have an alternative plan for bad weather? If you are planning to hold your dinosaur birthday party at the local park, is there an indoor venue you can use if it’s too wet or cold? Is your house big enough to fit all your guests if you can’t be outside? (How about your basement or garage?) Do you have alternative games if it’s too cold or stormy to swim?

Not to mention the elephant Brachiosaurus in the room, but do you have an alternative plan for a lockdown or if some of your guests or even your little dinosaur fan is sick or tests positive for the coronavirus? Our LDA was meant to be at a party as I write this, but it had to be postponed because the birthday girl and her family were sick.

Make sure you check your contracts for anything you have ordered or booked, like food or a venue, to see what your options and obligations are in this situation.

Clear the way

A birthday normally means presents.

To make room for all the dinosaur-themed gifts your little dinosaur fan is about to receive, see if they would be willing to donate some of their toys to charity. It’s a nice gesture and will free up some space to let them enjoy their new gifts more.

If you’re anything like us, it’s also a good chance to tidy your little dinosaur fan’s room so guests can play in it (or sleep there if it’s a sleepover).

3 to 7 days before

• Finalise the guest list

• Confirm the venue

• Write a party timeline, consider where to put things and write a party-day checklist

• Make a food transport and storage plan

• Start wrapping gifts (prizes)

• Mow lawns, clean the garage…

Is your little dinosaur fan roaring in anticipation?

The next few days are easy planning, giving you a chance to breathe a little and catch up before the final flurry.

Finalise your guest list

There is often at least one guest who has not yet RSVP’d. We recently lost a birthday invitation in a school bag over the Christmas break… and found it two days before the party. If you have guests who have not yet RSVP’d, call them and ask.

Adjust any food amounts as applicable.

Confirm venue

While you’re on the phone, give your venue, bakery, caterer and/or entertainer (as appropriate) a call to confirm your bookings or orders and delivery. Just in case…

Food safety

It’s no fun eating cold food when it should be hot. It’s worse if the food should be cold but has melted, curdled, hardened or otherwise spoiled. It’s a food poisoning nightmare in waiting.

Make a plan for keeping your food hot or cold, depending on what is needed.

If you are eating at a restaurant, the restaurant will take care of this for you.

If you are providing the food in your home or at someone else’s, be wary of putting the food out too early.

If you are going to be providing food somewhere like a dinosaur park, get out or borrow an esky and start making ice/cooling ice packs.

Plan the day

If you’ve gotten this far, I know you like lists. It’s time to write a few more for the day.

1. Write a rough timeline for the party

This will depend on where you are holding the party, the age of the guests, how long the party will be and what you are planning to do. If you have a tour planned or an entertainer coming, this time is probably set.

When will you serve your food or cut your birthday cake? Do you need some activities while you are grilling burgers? Be practical: if you have an activity involving dirt, slime, or paint, you’ll need to factor handwashing time before any food (and think about what this might mean for the bathroom…).

Sample dinosaur birthday party agenda

Time since arrival	Activity
15 minutes	Welcome guests
15 to 35 minutes	Guests eat snacks or meals
35 min to 1 hour 15 min	Guests play organised games, take a museum tour or go on a scavenger hunt, etc.
1 hour 15 min to 1 hour 35 min	Little dinosaur fan opens presents
1 hour 35 min to 1 hour 55 min	Sing happy birthday and eat cake
1 hour 55 min to 2 hours 25 min	Any additional planned activities (pinata) and unorganised playtime
2 hours 25 min to 2 hours 30 min	Guests picked up and hand out dinosaur party favours

2. Think about the flow: Decide where things will go

• Where will guests eat?
• Do you have enough chairs?
• Where will you put the food?
• Where will you set up the activities?
• Where will you put any walkers or strollers?
• Where should guests put any bags or coats?
• Do you need somewhere for people to change/change nappies?
• Which toilet will guests use?
• Where will you hang the decorations?
• Do you have a cool-down area away from other guests if a child gets upset and needs a moment?

Consider the area you’ll be using when answering these and any other relevant questions.

3. Create a day of checklist

This will help ensure you don’t forget anything on the day of the party. Include:

• The number (and names) of guests
• The number (and names) of guests
• When any ordered food will arrive
• Any important names and phone numbers
• Any last-minute decorations which need to be set up
• Any games or activities that need to be set up
• Party favours are ready (and out)
• Check your phone for any last-minute changes

I add everything I need to do in the morning too, cooking and preparing dishes (and in which order I plan to do any steps), decorating cupcakes, and any last-minute cleaning or tidying (such as the guest bathroom).

Start wrapping gifts

If the party is for your little dinosaur fan’s birthday, it’s high time you started wrapping any gifts for them. While you’re at it, if you’re having prizes for any activities, you might like to wrap them now too.

Yard work

If you are planning to hold the party at home, look at the area you’re intending to use. Do you need to mow the lawn? Clean out the garage? Free the patio of leaves or cobwebs? Vacuum the pool?  Dust the rumpus room?

Do any bigger cleaning projects or yard work needed to use the space now!

2 Days before

• Go grocery shopping

• Clean

• Prepare any food which won’t spoil

With only two days until the party, it’s time to go grocery shopping and buy any supplies you still need. Have you remembered toothpicks, matches, candles, toilet paper, and first aid supplies? Double-check all the recipes and lists you made while planning your dinosaur birthday party to ensure your shopping list is complete.

Start any prep work for menu items that won’t spoil. Are you making dinosaur ice cream or something similar? Make it now as it will need time to freeze. Make any sauces, put meat on to marinate, and bake biscuits: do what you can now to relieve pressure later.

If you are serving pizza or something similar, place your order.

And finish wrapping any birthday gifts (and prizes).

1 day before

• Bake and decorate the birthday cake

• Cook any food that will keep

• Put out serving bowls/ spoons

• Clean the party areas

• Set up table(s) and seating

• Decorate the party area (except balloons)

• Setup party games and activities

• Charge batteries

Today, prepare anything which won’t spoil, be blown away or otherwise ruin before the party. For example:

• Bake and decorate your cake(s).

• Clean the party area. Don’t forget the pool if you’re having a plesiosaur pool party, and the barbecue if you are planning to grill some dino dogs or Bronto Burgers.

• Decorate, except for perhaps balloons (providing the weather allows)

• Set up tables and seating, etc. using your flow plan

• Set place settings (if you don’t need the table in between)

• Set up party games or props, and hide your scavenger hunt clues.

• Prepare any food which can be prepared in advance

• Get out any serving dishes and think through what will go in each one

• Charge camera (or phone) batteries

• Check the weather predictions – do you need plan B?

• If you’re planning on watching a movie, check where it’s available and that you have access.

Morning of the party

• Pick up any food, cake, flowers, ice, etc.

• Cook, prepare and plate food, confirm orders (e.g., pizza)

• Keep your pet(s) safe

• Add cake topper(s)

• Hang the last decorations, set the table, and hang a marker to help guests find the party

• Inform guests if you need to change the location

• Take photos

I love having help on the day of the party. I’m often stuck in the kitchen cooking, so having someone else to pick up the cake (if I didn’t decide to bake it) and (helium) balloons, put up additional decorations, set up games and activities, put out party favours and tie balloons or streamers to the front door or fence is a real help.

If you arranged to have someone watching your little dinosaur fan or younger siblings while you set up, drop them off (or send them to the park) so you have more flexibility while getting ready. Likewise, if a neighbour or friend agreed to look after your pet, drop your pet off for some safe fun.

Remember Plan B? If inclement weather means a change to your dinosaur birthday party location (or even a meeting point), let your guests know.

If you’re ordering pizza or other food to be delivered, call the pizza joint and confirm the delivery time (if you haven’t already).

Just before the party starts

Guests are about to arrive! You’re about to see whether all your planning will pay off.

Put out the food and drinks (except anything prone to melting or spoiling), warm up the grill and put on some music. Put the candles and matches near the birthday cake so you can find them quickly.

Take a few photos of the party before guests arrive and put the camera/phone where you can find it easily and you’ll hear if it rings (in case a guest is lost, the pizza delivery guy can’t find you at the park, or you forgot to pick up your little dinosaur fan before the party…).

Also set out a notepad and pen, so you can jot down who gifted your little dinosaur what (it will help with thank you cards).

Give your little dinosaur fan a few moments to take everything in, see where things are and roar with excitement.

Breathe in. Breathe out. Enjoy the party, Mamasaurus!

After the party

• Store leftover food

• Clean up

• Return any rented items

• Leave a review for your caterer, cake maker, etc.

• Recycle gift wrap

• Marvel at new gifts with your little dinosaur fan

• Write and send thank you cards

The dinosaur birthday party is over, the guests have roared off home, your little dinosaur fan is exhausted, and you are too.

A few things need doing now; most can wait until the next day.

Unless you’re eating at a restaurant, there is almost always leftover food. Safely store anything you need to keep in the refrigerator or freezer and toss the rest before it spoils.

Depending on where the party is being held, you might have to clean up. If it’s your house, you can leave some things to do until the next day and just clean anything urgent. Generally, a load of dishes in the dishwasher and a sweep armed with a bin bag will be enough for a start.

If you are holding your dinosaur birthday party at a public park or even a dinosaur park, you will need to take down your decorations and take all your things with you when you leave. An outdoor wagon is great for transport – including transporting your little dinosaur fan.

Help your little dinosaur fan’s gifts find a new place to be stored and help assemble anything requiring assembly. Do any need batteries? You can hang some of the decorations in your little dinosaur fan’s room to extend the fun.

Return any rented equipment and settle any bills with entertainers, venues or caterers. If your little dinosaur fan loved their cake or you had lots of compliments about the food or tour, consider leaving a positive review on Facebook, yelp or a local board, or posting a photo tagging them on Instagram. Small businesses and even larger museums appreciate the support.

Store any reusable gift bags and gift wrap in decent condition for future dinosaur crafts, and recycle the rest.

Finally, plan to write and send thank you cards within two weeks of the dinosaur birthday party. If you can, include a photo of your little dinosaur fan enjoying their gift and/or of the guest enjoying the party.

Easy dinosaur birthday party planning with our checklist

Planning a dinosaur birthday party – or any special event – can be stressful. If you’re a busy mum or dad (and let’s face it, who isn’t?), remembering all the different things to do on top of an already full pallet can easily mean:

1. things are forgotten and your party is chaotic,
2. you’re rushing to get things done when life happens, and
3. planning your Jurassic birthday bash will have you feeling stressed. My roaring mama T-Rex tendencies are engaging just thinking about it…

Follow our simple dinosaur party planning checklist to remember everything, get everything done without the stress and avoid turning into a T-Rex. It works well for non-dinosaur parties too!

Our free printable dinosaur party planner makes planning a dinosaur birthday party easier. Subscribe to our emails to get your copy.

This ultimate guide tells you exactly what you need to be doing or thinking about and when you should be doing what. Follow it, and you can ensure your dinosaur birthday party is as unique as your little dinosaur aficionado. Simply follow this plan to ensure everything is ready on time, without the stress.

And may your Mama T-Rex roars be roars of delight!

Do you Have your free dinosaur party planning checklist yet?

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