Mermaid & under-the-sea birthday party ideas & invitations
Sunbeams, bubbles and a reef full of fish, octopuses and sea turtles: dive in for a party that feels like a day at the aquarium.
An ocean party gives you a whole world to play with: fish, octopuses, turtles, starfish, treasure chests and, if your kid likes, mermaids and mer-folk too. Blues and greens with pops of coral pink and sunny yellow make any room look like a lagoon.
The easy hits are a treasure hunt for hidden pearls, a bubble party and snacks with ocean names. Keep it dry indoors, or take it outside with a water table on a hot day.
Why kids love a mermaid & under-the-sea party
- A treasure hunt for pearls fits right into the story
- Bubbles are cheap, magical and work for every age
- Lots of sea creatures, so every kid has a favorite
- Mermaid tails and fins are a fun dress-up for any guest
- Blue streamers and paper fish transform a room fast
- Best for ages
- 2-9
- Good for
- Toddlers love the bubbles and fish; five to nine year olds enjoy the treasure hunt and making mermaid or sea creature crafts.
The Under the Sea invitation
This is the real Under the Sea invite from BirthdayPartyPal, animated just like your guests see it: original art and characters, your kid's name and the party details, and a big RSVP button. Every family gets their own link.
Sunbeams, bubbles and a coral reef full of friendly fish, octopuses and turtles.
Invitation wording ideas
Dive in! Zoe is turning 5. Swim on over for an under-the-sea party with bubbles, treasure and cake. Saturday at 11:00.
Calling all fish, turtles and mer-friends! Join us to celebrate Sam's 4th birthday at the reef.
Decorations
Streamer seaweed
Green and blue streamers hung from the ceiling or doorway so guests swim through on the way in.
Bubble balloons
Clear and pale blue balloons in clusters, with a few small ones floating up like bubbles.
Paper reef
Coral shapes cut from pink and orange card, taped to the bottom of a wall with paper fish above.
Treasure chest
A shoebox painted gold, spilling with plastic pearls and gold coins. It holds the favors.
Lagoon tablecloth
A blue tablecloth with a strip of sandy tan paper along one edge for a beach.
Food ideas
Ocean crackers
Fish-shaped crackers in a clear bowl, scooped with a little sand pail.
Octopus hot dogs
Slice the bottom half of each hot dog into eight legs; they curl as they cook.
Seaweed snacks
Green grapes, cucumber sticks and snap peas on a platter labeled "seaweed."
Ocean gelatin cups
Blue gelatin in clear cups with a gummy fish swimming inside.
Reef cake
Blue frosting waves, crushed graham crackers for sand and candy shells and fish.
Games and activities
Pearl treasure hunt
Hide white pom-poms or plastic pearls around the room. Each kid fills a little bag.
Bubble party
Bubble wands and music. Pop as many as you can, or freeze when the music stops.
Go fish
A paper fishing rod with a magnet and paper fish with paper clips. Each fish has a number for a prize.
Sharks and minnows
Minnows run across the room; the shark tags them, and tagged minnows become seaweed that can wave and tag too.
Mermaid or sea creature crafts
Decorate paper crowns with shells and sequins, or make a paper plate jellyfish with ribbon tentacles.
Party favors
- A bubble wand
- A little bag of pearls from the hunt
- Sea creature stickers
- A shell necklace or bracelet kit
A party plan to start from
The plan that comes with this theme in BirthdayPartyPal. Use it as is or make it yours.
- Welcome aboardGrab your snorkel mask
- Treasure huntFind the hidden pearls
- Ocean snacksPizza and goldfish crackers
- Birthday cakeCandles, singing and a wish
- Bubble partyBubbles, music and dancing
What guests bring
- Clothes that can get a little wet
- A towel (just in case)
Frequently asked questions
What's the difference between a mermaid and an under-the-sea party?
Not much. An ocean party covers fish, turtles, octopuses and treasure, and mermaids fit right in as a dress-up or craft. Let your kid pick the mix.
What food goes with an under-the-sea party?
Fish crackers, octopus hot dogs, blue gelatin cups with gummy fish and a reef cake. Renaming simple foods does most of the theming.
Can boys enjoy an under-the-sea party?
Absolutely. Sharks, octopuses, sea turtles and pirate treasure are a hit with every kid, and mer-folk costumes are for anyone who wants a tail.