“I am beginning to learn that it is the sweet, simple things of life which are the real ones after all.” -Laura Ingalls Wilder

There’s nothing sweeter than creating a birthday party theme around a favorite children’s storybook.

I grew up reading the “Little House” books and carried on the tradition with my daughter, Julia. The inspiration for planning a Little House on the Prairie birthday party came, when she was recovering from having her tonsils out. We spent two weeks binge watching the TV series and decided it would be a unique theme no one else would probably do. During commercials, we would dream up ideas for a “Little House” party to celebrate her 8th birthday.

The beloved children’s author would likely have a good laugh over the idea of her book series being the theme of a birthday party. Much like writing a book, the possibilities are endless when you use your imagination and get into character. That’s exactly what we did. I even showed up dressed as Ma Ingalls, complete with a fake basket of eggs from my make-make-believe hen house. Turns out, going back to a time when things were simpler, really is a sweet treat, everyone enjoys.

Zabelicious Tips for a Little House on the Prairie Party:

Invitations

• Send old school paper invitations by mail to set the mood; use a simple brown paper and draw or decorate with stickers with picnic, prairie animals or covered wagons.

• Encourage guest to come dressed in their prairie best, with costumes to set the mood.

Paper Products & Decorations

• Gingham Plates & Napkins

• Little House books & prairie style antique rag dolls

• Antique baskets, tin buckets, glass jars to display snacks or treats

• Covered Wagon: decorate an old wagon with cardboard, cover muslin fabric over curved metal (We got lucky and borrowed a friend’s finished masterpiece for our photo backdrop!)

Food

• Assorted old fashioned candy; taffy, suckers- just like Olson’s Mercantile!

• Strawberries & whipped cream

• Lemonaide

• Cake & Ice Cream

Activities

• Arts & crafts: Have the kids decorate simple brown handled sacks to use as treat bags. After the activities are done, let them fill up their bags with the old fashioned candy displayed in tin buckets

• Make ice cream the old fashioned way, just like on the farm

• Potato sack races

• Tug of war

Learn More About Laura Ingalls Wilder

• Read the beloved Little House books.

• Visit the Ingalls family homes. Here are the locations, listed in the order in which they lived:

• Pepin, Wisconsin-The birthplace of Laura Ingalls Wilder has an unfurnished house that can be visited any time. The Laura Ingalls Wilder Museum is open May 15 through October 15.

• Independence, Kansas-A furnished log-cabin replica of the Little House on the Prairie is located just off U.S. 75, along with an 1871 school house and 1885 post office; open from April through October.

• Walnut Grove, Minnesota-The only artifacts left are a church bell, a quilt and the site. Museum and annual pageants called “Little Pageants on the Prairie,” are what draw visitors each year.

• Burr Oak, Iowa-Laura Ingalls Wilder Park and Museum is open weekends in May through September.

• De Smet, South Dakota-The Wilder Memorial Society gives tours or the town , which is the setting for most of Laura’s books. Visitors can tour Ma and Pa’s 1887 home, which contains many family heirlooms.

• Mansfield, Missouri-Home of the last “Little House,” where Laura lived until she died. The Laura Ingalls Wilder Historic Home is open from March through November 15.

Little House Party Supplies

Amazon-Order bonnets online for your prairie best costume.

Home Depot-We found rope for tug of war and our potato sacks here.

Michaels-Discover brown paper for invites, tin buckets and other prairie decor here.

World Market-Find old fashioned candy here.