Bowling Theme Party Decorating Ideas

Where you're having your party is an important factor in deciding on decorations. At home, you have all the freedom in the world to go bowling crazy, with bowling banners, bowling balloons etc.. Generally, you'd have less flexibility at a bowling alley party in terms of decorating. Look through our suggestions below and choose the ideas that will work best for your party.

Decorating at Any Location:

• Everyone loves bowling shirts. So why don't you buy matching bowling shirts for all your guests and really make them feel like part of the team? You can buy kid sized bowling shirts, or order colorful tee shirts with a bowling design, or even make your own! If you make the shirts yourself, look for inexpensive tee shirts at the craft store, and draw a bowling pin design on the front with fabric paint. You could even add each child's name just below the bowling pin. A big advantage to matching shirts is that your guests are easy to spot inside a bowling alley, which may help if the party location is crowded on the day of your event.
• Make a homemade banner that says “Welcome to the [your last name] Bowling Alley” and hang it near the party entrance. See a bowling banner from Birthday in a Box and let them do the work for you!
• If you're short on time, consider using a Bowling Party Box, which comes filled with bowling-themed partyware, streamers, balloons and more.

Decorating at a Bowling Alley:

• Some bowling alleys will set up the food table directly behind the lanes where your guests plan to bowl. You can bring your own bowling-themed table covers, and add red and white streamers draped from each end.
• Anchor a group of balloons at one end of the food table with a balloon weight.
• Do you have multiple lanes? Decorate each lane of your party with a group of helium balloons. This will both add a festive look and help parents and kids better identify your assigned party area. For greater impact, combine shaped balloons with colorful latex balloons.
• If the bowling alley gives you a party room, tie a balloon to each chair, and tie a group of five balloons to the birthday child’s. Set up small plastic bowling games as decorations on each table.

Decorating for a Party at Home:

• Create paper bowling pins and bowling balls. Cut bowling pin shapes from white poster board and add two red stripes around the neck with a thick red marker. Then write a guest’s name on each one, and attach them to the walls of the party space Use black poster board or construction paper to make giant bowling balls. Then use round white stickers (such as those used for price tags at a yard sale) to create the three finger holes. 
• Make posters with bowling terms, such as “Throw a strike!”, “[Your child’s name]’s bowling team!”, “No gutter balls!”, “Have a ball!”, and “Bowling is right up your alley!”  Attach these to the walls around the party space.
• Go wild with balloons. Tie groups of helium balloons together and anchor them in place with balloon weights. You can even try combining shaped balloons with colorful latex balloons. Tie at least one balloon to the back of each chair, and tie a group of five balloons to the birthday child’s chair!
• Hang a bowling-themed piñata from Birthday in a Box.

Easy Bowling Pin Party Snacks

If the party is at a bowling alley, you may only be allowed to bring a cake. Often bowling alleys require that you purchase food from their concession stand. However, if you are allowed to bring additional food, you may want to offer some healthy snacks for your guests to round out the typical concession stand food options. Consider a kid friendly vegetable tray and serve it with a simple dip. Or a fruit platter chock full of grapes and apple slices, along with some cheese cubes and wheat crackers.

Even if you are not at a bowling alley, it can still be fun to serve some of the food items typically found at a bowling alley concession stand. Think about pizza or hot dogs, and add pretzels, popcorn or french fries. Try mixing in some healthier options such as grapes, sliced apples, cubes of cheese, and wheat crackers. Serve the drinks with shaped silly straws.

Ready for dessert? Let the children create their own “Bowling Alley Banana Split.” Get it? Split? 

Set out bowls of bananas sliced lengthwise, chocolate syrup, whipped cream, maraschino cherries, and any other toppings your guests enjoy. Offer chocolate, vanilla, and strawberry ice cream, and let the children choose the toppings they prefer.

For the big finale (cake, of course), consider a Bowling Ball Party Cake! Even if you're not a chef, this cake is easy to make. All you need is an oven-proof glass bowl. Simply pour the cake batter into a greased 2 ½ quart bowl and bake. Cool as usual, and flip the cake over onto a serving plate. Cut out three “finger holes” and place a white tea light candle in each. Cover the rest of the cake with chocolate frosting and add your child’s name in decorator icing. For larger groups, bake several bowling ball cakes, and frost each one in a different color!