There’s no better way to celebrate a fifth birthday than to dive into an ocean of fun and magic! For my daughter Sofia’s fifth birthday, we transformed our space into an undersea wonderland with coral, peach, and pink hues, creating an unforgettable “Dive into Five” mermaid-themed party. From stunning decor to creative activities and delicious treats, here’s how we brought this dreamy theme to life.
Enchanting Under-the-Sea Decor
To set the perfect mermaid vibe, we went all out with whimsical decor elements designed to transport little guests under the sea.
Balloon Garland & Fish Net Backdrop: A dreamy coral, peach, and pink balloon garland made for a bubbly entrance, paired with a delicate fish net backdrop for that oceanic feel.
Hanging Bubble Backdrop: Floating “bubbles” created a magical ambiance and were perfect for fun photo ops.
GoodnightFox Custom Decor: We added a beautiful mermaid banner and festive “Let’s Shellebrate” pennant flags designed by GoodnightFox, which tied the theme together.
Collaborations with Small Shops: Felt Happy Sewing crafted adorable shell felt wands, while MyMindsEye’s shell banner added charm and elegance. The tables were adorned with enchanting coral reef decor by Evergreen Collab and KailoChic, making each detail feel straight out of an undersea fairy tale.
Sea Shell Felt Wands by @Felthappysewing
Shell Banner by @MyMindsEye
Coral reef sorting trays by @EvergreenCollab
Coral reef prop by @KailoChic
Mermaid-Themed Activities for Underwater Fun
What’s a birthday party without some engaging crafts? Here are three ocean-inspired activities that kept the kids entertained while adding a touch of creativity to the party.
Felt Wand Decorating: Each child decorated their own sea star and clamshell felt wand from Felt Happy Sewing. It was the perfect memento for them to take home.
Mermaid Face Painting: Sparkly scales, vibrant tails, and magical designs brought each child’s inner mermaid to life with face painting.
Mermaid Slime and Play-Doh Station: The kids enjoyed creating sparkly, ocean-colored slime, while the mermaid Play-Doh from Capptivating Play and shell and mermaid cutters from TCPlay allowed for even more creativity. This activity was a hit, letting the kids shape, mold, and play in their own underwater worlds.
Play doh by @CapptivatingPlay
Mermaid doh cutters by @T.C.play
Delicious Sea-Inspired Snacks & Refreshments
We created a selection of mermaid-inspired snacks that were as fun to look at as they were to eat:
Shell Mac and Cheese: Kid-friendly and ocean-themed, this dish was a crowd-pleaser.
Crab Croissant Sandwiches: Adorable croissant sandwiches complete with googly eyes made for a playful twist.
Sparkly Pink Mermaid Lemonade: This refreshing drink sparkled with pink and served as the perfect undersea thirst-quencher.
Mermaid Fruit & Cheese Plate: We cut up watermelon, pink apples, colby jack cheese, cantalope to make mermaid tails fruit and cheese spread. Then we added shaved cucumber for a seaweed look!
Dessert Table: A Sweet Underwater Fantasy
No mermaid party is complete without a show-stopping dessert table. We loaded ours with treats that delighted kids and adults alike:
Cupcakes with GoodnightFox Toppers: These themed cupcake toppers added a special touch, making each treat party-ready.
Cake & Cake Pops by The Cake Shop: The Cake Shop created a beautiful centerpiece cake complete with a fondant mermaid topper and tasty cake pops that matched the theme perfectly.
Mermaid and Seahorse Cookies by Playing With Dough: These beautifully decorated royal icing cookies were almost too pretty to eat!
Homemade Clam Shell Macarons: A unique touch, these sweet clam shell macarons were an instant hit and added a whimsical vibe to the dessert spread.
Pink Ocean Pudding Cups: Layers of cracker crust and creamy pudding topped with chocolate mermaid tails were a colorful treat!
Bubbles of Fun
A party wouldn’t be a party without some amazing backyard fun. For this shellebration we got a huge oyster shell pool floaty and a pink kiddie pool shaped like a shell from Sunnylife. The girls had such a blast playing with the floaty toys and of course bouncing around in our @smol bounce house.
Bring the Magic Home
To make this “Dive into Five” party unforgettable, each child went home with their decorated felt wand, a small bag of mermaid slime, and ocean-themed treats. It was a special day filled with laughter, creativity, and a little bit of magic from the sea.
Printable Checklist for Your Own Mermaid Party: Planning a mermaid-themed party? Grab our free printable checklist to help you organize everything from decor to activities and party favors!
Loved This Theme? Share Your Own! What part of this “Dive into Five” party would your little one love most? Let us know in the comments, and don’t forget to tag us on Instagram to share your own mermaid parties using #GoodnightFoxMermaidMagic!
