Game On: Sports-Themed Birthday Party Ideas

Let’s play! Celebrate your child’s big day with a fun-filled sports party. Planning a party around your child’s favorite sport makes for interactive play and delicious food. Hold an at-home bash with our ideas, or leave the party to the pros.

Topgolf

Ace-ing It: Golf

Swing for the green with a golf-themed party.

Out and About: For technical innovations and interactive fun, consider a party at Puttshack. Book a birthday party at Malibu Norcross for mini golf, bumper boats and go karts. Party packages at Topgolf include game play, kids’ clubs, platters, lifetime memberships for all players, souvenir cups and a set-up team. At a Monster Mini Golf birthday party, add seasonal flair to your game with a private Haunted Mansion room.

At Home: Check out Mini Golf Anywhere for a mobile nine-hole course for a backyard game. Purchase Outdoor Golf Play Sets from Dollar Tree for outdoor play. See who can get the best score with a cornhole-inspired GoSports BattleChip Backyard Golf Game.

Food: Serve Arnold Palmer — a mix of tea and lemonade — in a pretty pitcher. Decorate a cake to resemble a green complete with a bunker or lake. Shape a white cheese ball to resemble a golf ball. Set up a plastic bucket with chocolates resembling golf balls; you can find options online. Place golf-themed cocktail picks around a fruit and vegetable tray, or you can find ones shaped like clubs and tees online.

College Football Hall of Fame

Touchdown: Football Fanatic

Go team! A fall birthday party is the perfect time for a football theme.

Out and About: Celebrate your special occasion at the College Football Hall of Fame. If your child really loves football, consider taking him and a bestie to a football game. Georgia Tech and Kennesaw State still have tickets available; you can see the Yellow Jackets starting at $33, and the Owls’ tickets start at $19.

At Home: Rent the inflatable Football Challenge from Bounce House Atlanta to test your football skills. See which player has the best aim with the GoSports Football Red Zone Challenge Game. Play a game of flag football in the backyard.

Food: Pitch a tent and set up a tailgate area for food. You can serve chili, chicken wings, nachos, pigs in a blanket, sliders and bowls of Chex Mix. Label a fruit tray The Fruit Bowl for a punny title. Follow the directions to make a HERSHEY’S Gridiron Cake for a show-stopping dessert. Celebrate your child’s favorite team by making the Caramel Helmet Treats.

TOCA Soccer

Goal! Score with Soccer

Kickstart a soccer extravaganza with these ideas.

Out and About: Consider catching a live game. Atlanta United plays at Mercedes-Benz and tickets start at $23. Travel to Athens to watch UGA’s women’s soccer play at Turner Soccer Complex; admission is free. Admission is free to watch women’s soccer at Kennesaw State or men’s or women’s soccer at Georgia State. Enjoy playtime in a soccer studio with TOCA Soccer’s multiple metro Atlanta locations.

At Home: Score big with the Portable Giant Kick Dartboard Soccer Game from SlickBlue. Set up an obstacle course with objects players have to weave around for an energy-burning game. You can play with a soccer ball, or order inflatable versions. Set up a soccer goal; different sizes are available based on what size your child is.

Food: Serve guacamole in a casserole dish, and use sour cream to resemble a soccer field. Decorate cake pops to imitate soccer balls with white and black candy melts. Make and decorate cute cookies with Moose Goods’ Soccer Cookie Cutter Set. Set up a bowl of Soccer Ring Lollipops, and have the guests take them as a party favor.

Hoop Atlanta

Slam Dunk: Basketball

Basketball makes for a high-flying party.

Out and About: Head to a local game. Watch Atlanta Dream play at Gateway Center Arena; tickets start at $45. If your child’s birthday is in winter, consider attending a game from Kennesaw State or Georgia Tech.

At Home: Set up a mini hoop on the driveway or in the backyard. Enjoy a mobile arcade featuring four basketball games with Hoop Atlanta. Rent basketball arcade games from Phoenix Amusements.

Food: Set up a concession stand for food with popcorn, pretzels and prepackaged candy. You can purchase Basketball Hoop Snack Cups for a fun way to set up the food. Serve meatballs to resemble basketballs, or draw a basketball on a slider bun; see instructions at farmrich.com. For dessert, make a Basketball Court Cake, or shape Basketball Face Oreo Cookie Pops.

The Little Gym

A Perfect 10: Gymnastics

Go for the gold with a gymnastics party.

Out and About: Enjoy a party at Fusion Athletic Center or Gymnastics World of Georgia. The Little Gym offers birthday parties, and you can add a theme with dinosaurs, unicorns, princesses or superheroes. Flip your way into fun with a Sky Zone party.

At Home: Set up games with hula hoops and ribbons, and make sure to play energetic music. Have a photo booth with different costumes, scrunchies, hair jewelry, makeup and face gems, and you can order the perfect backdrop from Amazon. You can also purchase a balance beam for your guests to test themselves on, or have guests practice their tumbles on a trampoline.

Food: Set out pretzel “balance beams” for a snack, and cut sandwiches into star shapes. Scoop orange or lemon sherbet in ice cream cones to resemble the Olympic torch. Make edible medals with OREO Cookie Medals.

Atlanta Contact Point

Most Valuable Player

Celebrate all things sportsy with a party combining different activities.

Out and About: Book a party with Hi-Five Sports Zone for energetic activities, including sports, basketball, floor hockey, kickball and more. With Atlanta Contact Point, you can book a party in their space or have them come to you for soccer, flat football, kickball and more. Sports Play Party hold sports-themed parties with both indoor and outdoor options.

At Home: Use your backyard for areas where kids can play different games, or set up mini sports fields. Move through different activities based on the Olympics. Rent games, including Football Toss, Basketball Free Throw and more, from Jump Time Georgia. For an activity, hold a trivia game to see who’s the most knowledgeable.

Food: Shape a cheese ball or serve cake pops decorated to resemble different sports balls. You can also order or make your own sports cookies. Shape candy into sports ball using a silicone candy mold. Turn Rice Krispie Treats into pops, and decorate each one to represent a different sport.