How to plan a Very Hungry Caterpillar party
Looking for inspiration to throw a memorable Very Hungry Caterpillar birthday party? These simple and fun ideas will help you plan a celebration your child will love, without feeling overwhelmed or exhausted.
Trust me, I’d much rather enjoy the party than spend the whole day wiped out from prepping for it. That’s why I’m sharing ideas that are easy, adorable, and stress-free.
The truth is, your little one won’t notice if you forgot the “right” napkins. What they will remember is that you created a party centered around the character from their favorite book—and that you were there, having fun with them.
When my son turned two, we celebrated with a Very Hungry Caterpillar party, and he absolutely loved it! From the colorful balloons to the themed snacks and cupcakes, every little detail made his day special.
He’s been obsessed with The Very Hungry Caterpillar book by Eric Carle for almost a year now. At his request, we’ve read it together nearly every single day, so this theme felt just right for his second birthday party.
My mom and I had fun planning the party and gathering all the supplies we needed. At the end of the day, it turned into a full family effort to make it a success for my little boy. When he woke up from his nap to find a table filled with all the food from his favorite story, huge caterpillar balloons, and caterpillar cupcakes, he was elated.
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Everything You Need For The Perfect Very Hungry Caterpillar Party
The Cake (Cupcakes)
We decided cupcakes were the way to go for this party. They were much easier to make in the shape of a caterpillar than cake would have been. My great grandma frosted the cupcakes and made the caterpillar (on the right side of the table).
Here is the recipe we used for the chocolate cupcakes. This is my favorite chocolate cake recipe. I used it for my son’s cowboy-themed first birthday party last year, too. It is light, fluffy, and so chocolatey.
This is the vanilla buttercream frosting recipe I used. I just added green and red food gel to make the caterpillar colors.
Ice Cream
If your child likes ice cream, make sure to get mint chocolate chip and chocolate ice cream to go with this birthday party theme! The mint chocolate chip is green, just like the caterpillar. And the chocolate ice cream matches the dirt!
The Balloons
Balloons are one of my son’s favorite things right now. We spent the evening before his birthday blowing up all the balloons we had and filling the living room with them. When he woke up on his birthday the next morning, he ran with excitement from balloon to balloon. He loved this big caterpillar balloon we filled with helium.
The Food
If you know the story of The Very Hungry Caterpillar, you know there are lots of food options to pair with this party theme. Each day, the caterpillar eats different fruits until he gets to Saturday. On Saturday, he eats sweets, meats, and cheeses. This gives us so many food options for the hungry caterpillar party.
My mom took pages of The Very Hungry Caterpillar book and set them up with the foods from the story (as shown). This was a fun and easy way to have lots of different foods for the guests, while staying with the theme of the party. The pages from the book were the perfect addition to our table decor!
My sister-in-law used a straw to poke holes in the fruit as if the very hungry caterpillar had been there eating through all the food like he does in the story.
We also made a tray with lots of meats, cheeses, and crackers so everyone could snack throughout the party. My mom found a delicious wrap recipe that everyone loved. The wrap is green like the caterpillar, so it was perfect for the theme!
My mother-in-law made these cute caterpillars out of fruit and vegetables.
The fruit caterpillar is made from kiwi, apple, oranges, and raisins.
The vegetable caterpillar is made from cucumber, carrots, red bell pepper, and olives.
Birthday Outfit
We found these adorable hungry caterpillar shirts with a 2 on them. This was perfect for him to wear to the party. They come in lots of different colors. He loved having the caterpillar on his shirt and kept pointing to it all day. The material was really soft and comfortable for him to wear, too. This is something he continues to wear day after day because he loves the caterpillar so much.
Invitations
I love these cute invitations to use for the party. They allow you to customize them with your own information, and then are mailed to you for you to send out to family and friends. You can also choose to receive a digital file and print it on your own.
Plates, Napkins, and Silverware
These adorable hungry caterpillar plates are easy to put out, and they add to the theme without much effort.
We used this set, it was so cute!
Colorful cutlery went great with the plates and napkins we ordered. It can also be used for future birthday parties!
Final Thoughts
At the end of the day, it’s not about having a Pinterest-perfect birthday party. It’s really about creating lasting memories and celebrating your son or daughter. A Very Hungry Caterpillar party is a fun, colorful, and meaningful way to celebrate your little one!
Whether you go all out or keep things simple like we did, always remember that the effort and love you put into your child are what matter most. Your child is going to remember how they felt on their birthday- happy, seen, and loved. All thanks to you, Mama.
Happy party planning!
Read more for the blog!
Best Books for Toddlers: Must-Reads for Early Development
60 Fun Outdoor Activities for Toddlers and Kids
The Secret to a Joy-Filled Motherhood (Even When You’re Exhausted)
SAVE THIS FOR LATER!
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