Pokemon Birthday Party Ideas: 12 Easy Ideas, Games, and Food
Part of our guide: Kids Birthday Party Theme Ideas: The Complete Guide
A Pokemon party is easy to plan because the look is simple: red, white, yellow, and black, with round ball shapes and lightning bolts. Kids mostly want to play games and catch things. These 12 ideas cover decor, games, food, and favors for 12 kids aged 6 to 9, with a 2-hour schedule and a budget.
Quick facts for 12 kids:
- Party length: 2 hours.
- Colors: red, white, yellow, and black.
- Balloons: about 30, plus 12 yellow lightning bolts cut from cardstock.
- Decor, tableware, and favors budget: about $52, a planning estimate. It excludes food, cake, game and craft supplies, and tax.
- Games: 4 stations of about 10 minutes each.
- Setup: about 1 hour on the morning of the party.
Top Decor Picks for this Setup
Curated essentials on Amazon to help you recreate this setup easily.
Red White Black Balloon Garland Kit
The ball-shaped garland.
Yellow Cardstock 8.5x11 Pack
For the lightning bolts.
Training Day Style Party Banner Red
The banner at the entrance.
Red Plastic Tablecloth 54x108
Cover for the food table.
Table of Contents
- Part 1: Decor (ideas 1 to 4)
- Part 2: Games, in 4 stations (ideas 5 to 8)
- Part 3: Food (ideas 9 and 10)
- Part 4: Favors and photos (ideas 11 and 12)
- 2-hour party schedule
- Decor, tableware, and favors budget for 12 kids
- Mistakes to avoid
- Safety
- Helpful safety sources
- FAQ
- Related articles
Part 1: Decor (ideas 1 to 4)
1. A ball-shaped balloon garland. Make a garland of red, white, and black balloons that looks like a round game ball: red on top, white on the bottom, and a black band in the middle. Use 30 balloons in all: 12 red, 12 white, and 6 black.
2. Yellow lightning bolts. Cut 12 bolts about 8 inches tall from yellow cardstock, and tape them along the wall or hang them from string at different heights. They cost very little and take about 15 minutes.
3. A “trainer academy” sign. Hang a banner at the entrance with the child’s name, such as “Training Day”. Use the 4 colors.
4. A catch-the-ball tablecloth. Cover the food table with a red tablecloth and put a white round paper circle in the middle of each place setting, for a ball look.
A balloon garland, yellow lightning bolts, and a banner make the wall.
Part 2: Games, in 4 stations (ideas 5 to 8)
Set up the 4 stations in different corners, with one adult at each. Divide the kids into 4 groups of 3, and rotate every 10 minutes when you call “switch”. If it rains, all four stations work indoors, and the creature hunt can use one room.
5. Catch the ball. Put 3 buckets 6 feet away, and let each child toss 3 beanbags or soft balls into them. Score 1 point for each catch. It needs 12 beanbags and 3 buckets.
6. Creature hunt. Hide 24 small stuffed toys or paper creatures around the yard or room, 2 for each child. Give each child a bag, and let them find 2 each, so every child gets the same.
7. Battle bingo. Print 12 bingo cards with pictures in a 3 by 3 grid. Call out the pictures, and the first child with a line wins a small prize.
8. Make a creature. Give each child a sheet of paper, 4 markers, and some stickers. Ask them to draw their own creature, and name it. At the end, each child shows their drawing.
Four stations: ball toss, creature hunt, bingo, and drawing.
Part 3: Food (ideas 9 and 10)
9. Ball-shaped snacks. Make round mini pizzas or round sandwiches on 12 plates, or use cheese balls and red tomatoes. For a ball look, use a round roll with a stripe of ketchup or red pepper. Plan 2 per child.
10. Fun names. Name each food on a small card: “Berry cups” for fruit, “Power bars” for granola bars, and “Potion bottles” for juice. Plan 1 juice for each child. Kids like the names, and the cards cost nothing.
For a round cake, use a white and red design, with a black band. A 9 by 13 inch sheet cake serves about 12 to 15 slices. See our kids birthday party themes for more.
Round pizzas, fruit cups, and juice bottles with fun name cards.
Part 4: Favors and photos (ideas 11 and 12)
11. A trainer ID badge. Make a card for each child with their name and a photo or drawing, and put it in a clear holder with a string. Kids wear it during the party and take it home.
12. A favor bag. Fill 12 bags with a sticker sheet, a pencil, a small notebook, and a snack. Skip very small items for kids under 3, because they are a choking risk.
Favor bags and ID badges, ready for 12 kids.
2-hour party schedule
| Time | What happens |
|---|---|
| 0:00 to 0:15 | Kids arrive. Give each an ID badge and a sticker sheet to decorate it. |
| 0:15 to 0:55 | The 4 game stations, 10 minutes each. |
| 0:55 to 1:25 | Food and drinks. |
| 1:25 to 1:40 | Cake and singing. |
| 1:40 to 2:00 | A free game, and hand out the favor bags. |
Decor, tableware, and favors budget for 12 kids
This is a planning estimate for U.S. stores. It excludes food, cake, game and craft supplies, and tax, and prices vary by store and region.
| Item | Cost |
|---|---|
| 30 balloons (red, white, black) | $10 |
| One banner | $8 |
| Red tablecloth | $8 |
| 24 plates (12 for food, 12 for cake), 12 cups, and 12 napkins | $14 |
| 12 favor bags with stickers and pencils | $12 |
| Total | $52 |
Game and craft supplies are not in the total: 12 beanbags, 3 buckets, 12 bingo cards, 24 small toys, markers, paper, and 12 badge holders. Many of these are items you may own, and they cost about $25 if you buy them all. The yellow lightning bolts use cardstock, about $5 for a 50-sheet pack. To save money, make the garland with fewer balloons, and use paper plates you already own. See our budget birthday party ideas.
Mistakes to avoid
- Too many games. Four stations of 10 minutes are enough.
- No plan for a child who loses. Give each child a small prize, or play for points, not winners.
- Small favors for toddlers. Skip small parts under age 3.
- Food left in the sun. Keep cold food cold.
- No helper at each station. Plan one adult for each of the 4 stations. With only 2 adults, run 2 stations at a time with 6 kids each, and rotate every 10 minutes.
Safety
- Balloon pieces are a choking risk for young children. Pick up broken balloons right away.
- Small toys and beads are a choking risk for children under 3.
- Do not leave perishable food out for more than 2 hours, or 1 hour above 90°F.
- Check for food allergies before the party, and label the food.
Helpful safety sources
- HealthyChildren (AAP): choking prevention: Why balloons and small parts are a choking risk for young children.
- USDA: keeping food out of the danger zone: Why perishable food should not sit out for more than 2 hours.
FAQ
How do you decorate for a Pokemon birthday party?
Use red, white, yellow, and black. Make a balloon garland that looks like a round game ball, hang 12 yellow lightning bolts, put up a “Training Day” banner, and cover the food table in red. For 12 kids use about 30 balloons.
What games can you play at a Pokemon birthday party?
Set up 4 stations of 10 minutes each: catch the ball with beanbags, a creature hunt with hidden toys, battle bingo, and a make-a-creature drawing table. Rotate groups of 3 kids.
What food do you serve at a Pokemon party?
Serve round mini pizzas or sandwiches, fruit cups, granola bars, and juice, with fun name cards. Plan 2 snacks and 1 juice for each child, and a sheet cake of 9 by 13 inches for 12 kids.
How long should a Pokemon birthday party be?
About 2 hours: arrival and a craft, 4 game stations, food, cake, and favor bags. Short parties work best for kids aged 6 to 9.
How much does it cost to decorate a Pokemon birthday party?
Decor, tableware, and favors for 12 kids cost about $52: 30 balloons $10, a banner $8, a tablecloth $8, plates, cups, and napkins $14, and 12 favor bags $12. This is a planning estimate and excludes food, cake, game and craft supplies (about $25), and tax.
How do I rotate 12 kids through 4 stations?
Make 4 groups of 3 kids, and put one adult at each station. Every 10 minutes, call “switch” and each group moves to the next station. With only 2 adults, run 2 stations at a time with 6 kids each.
What favors should I give at a Pokemon party?
Give each child a trainer ID badge and a bag with a sticker sheet, a pencil, a small notebook, and a snack. Skip very small items for children under 3.
Related articles
- Kids Birthday Party Themes
- Toy Story Birthday Party Ideas
- Bluey Birthday Party Ideas
- Budget Birthday Party Ideas
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Recreate This Look: Complete Supply Checklist
Every prop, decor item, and material identified in our styled photos, linked directly to top-rated supplies on Amazon.
For the ball toss.
Targets for the toss.
For the creature hunt.
Battle bingo.
For the drawing station.
Favor stickers.
Favor bags.
Trainer ID badges.
Favor notebooks.
Favor pencils.
Plates.
Cups and napkins.
For a round cake.
Juice for the potion bottles.
Fills 30 balloons.
Mark the throw line.
