Ready to make a big splash? Here are mermaid birthday party ideas for an enchanting, imaginative adventure.
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How to Plan a Mermaid Birthday Party
Updated on Oct. 09, 2024
Is your child a fan of all things under the sea? A mermaid birthday party will make their special day! Whether they love Disney’s The Little Mermaid or a favorite mermaid doll, many kids find mermaids truly magical. It’s easy to put together a themed party as elaborate or simple as you like. Consider hosting in your own backyard, or even celebrate on the beach at a nearby park.
Our guide to mermaid birthday party ideas includes fun, pretty decorations—not to mention glitter—plus themed games, kid-friendly party food and fun.
What Do You Need for a Mermaid Birthday Party?
Mermaid Party Invitations
The first step is to notify all of the other mermaids you’ll be inviting! Mermaid-themed invites are widely available in print and digital versions. Printed invites are a pretty souvenir, and they can be posted on the fridge as a party reminder. Digital invitations are quicker to send and may save you a few bucks.
Here are a few fun options we love!
- This pretty invitation makes a splash with a sweet mermaid tail design with customizable text. The card can be printed or used as a digital invitation to send via email or text.
- Planning the party around a love for Ariel? You’ll love this Little Mermaid invitation featuring Ariel and friends. This design is also customizable, including the font and colors.
- Want to make DIY invitations? Head to your local craft store to grab paper, markers and glitter in shades of teal and purple. Cut the paper into seashell or mermaid tail shapes, and then write in all of the important information: When, Where, What Time and RSVP details.
Mermaid-Themed Decorations
It’s not a mermaid party without festive decorations. Purchase a few splashy items, or go the DIY route to set up a magical deep-sea display.
Create an Ocean Backdrop: Use a mermaid scales photography backdrop for darling pictures of all of the mermaids attending the party. A clever DIY option? Hang a light blue fabric or scarf against a wall to create an oceanic effect.
Dress Up a Dessert Table: One of the simplest ways to make a statement is to create a themed dessert or party food table. A tablecloth featuring gold mermaid scales is the ideal base for tasty birthday bites.
Hang a Garland: Spruce up any space with an adorable garland. This fringed garland features darling mermaids, seahorses and shells.
Use Shimmery Balloons: Don’t forget the balloons! Put together bunches of balloons that shine. These ombre pink, blue and purple foil balloons are sure to do the trick. You could even take it a step further by making a DIY balloon garland.
Choose Pretty Plates: Set the table with stunning shell-shaped plates.
Try more DIY decorations for any birthday party.
Mermaid Birthday Party Food
After swimming all day, mermaids are bound to get hungry! Set up a station with plenty of great mermaid food and drink options to fit the theme.
Mermaid Cakes
If you’re a baker, any birthday cake can turn into a mermaid cake with this nifty frosting trick: Bake your favorite cake recipe to serve as the base. Frost the cake with a crumb coat, and then, using a piping bag with a round tip, cover the sides and top with one-inch dots of frosting in alternating colors (we like blue and purple). Next, use an offset spatula to press into the dots and pull them toward the side of the cake. This will make it look like scales!
If you’re not a piping maestro, go easy on yourself. Bake a confetti cake. Use colorful sprinkles and pink, purple or teal frosting to match the theme.
Under-the-Sea Snacks
Fuel up all of your mermaids for their next adventure! Mermaid trail mix is such a fun and clever party snack. Grab a box of colored Goldfish crackers and pull out all of the pink ones. Pair them with blue and purple candies, along with other trail mix favorites like Chex cereal, peanuts and more. Serve the mix in individual mermaid-themed paper cups for a special treat.
Love chocolate-dipped pretzels? Turn them into a party snack! Use a classic recipe with white chocolate colored with teal, pink or purple gel food coloring. Top with sprinkles.
You can also use mermaid, fish or shell-shaped cookie cutters to cut sandwiches or watermelon slices into festive shapes. For the easiest impact, fill bowls with Swedish fish and goldfish crackers.
Need more ideas? These finger foods are sure to satisfy!
Deep-Sea Drinks
Quench everybody’s thirst with ocean water. Serve up blue Hawaiian Punch, or make your own and use turquoise food coloring to match the sea.
Mermaid Party Games & Activities
Don’t forget to plan a few party games to entertain your guests!
Switch up an old classic with this idea: Play pin the tail on the mermaid for plenty of laughs. Make your own backdrop or purchase a game set for easy party prep.
Hosting in your backyard? Hide buried treasure! Tuck items like candy rings, necklaces and seashells around the yard, paired with clues along the way. Hide a treasure chest full of goodies for everyone to enjoy once it has been discovered!
Catch everyone’s attention with a game of under-the-sea bingo. Use a digital download and print the cards at home.
Hoping to do a craft? Make mermaid slime! Set up a table with a plastic tablecloth for easy clean-up. Have each mermaid mix together one bottle of liquid white glue, one tablespoon of baking soda and several drops of food coloring in a mermaid tone. Add two tablespoons of saline solution and knead the mixture until the slime comes together. Another fun option? Choose blue glitter glue as the base.
Mermaid Party Favors
Make the magic last a little longer with a fun bag of goodies:
- Temporary tattoos double as a fun party activity.
- Embrace the simple pleasure of colorful bubble wands.
- Shiny bracelets capture the memory of mermaid glamour.
Magical Mermaid Treats You Can Make
Mermaid Cake
Make a splash with this coastal confection from Preppy Kitchen, complete with white chocolate buttercream scales on the outside and layers of fluffy vanilla cake on the inside. If you're a baking beginner, check out this step-by-step guide to frosting cakes like a pro. Get the recipe at Preppy Kitchen.
Mermaid Tails
Chocolate-covered pretzels... or mermaid tails? The correct answer would be both! To make Ever After in the Woods' sprinkle-covered sticks, all you need to do is melt white chocolate wafers, mix in the food coloring of your choice, then dip to your heart's delight. Just like these kid-friendly recipes, they're so easy that even the little ones can help out. Get the recipe at Ever After in the Woods.
Sand Dollar CookiesBefore the military relocated our family, my children had never lived near the ocean. I came up with this special treat with a beach theme—it made our move even more fun!—Michelle Duncan of Callaway, Florida
Mermaid Cookie Pizza
Combine two of your kid's favorite foods (cookies and pizza!) in this dreamy dessert from A Magical Mess. Just imagine: a buttery chocolate chip cookie "crust" topped with mini marshmallows and mermaid sprinkles, then drizzled with teal and purple icing. You can use premade dough or make your own with one of these soft and chewy recipes. Get the recipe at A Magical Mess.
Mermaid Lemonade
Move over pink lemonade—there's a new drink in town (or rather, the sea). And while Jasper & Willow's magical beverage—which is colored with teal, green and purple sanding sugar—calls for store-bought lemonade, you can also make your own citrusy sip with one of our homemade lemonade recipes. Get the recipe at Jasper & Willow.
Clam Shell Cookies
Like these adorable ideas, when it comes to kids birthday party food, the more colorful and creative, the better. Which is where these clam shell cookies from MomDot come in. Who knew that wafer cookies, buttercream icing, food coloring and pearl sprinkles could make such cute creations? Get the recipe at MomDot.
Mermaid Honey Lime Fruit Salad
To be honest, Finding Zest's bright blend is more than worthy of a spot on our list of the top 10 fruit salads. While it features juicy fresh watermelon cut into sea shapes, grapes, cantaloupe and blueberries, the real star of the show is the honey lime sauce that it's all tossed in. Get the recipe at Finding Zest.
Mermaid Ice Cream
Some things are just better together, like Ariel and Prince Charming... and cake and ice cream. Ice-cold and swirled with ocean hues, it's the perfect way to cool off on a hot summer day. Get the recipe at Home. Made. Interest.
Mermaid Party Donuts
Short on time before the guests arrive? Donut worry. These under-the-sea eats from Savvy Saving Couple are just basic cake donuts smeared with vibrant frosting and topped with sparkling sprinkles. Serve them instead of cake for dessert at the party or package them in themed bags to send home as party favors. Here are mermaid birthday party ideas for an imaginative adventure. Get the recipe at Savvy Saving Couple.
Mermaid Tail Cupcakes
These fondant fins from Chelsweets will turn your cupcakes into mini mermaid masterpieces. And don't be fooled by how fancy they look—because they're cut out of a template, they're actually surprisingly simple to make. While your tails dry, bake one of our top cupcake recipes for your base. Get the recipe at Chelsweets.
