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New Trends on the Block: Winter 2023 kids’ birthdays

Frozen-themed cake and decor on a table.

Image credit: @lunazulmiami

We’re back with another installment of our New Trends on the Block series! While colder weather definitely changes the party landscape (see ya in a few months, pool parties), winter babies still deserve fun-filled celebrations. That’s why we’re here with our round-up of the latest kids’ birthday party trends. Get ready to get inspired because our list covers everything from party activities to dessert ideas (spoiler: cakes in a jar are super cute!). 

Based on the rising popularity we’re seeing in specific kids’ birthday invitation themes as well as insight from party planners, we’ve put together a list of what’s trending in the world of kids’ birthdays. And as usual, vendors in major US cities have been included so you can start planning ASAP!

Indoor party activities

An image of a roller-skating rink, a rock climbing gym and a bowling alley.
Image credits: @officialmoonlightrollerway, @climbzonehowell and @pinzla

Over the past few months, we’ve seen a huge uptick in indoor kids’ birthday parties. Rock climbing parties are a rising star on the kids’ birthday circuit while classic activities like bowling and roller skating are having a major resurgence lately. 

Give your kiddo and their friends the opportunity to try something new, challenge themselves and share an awesome experience together. 

 

LA:

NYC:

Houston:

DC:

Beyond the cake

Snowman-shaped cotton candy and cup of a pink beverage with whipped cream.
Image credits: @bonpuf and @churroservice

Don’t get us wrong: we love a classic birthday cake (especially one with vanilla frosting and rainbow sprinkles!). That said, bakers, confectioners and sugar aficionados across the country have been raising the game lately when it comes to birthday treats.

For your child’s next birthday, try swapping out the sheet cake for a fun, creative alternative like a cotton candy cart or cake in a jar.

Personalized swag

A personalized geode, personalized water bottle and personalized Nutella jars.
Image credit: @karioterophoto

One of the biggest party trends we’re seeing is personalized everything! Design a branded logo for your child’s party and feature it on sweatshirts, hats, candy and even bigger party favors like sneakers. Creating a party logo gives your guests a way to remember your kid’s big day while also elevating the party’s look and atmosphere. A piece of personally branded swag is definitely one of the more unforgettable party favor options—especially for milestone celebrations like bar or bat mitzvahs and sweet sixteens.

Ready to get the party started? Choose from our wide selection of kids’ birthday invitations.

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All of the products we feature are hand-selected by our editors! You see only what we love and what we think you'll love too. If you buy something through links on our site, Evite may earn a commission. Prices are subject to change.

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Signup sheets are the perfect way to streamline scheduling, volunteer recruitment, class parties, snack duty, potluck organization, parent-teacher conferences and more! You can think of them as your digital assistant for coordinating events and tasks and ensuring that your event is a success.

Evite SignUp Sheets offers parents, teachers and event planners customizable online forms that organizers and volunteers can access and update effortlessly. Volunteers can choose their preferred time slots, sign up for tasks or indicate what they'll bring to the event. It only takes organizers a few minutes to create a signup sheet and send it out with a shareable link, so they can get the word out via text, email or social media—whichever way they prefer! 

Long story short, signup sheets save everyone involved tons of time, avoid scheduling headaches and ensure everything runs smoothly before and during the event.

How do I create a signup sheet?

Creating a signup sheet has never been easier than with Evite! Here’s how to create a sheet that’s sure to make your event an absolute success:

  1. Go to Evite SignUp Sheets and choose the template that best fits your needs. Evite offers multiple signup sheet templates perfect for every occasion, including:
    • Signup sheets for one day events (without different time slots), perfect for when you’re organizing a class party, potluck or end-of-season party.
    • Signup sheets for single or multiple day events (with time slots), perfect for when you’re organizing concession stand volunteers, fundraisers, parent-teacher conferences, meal train, post-game snack duty or during appreciation week.
  1. After selecting your sheet template, create a title for your signup sheet and add the date, the location, the time (if applicable), who the organizer is, the organizer’s phone number or email and an optional note describing the event to your volunteers. You can also change your signup sheet background and title image if you wish!
  1. Next, create slots for your signup sheet. If you aren’t logged into your account, you will need to do so at this point, but luckily, you can use your existing Evite account (no need to create yet another login!). What you’ll include here will depend on what your event needs, but you can include a list of what’s needed (along with optional descriptions), how many volunteers are needed, and dates and times.
  1. After creating your slots, you can then add a wish list from any retailer or include supply suggestions from Evite’s retailer partners. These are to help your volunteers find and purchase supplies quickly and easily.
  1. Finally, review your sheet, copy your shareable link and send it out to everyone on your list! Every time a volunteer signs up for a slot on your signup sheet, Evite will email you. We will also send reminders to you and your volunteers before your event so no one will forget about it, and we’ll even let volunteers know if you remove their slot or cancel your event sheet so you don’t have to!

What information should be included on a signup sheet?

When it comes to signup sheet information, there are some essentials to include regardless of what you’re organizing:

  1. A title for your signup sheet. Tip: Aim to keep your signup sheet title concise but clear. You want volunteers to read it and have a general understanding of what your event is about, and also make it easy for them to look for later if they need to reference your sheet again. You have the option to include a more descriptive note in a different field about your event, so save the more in-depth details for that!
  1. When and where the event is taking place. 
  1. The organizer’s name and phone number.
  1. Slots for volunteers to choose from. Once you choose the SignUp Sheets template that fits the occasion, the slots you’ll need for your sheet will be right there and ready for you to add the relevant info, such as dates, times, items to bring and tasks to complete. 

When adding your slot information, clearly define what people are signing up for, especially for a what-to-bring list or role assignments. If you want someone to bring healthy snacks for kids to enjoy after a game, specify that. You want your volunteers to feel confident in what they’re bringing and to make it easy for them to know what’s expected of them. It will save them time and stress (and you, too!). That being said, if you make your ask too specific (for example, asking for a hard-to-source item or something expensive), you may not end up with a volunteer for it. So be clear about what you expect, but also be reasonable!

Aside from providing the basic signup information, you can also add optional descriptions to both your entire signup sheet and individual slots. While not required, they can help guide your volunteers further and provide more information. You can add information about allergies, preferences and general info about the event. You can also add a wish list to make it easier for your volunteers to bring exactly what you need!

What are the benefits of using a signup sheet template?

Signup sheet templates offer a ton of advantages for both organizers and volunteers and with Evite SignUp Sheets, you'll enjoy even more benefits than other digital and paper signup sheets! Some benefits our signup sheet templates offer include:

  • A 100% free experience (no subscriptions required!).
  • Shareable links for quick and easy sharing.
  • No need to create another login—you can use your existing Evite account.
  • The option to add a wish list to help your volunteers out.
  • Automatic reminders—we’ll remind everyone on your behalf.
  • An easy-to-use experience with eye-catching guided templates.
  • Clean, modern designs with no pop-up ads.

With Evite SignUp Sheets, you can enjoy organizing and coordinating all your events with ease. Signup sheets streamline the signup process for everyone involved, ensuring that everything will go to plan on the day of your event while saving you precious time in the process.

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