2021 is looking a little more promising, and families are making plans for upcoming birthdays and celebrations. Even if it’s small, we’re sure there’s a party in your future (or at least there should be). Make it special with unique and different party supplies from one of our favorite Seattle-area spots. From balloon arches and sweet bars, to costumes and yard games, here’s where to find what you need.
Champion Party Supply
Some parents hire a costumed character to make an appearance at their kid’s birthday party. Others opt to have the guest of honor dress up for the occasion. Either way, Champion Party can take care of your needs at a fraction of the cost (as long as you find a willing adult to play the part for you.) They offer a huge variety of costumes to rent all year long. We love the mascot animals to rent including the Abominable Snowman, beaver, bee, cow, horse, gorilla, tiger and two different lions to choose from. You’ll also find a few super heroes, Mario and Luigi, Snow White, a pirate and more. On the plus side, these costumes are heavy-duty professional-looking costumes. On the downside, you’ll have to give them back when the party is over!
1461 Elliott Ave. W.
Seattle, WA 98119
206-284-1980
Online: championparty.com
Red Balloon Company
Although not the biggest party store, The Red Balloon Company has a lot more than you would expect. As their name suggests, they offer about 100 different types of balloons (not all of them red) for pick-up and delivery in the greater Seattle area. But the store itself also features gifts, decorations, games, plush toys and many different party theme ideas including robots, the ocean, unicorns (of course), a safari, space, dinosaurs and others.
417 15th Ave. E.
Seattle, WA 98112
206-467-0319
Online: redballoon.com
Prime Party
Located in Monroe, Prime Party offers a fun mix of supplies, featuring characters you won’t find anywhere else. Plus, in addition to the standard cups, plates and napkins, Prime Party also offers unique items like large cardboard character cutouts for photo-taking, tabletop awnings or numbers to celebrate special birthdays, water bottle labels, favor boxes, “Sur-Prise Punch Games” and bingo games. They even have icing decoration sheets that a bakery can put on the birthday kiddo's cake. You’ll also find some great ideas on how to hold a socially distanced party, party theme ideas and more.
For kids who are character crazy, this is a great spot to know. You’ll find products based on characters from the Max and Ruby, Geronimo Stilton and Llama Llama children’s books. Parents are not left out either. The shop also offers party gear centered on The Golden Girls, Beverly Hills 90210, Star Trek, MacGyver and other nostalgic shows. In fact, you could host a painting party for kids and parents because Prime Party offers two lines of products featuring the famous TV painter, Bob Ross! You can order online or pick up your items directly from their showroom (just be sure to call ahead).
16778 146th St. S.E., Suite 140
Monroe, WA 98272
833-497-2789
Online: primeparty.com
Seattle Balloon Decorations
Holy moley! We love the amazing decoration designs made by Mayumi and her crew at Seattle Balloon Decorations. Not only is their work impressive, but it has been featured at many weddings, parties, corporate events and yes, birthday parties. You can go small (table centerpieces start at $10) to huge (balloon arch designs start at $120) or anything in-between. If you want to do something truly unique and different, choose their large paper flower cut-outs. They definitely offer that “wow” factor and unlike balloons, they can continue to decorate a room for many months. They also offer balloon animal artists and glitter tattoo artists. They will travel anywhere in Seattle, Bellevue and their surrounding cities.
206-850-4760
Online: seattleballoondecorations.com
Home Cake Decorating
Maybe, just maybe you’re interested in giving cake making a try instead of just making one from a mix or ordering one from a local bakery. If so, we recommend visiting Dave at Home Cake Decorating. An experienced baker himself, Dave knows a thing or three about making and baking, and he is more than willing to share his knowledge with you (or you can find them on his website). His store is crammed full of everything you would ever need and more including ingredients, tools, fillings, icings, pans, cupcake liners, dusts, glitters, flavorings, fondants and piping supplies. You can even dress up the simplest cupcake with his many novelty toppers that come in a variety of themes including dinosaurs, animals, sports, princesses, pirates, space, butterflies and even local town heroes.
9514 Roosevelt Way N.E.
Seattle, WA 98115
206-522-4300
Online: homecakedecorating.com
Display and Costume
Since 1952, Display and Costume has been providing families and friends the tools they need to pull off the perfect party. One thing that we love about this store is its huge collection of décor items separated by color including tablecloths, cups, bowls and plates, straws, candles, balloons, candies and streamers. While the store offers a large collection of licensed characters too, the idea of not being locked in one specific theme is appealing. A unicorn party could feature plates, cups, napkins and plasticware in a rainbow of colors. A mermaid party could feature a mixture of blues, greens and purples and a pirate party could include a lot of gold and silver. You get the idea.
11201 Roosevelt Way N.E.
Seattle, WA 98125
206-362-4810
Online: displaycostume.com
Balloons & Cupcakes
Here’s another business whose name tells it like it is. Balloons & Cupcakes consider themselves to be your “one-stop-event-shop” providing full-service balloon decorating and cupcake catering. In the area of balloons, you can place an order for a balloon archway, tunnel, wall, column, tower, centerpiece, bouquet…you name it, they can do it. We especially like the organic-style half arches used mainly against a wall. They assure us that anything can be customized. In the area of cupcakes, should you need them, Balloons & Cupcakes offer different flavors, from the classic Birthday Cake (vanilla bean cake, chocolate frosting and sprinkles) to Cookie Monster (chocolate cake, vanilla frosting, Oreo cookie crumbs) to Snickerdoodle (cinnamon cake, cinnamon-vanilla frosting). Plus, parents can order as few as half a dozen full-size cupcakes or three dozen mini cupcakes.
15607 1st Ave. S.
Burien, WA
206-334-0450
Online: balloonsandcupcakes.com
Party Solutions
What a sweet solution to your next kid’s party! Order a candy bar from Party Solutions in Mukilteo. It’s a display of a variety of candies in the color combination that you choose. The Premium Candy Buffet includes a variety of different glass containers, one sign, I small easel, one tablecloth, 30 cello bags and plenty of scoops and tongs. The candy selection includes Hershey’s Kisses, M&M’s, malted milk balls, Sixlets, Dum Dums, Jelly Belly Jelly Beans, chocolate-coated Oreos, candy-coated popcorn, rock candy and Starbursts. It not only serves as an amazing decoration but a goody-bag dispenser as well. And did we mention that the price includes delivery and pickup? (Within 10 miles of their shop). Party Solutions also offers just about everything you need to make your kid’s day special including balloons, party essentials, themed products, wrapping paper, trinkets and so much more.
12918 Mukilteo Speedway
Lynnwood, WA 98087
425-789-1658
Online: partysolutionswa.com
Party Hoppers
Party Hoppers has been in business for over 25 years and boasts of being the most respected bounce house vendors in Washington. They’re located in Everett, and not only do they offer rentals of those large bounce houses you see at local fairs, but they also offer smaller ones that will fit your backyard, plus some that are meant to be used indoors. They even offer games that might suit your fancy like the inflatable Twister, sumo suits and a variety of tabletop carnival games. Add in rentals of popcorn, sno-cone and cotton candy machines and you've got a successful celebration no matter what the size. They deliver and setup throughout Seattle, Bellevue, Redmond, Kirkland, Sammamish, Bothell, Snohomish and Everett.
11829 Admiralty Way #A
Everett, WA 98204
425-888-1818
Online: partyhoppers.net
Archie McPhee
If your family is a bit weird (and honestly, aren’t we all?) then perhaps creating a slightly odd party might be in your best interest and if so, do we have the supply company for you. Archie McPhee has been offering strange and unusual products for over 30 years. We think it’s thee place for creating the ultimate weird goodie bag. Here you’ll find “itty bitty” rubber chickens, disguise glasses, inflatable tiaras, metal tins of hard candy (in flavors like pizza, fried chicken, mac 'n' cheese and more), bacon striped wrapping paper and a birthday cake candelabra that holds cake candles. And while you can order their products online, we encourage you to visit their store. It’s a trip.
1300 N. 45th St.
Seattle, WA 98103
206-297-0240
Online: archiemcpheeseattle.com
—Jeffrey Totey
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