Hansel and Gretel Party Ideas

 

 

Hansel and Gretel is a well known fairy tale about 2 children that are lost in the woods and find a house made of sweets and candy.  This is a fun birthday party theme for kids of all ages and especially for a first birthday.

 

Hansel and Gretel Themed Birthday Party Invitations
Hansel and Gretel were attracted to the candy house so attract you party guests with some creative candy theme invitations. 

Print out party information on large rectangle labels and stick them on large boxes of candy or candy bars.

On large colorful lollypops (6” or bigger) place a large white address label with the party information.

Colorful note cards with polka dots on the outside ... write party information on the inside. 

 

You might want to send a shortened version of the Hansel and Gretel book along with the invitations so that guests will be able to remember the story before the party begins. 

 

 

Hansel and Gretel Party Decoration Ideas

Decorate the party area in a forest theme with greens and browns or like a gingerbread house with clear glass tall containers and dishes of different types of candy on the party table.  Make a magical forest  in your backyard or neighborhood park. 

 

Make a sign from poster board to hang on the front door or mailbox that says "Deep dark woods ..." . 

A trail of white pebbles leading up to the party entrance is a fun detail for Hansel and Gretel. 

 

 

 

 

Decorate the outside of the party area to look like a Gingerbread house. 

Extra large plastic candy canes lining the walkway, strings of colorful lights on bushes, trees and the entryway and large plastic candies hanging from the trees.  Cut out "frosting" from poster board and attach around the front door.   

 

 

Hansel and Gretel Party Activities

Read Hansel and Gretel
Children may not be familiar with the story of Hansel and Gretel so right after guests finish arriving gather them in a circle and read them the story of Hansel and Gretel.  There are also several short plays on the internet that could be used if you have a few willing actors.  To keep the audience interested pass out small white pebbles, popcorn and candy to the children during the parts of the story where they are talked about. 

 

 

Play Dough Gingerbread Men
On a table covered with a plastic tablecloth provide lots of different colors of Play Dough (or give each guest 1 or 2 colors of their own) along with a large container of brown play dough that everyone can use to make gingerbread men.  Set out gingerbread men cookie cutters - the larger the better.  After they are decorated you can bake them at 200 degrees for 5 min. - they will be hard and ready for the kids to take home as party favors.  Tips:  Cover the baking pan with wax paper before placing the gingerbread men on the pan.  
Our great  homemade play dough recipe makes this an easy and inexpensive party activity! 

Gingerbread House Decorating Contest
Let each guest participate in building their own gingerbread house made from graham crackers. Set out squares of graham crackers and royal icing that has been placed in individual baggies with a little hole cut at the bottom for their own pastry bag.  Set out dishes of different types of candies and let them have fun making their own creation.  For smaller children give them a bowl with candies already in it.

Hansel and Gretel Party Games

Treasure Hunt
Leave clues for the party guests to follow attached to small white stones (like in the Hansel and Gretel story).   Let the children go from clue to clue collecting the stones and at the end they can turn them in for prizes or trade for the witch's treasure chest. 
See our Treasure Hunt games page for instructions and ideas on how to set up a treasure hunt. 

Candy Scavenger Hunt
Before the party hide wrapped candy around the party area.  Give party guests small bags and then tell them to search "the woods" for the candy and collect it in their bags.   Another fun idea is to tape wrapped candy to a playhouse (plastic or cardboard) and then let the guests try and grab candy off the house.  For older children you can have an adult dress up like the witch and play tag while they are trying to get the candy off the house.  Instead of candy you can hide jewels (rings, necklaces and bracelets). 

Play the Game of CandyLand
Candyland is a favorite game for younger children, and some older children might enjoy playing the game along with the Hansel and Gretel theme. This is also a great option at the beginning of the party when you are waiting for guests to arrive and at the end of the party when it is winding down.  

 

How Many Gumdrops?
This is a fun icebreaker style game that you play at the beginning of the party when guests are arriving.  Before the party begins fill a large see-through container with something from the Hansel and Gretel party theme such as popcorn, white stones or gumdrops.  Count the objects and then seal the container.  Set the container on a table in the party area and have guests guess how many objects they think are in the jar.  Have them write down their guess on a piece of paper along with their name.  Near the end of the party announce who is the winner of the game and they recieve the container with the objects or a fun Hansel and Gretel themed prize.

 

Hansel and Gretel Party Food Ideas
Bags of popcorn (like in the story), or let party guests make their own take home bag of Hansel and Gretel trail mix.  Provide brown or colorful paper bags and bowls of popcorn, dried fruit, pretzels and small chocolate candies like m&m's and let the guests mix their own party favor to take home.

Hot Chocolate with marshmallows
Chocolate fountain with marshmallow and strawberries (or any snack food) to dip.

 

Hansel and Gretel Party Favors

Mugs with hot chocolate mix and marshmallows
Bags of popcorn or trail mix
Gumdrops
Small cardboard house with candy stickers that they can decorate after the party

Candy necklaces and rings
Small versions of the Candyland game
Hansel and Gretel story book
Treasure from the scavenger hunt in the games section above.  The treasure can be anything such as candy stickers, lollipops, gumdrops, gingerbread men, small chocolates, etc.