superhero party ideas
BY A PROFESSIONAL PARTY PLANNER
The Superhero party ideas below were mainly designed with a kid’s birthday in mind. However, a lot of the ideas could easily be adapted for an adult costume party so I’ve also included some tips and supplies specifically for adults—such as cocktail recipes.
The great thing about throwing a generic Superhero party is that there are lots of elements that are common to all comic book heroes and villains, so it doesn’t matter whether your child’s favorite is Batman, Superman, Spiderman, or any other.
In fact I think it’s often better to broaden your birthday party theme to include all Superheroes, rather than focusing in on just one, so that guests can come dressed as their favourite character—and demonstrate their own unique super-power!
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i’m matt james
professional event planner
welcome
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01 Superhero party invitations
Below are some suggestions for invitations to go with these Superhero party ideas:
ADVICE FROM A PRO
Matt’s tip
“I think it’s important to create a big first impression, which is why I always try to include some sort of 3D object tied to the printed invitation with ribbon.
This is a little trick that’s often used by professional party planners to make invitations stand out.
It doesn’t have to be anything expensive, just some cheap novelties, and you can use it re-enforce your party theme. For example, kids sunglasses or a flip flop for a beach party, a toy dinosaur for a dinosaur party, or an eye patch for a pirate party.
People just love to receive unusual invitations; it really captures their imagination and gets them excited about the party.
Click here to check out some examples of 3D object invitations from my party invitations page (opens in a new tab)”.
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MASK / CAPE INVITATIONS
You can pick up Superhero eye masks, available here, really cheaply, so use these as your birthday party invitations.
You could also combine the masks with these cheap Superhero capes. Check out the selection of cheap masks and capes available here.
The great thing about these fun 3D Superhero party invitations is that the recipient can incorporate them into a costume and come to the birthday party dressed as their favourite Superhero.
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PERSONALIZED INVITATIONS
There are also lots of great Superhero party invitations available, such as the ones below, which can be personalized with your child’s name and/or a photo. Check out all the options available from this supplier and also this one.
I particularly love this personalized Daily Planet newspaper invitation, available here.
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add impact to your INVITATIONs
For your Superhero party invitation wording, include familiar Superhero phrases such as:
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02 superhero drinks
Below are some Superhero party drinks that are perfect for a kid’s birthday.
ADVICE FROM A PRO
Matt’s tip
“Always create a signature drink for your party—it’s one of the easiest things you can do to make your party unique.
If your party has a theme, think about what flavors you can use in your signature drink that will convey it.
Don’t forget about styling and presentation too. You could serve drinks in individual bottles, jars, or novelty containers, add your own labels, use themed ice cubes, decorative straws, or drinks picks, or add a simple garnish.
A sprig of berries or a single flower head on the rim of a glass can make a simple cocktail look really stylish”.
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JOKER JUICE
Make blueberry smoothies such as this one (from Super-Charged Smoothies on oprah.com), then serve in green colored cups and call it ‘Joker Juice’ (the purple and green combination is synonymous with The Joker).
You could also pick up a pack of these joker-only playing cards, available here, and fix a card to each cup.
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GREEN LANTERN LIGHT / KRYPTONITE JUICE
Add green flashing ice cubes, available here, to green drinks such as Jones Green Apple Soda. If you can’t get Jones soda just use any colored drink and serve them in these green glow cups, available here.
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HULK SMASH
This fruit smoothie (below left, by Everyday Annie) recipe uses spinach to achieve the green color—better than food coloring and a great way to sneak some spinach into a kid’s diet. Don’t worry, it tastes of the fruit and not at all like spinach, so there shouldn’t be any problems getting kids to drink it.
You can theme this drink for your Superhero party even more by including some Hulk fist ice cubes which come in this Superhero ice cube tray, available here. The ice cube tray includes 2 x Iron Man heads, 2 x The Thing heads, 2 x Captain America shields, and 2 x Hulk fists.
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THE DARK NIGHT
Re-label Cola (if your kids are allowed it) as ‘The Dark Night’.
Alternatively create a black punch such as this one from Food.com which uses grape juice and orange.
Use this ice cube tray, available here, to add Batman logos to your drinks, or use mini bat cookie cutters to cut the famous bat logo out of lemon slices and float on top of each drink.
Note: Cut both ends off lemons and stand up. Then cut four thick slices of zest off each side (so the remaining lemon is now square shaped). Use the cookie cutters on the slices of zest that you have just cut off to make the bat. They will hold their shape better this way, as opposed to trying to cut the bat shapes out of the lemon flesh. Float in the drink zest side up.
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CAPTAIN AMERICA JUICE
This patriotic drink for kids (by Pam-I-Am on food.com) is a perfect recipe to turn into Captain America juice for a Superhero party. Then use the Captain America shields from this ice cube tray, available here.
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KER-PUNCH!
Use any brightly colored fruit juice and label it ‘Ker-Punch!’ Then add either Superman ice cubes, available here, or Spiderman ice cubes, available here.
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superhero straws
You can also use these cute superhero straws, available here, to liven up the drinks.
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superhero party cups
Alternatively, serve them in these cheap superhero party cups, available here (more designs available).
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03 superhero cocktails
Of course, no Superhero party would be complete without a cocktail or two for the grownups, so check out some of these recipes below.
When serving cocktails at parties I always thinks it’s a good idea to set up a bar area and have some pre-made pitchers of cocktails. Then for some of the other cocktails, set up recipe cards alongside the ingredients with a few cocktail shakers, so people can make their own—it’s a great ice breaker and people love to experiment.
There are lots of cocktail recipes around that are simply named after Superheroes, but I prefer it when there’s a more obvious link, so here are my favorites:
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THE DARK KNIGHT
Blavod black vodka is perfect for creating black drinks such as Black Martinis (below, by Colleen Graham at about.com).
If you can’t get hold of Blavod just serve Black Russians (vodka, Cola and coffee liqueur, such as Kahlua).
Use a mini bat cookie cutter to cut the famous logo out of lemon slices to float on top of each drink (see instructions in The Dark Knight kid’s drink above).
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CAPTAIN AMERICA SHOOTERS
These red, white, and blue shooters (right, by Annie Marie Helmenstine on about.com) make perfect Captain America themed cocktails for a Superhero party.
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THE JOKER-TINI
This purple cocktail ( from Absolut Drinks) is perfect for a Joker-themed drink.
Serve in green cocktail glasses (green and purple are the Joker’s colors) and stick one of the Batman The Dark Knight joker-only playing cards (see Joker Juice above) to the front of each glass.
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THE FLASH
I love this clever use of lemon zest to represent The Flash’s lightning bolt (right, by Kelson Vibber and Katie Foreman at Speedforce). There are two recipes here, one alcoholic and one for kids.
If serving this cocktail, pre-make all the lemon slices and leave one in each serving glass. Then let guests pour their own drink from a punch bowl.
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04 SUPERHERO PARTY FOOD
Here are some recipes I came across to give you inspiration for a Superhero birthday party:
ADVICE FROM A PRO
disclaimer
“As a professional party planner, I’m lucky enough to be able to collaborate with some amazing chefs to create menus for my events.
As I’m no chef myself, and cannot create dishes from scratch, I’ve searched the web for recipes that I think would work well for this party theme.
All credit goes to the talented people who have created these recipes, so please click through to their site for full details, ingredients, methods, and in some cases step-by-step tutorials”.
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spiderman party food
The super-creative Jill at Kitchen Fun With My 3 Sons has lots of really cool Spiderman themed recipes such as these Spiderman Pizzas and this Spiderman head 7 layer dip which you can serve with chips. Check them out here.
The same link (above) also features these Spiderman devilled eggs and Spiderman Spaghetti.
See the same link (above) for these cute Spiderman burgers and this Spiderman quesadilla dinner.
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batman party food
Jill at Kitchen Fun With My 3 Sons also these great Batman burgers and Batman quesadillas. Check them out here.
Use a Batman cookie cutter, available here, to shape sandwiches, pizza slices, and fruit.
For Batman sandwiches, look for some Russian black rye bread (or make your own using this recipe). Fill with cheese, then use the Bat cookie cutter to shape into the famous logo. 
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superhero cookies
You can get this set of Superhero cookie cutters which includes The Hulk, Iron Man, Captain America and Spiderman.
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superman Party food
Check out these Superman toasted sandwiches (below, by Karathc). Just cut out a simple Superman stencil then add some red food coloring to spray butter before toasting in a sandwich maker.
Serve squares of green Jell-O and label them as Kryptonite (alternatively give them green popping candy)
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hulk Gamma Ray Shots
Serve Chilled Pea Soup (below, by Epicure Catering via The Herald Sun) in shot glasses and call them Hulk Gamma-Ray Soup Shots (serve with toast or mini grilled cheese sandwiches to dip). Or see this demonstration video (below by L’atelier des Chefs) for Pea and Mint Shooters.
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superhero cupcakes
Instead of trying to hand make complicated Superhero logos out of fondant, just use these Superhero toppers, available here, for cupcakes.
Present the cupcakes in these cute Superhero party cupcake wrappers and toppers, available here (more designs available).
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captain america party food
Patriotic 4th of July recipes can easily be repurposed as Captain America themed Superhero party food, such as these recipes for Red, White, and Blue Chocolate Dipped Strawberries (below left, by Nicole at Baking Bites) or Jell-O cut into star shapes (below right, by Ali from Gimme Some Oven).
For kids there are also these Red, White and Blue Ice Pops (below left, from myrecipes.com). Or for an adult’s birthday party, try these Red, White and Blue Parfaits (below right, from marthastewart.com).
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superheroes eat their veggies
Another great tip: Label different veggies with special properties, eg, Carrot sticks: for X-ray vision, Broccoli: for Super Strength, etc
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superhero candy treats
There are various Superhero party candy treats, available here, which you can buy, such as candy sticks, taffy and Pez dispensers which are a great way to fill out a dessert table.
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spiderman party food
Make Spiderman snow cones in a blender like this one (below, from Urbanwanderer.com). Just mix blue and red syrup together when portioning.
Alternatively, follow this video for making Spiderman cupcakes.
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05 SUPERHERO BIRTHDAY CAKE
Whether you’re making a birthday cake from scratch or just decorating it, below are some suggestions to go with these Superhero party ideas.
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superhero cake pans
If you want to make your own Superhero party cake, this Spiderman cake pan is just one of the Superhero cake pans available. Check out all the options here.
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superhero cake toppers
For a quick and easy option is to use one of these edible cake images which you can have personalized with your child’s name. Check out all the options here and also here for more customizable options.
For a particular superhero, search by character name + edible cake image topper, i.e Superman Edible Cake Image Topper.
….Or, there are lots of great plastic cake toppers, available here, that can make an impressive looking Superhero party cake.
Alternatively, there are lots of cake decorating kits for individual characters such as Spiderman, Batman, Thor, Captain America, Superman, and Marvel Superhero Squad. Check out all the options here.
You can also pick up some nice molded candles for Spiderman and Batman, or these smaller Spiderman themed candles. Both available here.
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06 dessert table styling
Below are some food styling and presentation tips for your Superhero party:
ADVICE FROM A PRO
Matt’s tip
“I always think it’s a good idea to concentrate the majority of your decorations around a buffet / dessert table as this will create a focal point in the room.
Party decorations often have to compete with existing room decor, so they can get a bit lost if spread too thinly. I think you’re far better off creating one really well themed feature wall that everyone’s eye will be drawn to.
You can then use a few general decorations around the rest of the room to tie everything together.”
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create a superhero buffet /dessert table
Find following a step-by-step instructions for how to create a themed buffet / dessert table like the one below:
Start by using a New York skyline scene setter as a backdrop for the food / dessert table. Update Oct 2012: Unfortunately the scene setter shown in the illustration above has been discontinued. Below are a selection of alternative superhero backdrops as pictured below.
Alternatively, you can buy this vinyl superhero backdrop, available here.
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superhero centerpieces
These inflatable Superhero characters, available here, range from 3ft – 6ft and are a great way to create an imposing centerpiece for your Superhero party.
Alternatively, you could use these huge superhero air walker balloons, available here.
If your budget will stretch a little further, you could use one of these life-size Superhero stand ups (other characters available).
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superhero banners
Hang one of these Superhero party personalized banners, available here, over the dessert table to help frame the scene (more designs available).
Alternatively, there are a few different designs available here, such as the ones below:
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table styling
Dress the table with a solid color table cover depending on which colors are associated with the Superhero you’re using for a centerpiece (ex, blue / red table cover for Superman or Spiderman, black / grey table cover for Batman etc) then use a mixture of square and rectangular black / white plates and bowls to present food on.
I recommend these disposable premium plastic plates, available here, they’re great value and look really stylish.
Line serving trays with laminated pages of comic books (or position underneath glass serving trays)
Alternatively, there are lots of superhero themed table covers available here, such as the ones below:
Use these Superhero treat pails, available here, to serve chips, candy, and other foods in. They’ll look great on the dessert / buffet table.
Place mini action figures of Superheroes, available here, on the corner of each serving plate as tray decoration. Or use them as cupcake toppers.
Use covers of Superhero comic books, available here, to make cones to serve snacks in.
Use these Superhero party stickers, available here, to create food labels. Just apply each sticker to a card backing, cut out, and add a food pick. You could also print out simple text labels to give each dish a Superhero name (ex, Holy Crime-fighting Cupcakes, Spidey Sense Sandwiches etc) and add these to the food picks underneath one of these stickers.
Gatorade bottles are perfect for a Superhero party as they have a lightning bolt embossed onto the front of the bottle. Re-label them as Ker-Punch! (see drinks above) or use them as water bottles.
Fill these Superhero boxes, available here, with popcorn and other treats to add some height to your dessert table display.
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superhero decorations
Complete your dessert table by hanging these Superhero word cut outs, available here, either side of the dessert table along with bunches of these Superhero party balloons, available here.
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07 table styling
Below are some tips for how to style and decorate the dining table for your Superhero party:
ADVICE FROM A PRO
Matt’s tip
“If it’s a kid’s party, don’t feel as if you have to shy away from using movie / cartoon character-branded tableware.
I see a lot of kid’s parties that are so immaculately styled they look more like adult parties. It’s obvious the parents have designed it for themselves, rather than their child.
If there’s one thing I’ve learned as a professional party planner it’s to design the party for your audience, not yourself.
The reality is kids want their favorite characters to have a strong presence at their party; they don’t see this as too commercial, for them it’s just fun.
Obviously, it’s important to get the balance right, so don’t go overboard. Character plates and cups work well if combined with a solid color table cover and napkins”.
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character tableware
If your child has a favorite Superhero, such as Spiderman, Batman, or Captain America, you can buy character-branded paper plates, table covers, napkins and cups, available here, and use these on the dining table.
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generic superhero tableware
If you don’t want to focus on just one character, use these generic Superhero design, available here.
There’s also a girl superhero range, available here.
Alternatively, there’s a cute pop-art style range, available here.
There’s also a number of different personalized paper plates, such as the ones below, where you can add the birthday boy or girl’s name or photo. Check them out here (more designs available).
Alternatively, you can personalize plates for particular superhero characters, available here.
There are some nice Superhero and Comic Book fabrics available by the yard, available here, so you might want to consider using one of these as a tablecloth.
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chair covers
One way to give your party a professional feel is to make sure all the chairs have a uniform look.
Often, if you’re using mis-matched chairs or chairs that don’t fit with the theme of your party they can really clash and it detracts from the overall aesthetic. Matching the chairs with the table linen is one of the reasons the table styling always looks better at professional weddings or events.
If budget permits, use these simple stretch fabric chair covers, available here, which you can pick up for approx $2 each in a range of different colors. You can then add another splash of color that compliments your party theme by adding a colored sash or band (as shown in the pics below) available here.
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chair decorations
If you haven’t already used them as the invitations, hang Superhero masks and capes on the back of each chair. There are lots of different types of capes available here to suit all budgets, from plastic capes, to simple fabric cape and mask sets, or more decorative shiny ones.
Alternatively, use these cardboard Superhero party masks available here ( you might need to search by ‘character name + mask for kids’ for a specific superhero mask.
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superhero place mats
These Superhero party place mats are available in four different designs and each one can be personalized. Check out the full range here, including activity place mats to keep them busy.
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3d letters centerpiece
Check out this amazing homemade centerpiece I came across by Charynn of Two Sugar Babies for her son’s Batman birthday party. She covered 3D letters spelling out her son’s name, Keaton, with vintage comic books and used them as a centerpiece for the dining table. I think this looks amazing, and is something you could make yourself at home for your Superhero party.
Update: If you’re not very crafty, you can now buy something similar. Check out all the options here.
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08 superhero party decorations
Below are some ideas for general decorations for a Superhero party:
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Entrance decorations
I always recommend starting with a few party decorations outside to greet people as they arrive.
This doesn’t have to be anything huge, It could just be bunches of balloons, chalking the pavement, a personalized yard sign (available here), or a personalized banner (available here) over the door. Just something that makes it feel like the entrance to a party.
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superhero Stand ups
If budget permits, I think these life-size Superhero party stand ups, such as the ones below, available here, are a great way to bring the theme to life.
Alternatively, you could print a life-size cut out of your child dressed as their favorite Superhero character to position at the end of then drive or at your front door. Check them out here.
These particularly fun when paired with a cheap motion-activated voice recorder, available here. Simply record your own 10 second welcome message and it automatically plays as guests walk past the cut out of your child.
For the best superhero party costumes, check out the range here.
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superhero posters / wall decals
Use these large Superhero comic book posters to decorate your birthday party. Alternatively, you can get them as removable wall stickers.
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superhero balloons
Fill in larger areas with bunches of balloons, either simple colored ones or printed foil ones. Check out all the options here.
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banners / hanging decorations
Decorate other areas with these superhero pennant banners, available here, and hanging decorations, available here (more designs available).
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superhero wall decals
These giant wall decals, available here, are an easy way to decorate large areas, plus they’re removable so you can use them to decorate your child’s bedroom after the birthday party.
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batcave entrance
Create a mini Batcave entrance by having them crawl through a cardboard box or play tunnel, available here, full of rubber Halloween bats, available here, hanging down.
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09 superhero party favors
For a quick and easy solution to Superhero favors just use one of these 12 packs. There are a number of different ones to choose from including Batman, Spiderman, Captain America, or the generic design pictured below. Check them out here.
You can make them look a little more special by putting them in these cute favor bags, below, available here.
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10 superhero costumes
Getting dressed up is a great way to add ‘human theming’ to your tea party.
You can pick up pack of cheap superhero masks and capes, available here, to hand out to party guests on arrival.
Alternatively, check out this supplier for the best range of superhero costumes for both kids and adults.
If you don’t want to get a kid’s entertainer in, get a parent to dress up as a masked Superhero (using a costume where the kid’s can’t see their face, below center) and make an entrance halfway through the birthday party when they’re least expecting it. Then let the kids pose with the superhero for photos to take home.
Alternatively, if you can’t persuade anyone else to dress up, check out the pet costumes available here so you can have a mini superhero running around the party.
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11 PARTY GAMES AND ACTIVITIES
See my Superhero Party Games page for a list of birthday party games and activity ideas such as the ones pictured below.
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12 thanK YOU NOTES
Follow up after the birthday party with some simple Thank You Notes, available here (more designs available).
related content
more party themes
Hit the ‘Read More’ button below to check out some of my other party theme ideas.
