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New Trends on the Block: Spring 2023 kids’ birthdays

A collage of Barbie-inspired party images, decor and party favors with a little girl in pink in the foreground.

Spring has sprung which means it’s time for another party trend report (*cue the applause and confetti*). We’ve been on the lookout for this season’s latest fads on the kids’ bday circuit to make sure you have all the inspo you need to celebrate your kiddo’s special day. Here’s what we’ve noticed: everybody loves nostalgic characters and venues, parties are trending smaller and disco is totally in. Keep reading for more details, inspo from real parties and even some of our favorite Etsy and Amazon finds.

Nostalgic classics are making a comeback 

Everyone loves a blast from the past, and with two of the most iconic and classic characters hitting movie theaters this year, we’re definitely seeing an uptick in nostalgic themed parties. That’s right: Super Mario-inspired parties and Barbie-inspired parties are HUGE when it comes to kids’ birthdays right now…and for good reason! There is so much fun decor on the market for these two themes and the kiddos get so excited to celebrate with their favorite characters.  

And it’s not just nostalgic characters that are making a comeback. Venues that have been around for decades are also going strong: kids can’t seem to get enough of McDonald’s parties and Chuck E. Cheese parties! With kid-friendly food and activities, these establishments prove that sometimes it’s best to go back to the basics.

Keep scrolling to explore inspo and decor by theme!

Super Mario-inspired

A collage of Super Mario-inspired party images and an invitation.

Our fave decor item:

Super Mario Goodie Bags

Check out even more adorable supplies for Super Mario-inspired parties here!

Barbie-inspired

A collage of barbie-inspired party images and a Barbie-inspired invitation.

Our fave decor item:

Barbie Balloon Arch

Browse more Barbie-inspired party decor items here!

McDonald’s

A collage of McDonald's-themed birthdays.

Our fave decor item:

McDonalds Balloons

Start planning a birthday party at a McDonald’s here.

Chuck E. Cheese

A collage of images from Chuck E. Cheese birthdays.

Our fave decor item:

Chuck E. Cheese Favor Bag Toppers

Ready to plan a party at your nearest Chuck E. Cheese? Find more info here.

Go big on the party, not on the guest list

We know figuring out who to invite to your little one’s birthday can be one of the hardest parts of party planning. Lately, we’ve noticed parents are opting for smaller guest lists, sticking to just a few of their kiddo’s close friends! In fact, in a recent survey we conducted, 54% of participants said they’re more likely to invite a few friends vs. the whole class. 

And we totally get it! A smaller party means more room for memorable experiences—you can really devote more time to crafting an epic experience without worrying about costs getting too high or feeling overwhelmed by the size of the party. Here are some examples we’re loving:

A collage of kids birthday images, including a fairy princess birthday and an animal-themed birthday.

This slumber party for the birthday girl and her 5 besties is a total birthday dream-come-true! Everyone got their own bed inside a super cute outdoor tent! For your own DIY version, ask guests to bring their own sleeping bags and gift everyone a fuzzy, pink heart pillows and a colorful silk eye mask for an added oomph of luxury.

We also love how every guest got their own dress-up wings at this butterfly party! This 8-pack of butterfly wings is the perfect way to give each guest the chance to choose their favorite color. You can even help them live out their ultimate butterfly-fairy-princess dreams with these adorable butterfly wands.

Everybody’s got disco fever!

Disco is back and better than ever…but, to be honest, did it ever go away? We’re seeing sparkles and disco balls everywhere—and we’re not mad about it! Here are some of our fave takes on disco for you to try at your kiddo’s next bday bash:

Pink, glam disco:

Pink is the definitive BFF of glitter, so why not combine the two with a pink, glam disco party? 

A collage of pink disco ball decor and an image of a disco invitation.

Our fave decor items:

Pink disco ball napkins

xo Fetti disco balloons

Boho disco:

Hippie-esque florals pair perfectly with shimmery disco balls for the ultimate ’70s-inspired party.

A collage of boho disco party images.

Our fave decor items:

Boho streamers and balloons

Disco ball planters

Rodeo disco:

Create the ultimate cool party by combining all things rodeo with all things disco. For kiddos who love to dress up, this is truly the ultimate party theme because the accessory opportunities are seriously endless! 

A collage of rodeo disco images, including cowgirl boots and disco balls.

Our fave decor items:

Balloon arch

Cowgirl disco straws 

Find even more sparkly, shimmery, disco-tacular products at our Amazon shop here.

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.

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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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What makes Evite SignUp Sheets different from SignUpGenius?

Developed hand-in-hand with community organizers, PTA presidents, parents and teachers, Evite's signup sheets are designed to make organizing volunteers a breeze. Here are a few ways SignUp Sheets are different than SignUpGenius:

  • 100% free: SignUp Sheets are free to use.
  • Ad-free: No popup ads ever! Our signup sheets remain clutter-free, keeping your volunteers focused on signing up.
  • No extra login required: Seamlessly use your Evite account to create and manage your signup sheets, keeping all your events in one convenient location.
  • Automatic reminders and notifications: Stay on top of your event with automated reminders and notifications for you and your participants. Perfect for busy parents, teachers and anyone juggling multiple commitments.
  • Customization options: Tailor your signup sheets to your specific event, whether it's a school fundraiser, potluck, volunteer opportunity or team activity. Add custom tasks, time slots and requirements for smooth coordination.
  • User-friendly experience: Our intuitive interface makes creating and sharing signup sheets simple for everyone, regardless of tech experience.
  • Real-time updates: Get instant notifications whenever someone signs up or makes a change, so you always know where things stand.

Choose Evite SignUp Sheets for the easiest, most streamlined way to get volunteers and signups for your next event!

What is a signup sheet?

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:some text
    • Signup sheets for standalone events (without different time slots), perfect for when you’re organizing a class party, potluck or end-of-season party.
    • Signup sheets for recurring or multi-day events (without different time slots), perfect for when you’re organizing a meal train, post-game snack duty or during appreciation week.
    • Signup sheets for single or multiple day events (with time slots), perfect for when you’re organizing concession stand volunteers, fundraisers and parent-teacher conferences.
  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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