Willy Wonka Birthday Party Ideas and Activities

Is there any better childhood fantasy than visiting Willy Wonka's Chocolate Factory?  Bring this great story to life with a birthday party that your child will never forget.

Invites

There is no better way to invite guests to your Willy Wonka party than to send out Wonka bars with Golden Ticket Invites attached to the back, or slid in between the wrapper and foil, sticking out just a bit so that the golden ticket is visible.  Wonka bars can be purchased at one of our Bulk Candy retailers in our Party Shop section, and have even been spotted in local Blockbuster video stores. 

Photo Gallery

Decorations and Activities

Whether you like the old-fashioned “Willy Wonka” movie, or you’re more into the updated “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory” version, there’s nothing like having the movie actually playing during your party.  This adds background music, and brings the other party decorations and activities to life. 

Chocolate fountains can be rented from local caterers, party stores, or party supply warehouses.  Smaller versions can be purchased from any discount store.  Display your chocolate fountain as the centerpiece of your food table, and give your party guests lots of options for dunking.  Strawberries, marshmallows, pineapple chunks, bananas, pound cake, pretzels, macaroons, and cookies are the most popular options, but use your imagination!!  If you want to give the adults a grown up lower calorie option, assemble a fondue station with melted dark chocolate and “berry kabobs”.  Use skewers to assemble strawberry halves, raspberries and blueberries. 

Create a “chocolate river” out of brown rolled paper that can be purchased from your local craft store.  The river should begin at the party entrance, and lead the guests to the base of the chocolate fountain.  Tape it down on both sides so that no one slips.  Use darker brown or black marker to give the illusion of a flowing river. 

Actual Wonka themed decorations are not easy to find.  We purchased most of ours on Ebay.  Autographed pictures of the movie characters can be framed and used to decorate the cake table.  We found Johnny Depp as Willy Wonka confetti, an “actual” golden ticket from the movie, and golden ticket iron on transfers for t-shirts. 

Fizzy Lifting Drink can easily be made by using three or four different colored fruit drinks to make ice cubes ahead of time.  Then at your party, serve two or three of these colorful ice cubes inside a clear plastic cup with ginger ale or Lemon-Lime soda.  As the ice cubes melt, they continue to change the color and flavor of this wonderful kid-friendly cocktail that adults also seem to enjoy.   

A Wonka party should have the appeal of a candy store.  Jars with Everlasting Gobstoppers, Purple or Blue gumballs (also good for a bubble blowing contest), and of course more Wonka bars (they also come in smaller sizes). 

Use brown or bright green table covers and plates, and multi color balloons to add more Wonka effect to your party.  If you want to add an additional Wonka effect to your party, you can purchase topiary stands at your local craft store and use toothpicks and gumdrops to create those beautiful candy covered trees from the movie.  You can tie them with fruit rolls used as ribbons (in the fruit snack section of your grocery store). 

The candy that you purchased for your Wonka party can double as the main party favor in your goodie bags, so don’t be afraid to purchase too much candy.  Provide clear plastic bags with ribbon that can be purchased at your local craft store, and your guests can create their own parting gifts. In addition to the candy, you could give the children a top hat filled with stickers, funny eyeglasses, and punch ball balloons. 

If you’re ever going to have one of those jumping houses at your child’s birthday party, your sugar inspired Wonka party is the time to do it.  Give those children an outlet to burn off some of the sugar that you fed them!!