Sweet 16 Birthdy Party Ideas

The makings for a partyparty cup ctreamers and party banners image by Warren Millar from <a href='http://www.fotolia.com'>Fotolia.com</a>

Everyone celebrates birthday number 16 as that magical age when kids are not quite kids, yet not quite adults either. It is a time of transition and taking baby steps into a new world, and as such, it has earned hallmark birthday status. This is a special event in your child's life. With thoughtful planning, it will become a day she will remember fondly in years to come.

Karaoke Sweet 16 Party

Rent a karaoke machine or buy one of the many karaoke-style computer programs available, and kids will have a great time singing along to favorite tunes. There is truly nothing like music to keep teens happily engaged. Create a club atmosphere with candle-topped tables and a stage mockup for the "entertainers." Serve club sandwiches and typical bar snacks like peanuts and pretzels along with alcohol-free champagne and beer, or soft drinks and fruit juices.

This is a wacky 16th party idea that will inspire kids to new fashion heights and really set them giggling. Sweet 16 Party Ideas suggests using garbage bags, magazines, candy wrappers, duct tape and even balloons to make unusual party "clothes." Hold a best and worst dressed contest, and be sure to take pictures. Serve potluck foods on mismatched dishes to emphasize the random craziness of the theme.

If your teen likes jungle prints or wants a more adventurous party theme, head for the jungle. Set up one or more canvas tents and some homemade palm trees in the yard and use LED lanterns for fire safe lighting. Have kids come dressed in safari clothes or animal costumes. For food, serve camp fare on tin plates. Build a campfire for roasting marshmallows and hot dogs.

If you have a budding movie critic to plan a party for, hold a marathon movie night for the sweet 16 party. Get favorite DVDs together, set up the big screen TV, and make plenty of popcorn and other movie theatre fare or pizzas. Encourage guests to come in comfortable sweats or pajamas and bring sleeping bags and pillows so the fun can continue through the night. Do warn parents this will be an "all-nighter," though.

This is a cool summer theme to hold around a pool if you have one, but it works equally well without one. Instruct guests to wear tropical clothing to the sweet 16 party and pass out leis to them as they arrive. Build "grass" shacks and palm trees from plywood to serve as backdrops, and lay out the feast with traditional Hawaiian foods heaped on long tables decorated with tropical leaves, fruits and flowers. Haul in sand for a beach effect, and play Hawaiian music in the background. Serve drinks with little umbrellas in coconut shells.