How to Throw the Ultimate Willy Wonka Birthday Party

The Willy Wonka games are what will keep the party going. These activities are your chance to make the not just look amazing, but to be really fun for the kids.

The movie has so much in it that it is almost custom made for birthday parties. For our Wonka Party, we had a game for each of the children that won a Golden Ticket and went on the tour of the factory. The extreme and wildly different personalities of the kids lent to some great games.

(Click here for all Willy Wonka game ideas)
Click on the child to see the game we played for their character. I've added some alternative ideas as well:
Augustus
GloopVeruca
SaltMike
TeaveeViolet BeauregardCharlie
Bucket

The invitation is the first contact the kids will have with the party. An amazing party invitation can get the kids excited long before the big event, and give them a glimpse of what they're in for. It is also the time to make sure that the kids have seen the movie. After all, if they haven't watched the movie, them much of the party won't make sense to them.

The concept of the invitation comes straight from Wonka himself. Wonka invited the children to the factory with a golden ticket inside a Wonka Bar. That's exactly what you can reproduce for your invitation.

Learn about how to make your own Wonka bar invitation, how to set up your template, and what materials work best to make it as authentic as possible.

How to make a Wonka Bar and Golden Ticket Invitation
CLICK HERE for a ton more on the Wonka Bar & The GOLDEN TICKET including PRINTABLE RESOURCES!

This bar seems to be discontinued at all vendors that I can find right now ... if you find it, let me know !

Sometimes the Wonka Bars are easier to find than others (they discontinue and re-continue at times). Here are the links to the ONLY places you can get them ! They have been discontinued by Wonka and these are the last remaining vendors that have them in stock. (The wonka bars pictured above) This bar is nice because it has the Wonka image on the actual chocolate, which of course remains with your new custom wrap, and still looks very Wonka Like. It is also the bar that my Movie Style Wrappers are currently formatted to fit !

Links below are for online stores where to purchase the traditional wonka bar. As of 11/27/11 - they are in stock at the first vendor below, but out of stock for second vendor below.

As of 11/27/11 - they in stock at :
"The Candy Warehouse"
Willy Wonka Chocolate Bars - ORIGINAL: 18CT Box

As of 12/27/11 - this vendor was out of stock
"A Candy Store"
Wonka Bars - 18ct

Candy Warehouse is the vendor that I got mine from. That is where the image above is linked to - They are reliable, and ship fast - and prices are great. They also seem to have them in stock at times that the other places don't!

The Exceptionals can also be used if you cannot locate the orig bars ... - the picture of the new "Wonka Exceptionals : Scrumdiddlyumptious"- is the one above. They also have a Chocolate Waterffall (that is white chocolate and milk chocolate swireled) and a Doomed Dark Chocolate (which is milk chocolate with disks of Dark Chocolate on each square) - All taste great - but I prefer the Scrumdiddlyumptious for the image.... and it was mentioned in BOTH movies ...

-They are usually found in Walmart and Target stores, and prices vary between 2.25 and 3.75 each. Please see below section for more info on the Wonka Exceptionals.(which are, by the way yummy - all 3 flavors !) I do intend to format my image for the outer-wrapper to also fit these bars, so if you do decide to go with the exceptionals, let me know and I will see if I have that done yet ...

You can purchase a very large one (3 lbs) - comes wrapped clear with no writing on wrapper (great so you don't have to remove wrapper for display) - (pictured here with the guy with the pop rocks shirt) at the Candy Warehouse through this link (click pop) :





Smaller ones also available from Old Time Candy - they come in 6.5"/10oz ($6.49), 5.25" ($3.49), 4" ($2.39), 3" ($1.79). (click pop)

We called the room that the party was happening in "The Chocolate Room".

CANDY TREES - infamously remembered from the movie - candy trees provide easy decorating, and then the candy is given to the kids on their way out - just let them go crazy like the kids did in the movie ...

We used Indoor Trees - we borrowed 3 from family members homes, and covered them with various types of candy - each tree a different kind of candy. (Our party was inside due to the time of year, if yours is outside, you can surely use real trees!) These are the three trees that we did, but you can cover yours with any type of candy you have. I do suggest using one type of candy on each tree though, so it looks like the tree actually grows that type of candy.

1. Wonka Candy Cane Tree (the candy canes were actually made by Wonka fall/winter 2009 - and were very colorful and perfect - we got both the Sweet Tart ones that were random colors swirled, and everlasting gobstopper ones that were solid colors, looked great together on tree - our party was in November so they were easy to find, and we reused the left overs at Christmas on gifts. - included is a LINK to get them online)

2. Sweet Tart Tree - we hung packets of sweet tarts to the tree

3. Gummy Bear Tree - The movie had those huge gummy bears on trees that were so memorable. You can print out pics of gummy bears and attach a small pack of gummy bears to them, as - we had this idea, but we ended up getting the gummy bear light strings and putting that on the tree along with individual packs of gummy bears.

The Candy Standees feature green, red and purple swirl lollipops and red, orange and blue gumdrops. Each of the freestanding candy cardboard cutouts is 4' high x 2" wide. Each candy standee set includes two lollipop standees and two gumdrop standees. Decorate for the holidays or create your own version of Candy Land with these fun and affordable decorations. Assembly required.


Candy Standees Set/4

We wrapped the photos on our walls with candy wrapping paper. We were able to find a few different candy wrapping papers. We used one that was a candy cane stripe and a second that had hard candy all over it. It did a great jon of imply adding a little more "candy" and camouflaging the non-wonka looking items in the room.

Two options here - #1 takes more time, effort, and money- but is way cool ... (we ended up doing #2, cause as you can see - I went all out on most everything else and didn't have time...)

1. Purchase some wallpaper pieces that have fruit on them - like a bathroom pattern etc... and then melt some Jolly Ranchers in the microwave until it becomes liquid. Paint different flavors on similar colors on wallpaper so that they will have a taste. "The Snausberries taste like Snausberries"!

2. Purchase candy dots ! - Tape them up on the wall with names on them so that everyone knows which one they can "lick".

• Streamers with candy taped to them - hanging traditionally or on walls - use light candy such as sweet tarts
• Lolly pop strips in window as curtain (get enough for all kids to get one at end)
• Gum Balls in strips from dollar store - taped around the perimeter of TV
• Gum Drops or other small candy - on fishing line hanging from ceiling
• Candy shaped Christmas ornaments hanging from ceiling
• Large swirly balloons that look like big hard candies (can also use punching balloons for this effect, but the kids sometimes get crazy with those)
• Old fashioned Gumball Machine
• Giant hard candies - Tie cellophane around colorful cheap plastic balls and hang from a tree. Great to show people where the house is (as opposed to just balloons).
• Lollypop centerpieces - fill a container of small candies, and stick in some large traditional lollipops into it.
• Lollipop Topiary - with step by step directions
• Candy garland - made from strung gummy bears, gum drops, licorice, and anything else you find cheap.

We had an oompa loompa with face cut out and had all the kids stick head through and got great pics.

Have someone take pics of each kid with the Willy Wonka at the party as well as with face in the Oompa Loompa face cut out. We found it was a good idea to take these photos both both upon entrance to the party so we didn't miss anyone.

These photos are great to include with the Thank You Cards so the kids have something to remember the party by.

WILLY WONKA
The leader of the party (was Mom at this one) was dressed up as Willy Wonka - in Purple with Hat etc... Willy should be in costume, available to greet guests, be available for pics, and hopefully be the one leading the party ... as Willy Wonka gave the tour of factory etc...

Gene Wilder style Willy Wonka Costume
Johnny Depp style Willy Wonka Costume

BIRTHDAY CONTRACT
As in the movie, there was a "contract" that was written on a poster board in big letters, getting smaller and smaller ... It was mainly a bunch of "We are here to wish >>> a very happy birthday on this the ... day of .... We, by our presence here today hope that ... has the best party ... .... ...." Mainly it was a bunch of happy birthday gibberish that went on and on and got smaller and smaller - but it was cool, and got the guests knowing that they were in for the full Wonka experience (that was why we gave the copy of the movie and asked that it was watched first ... )
Upon arrival to the party, all guests were asked to hand in their golden ticket (if they brought it as many did) and to step up and sign contract - it had spots at bottom like in movie to have the kids sign. - Everyone loved this, and the birthday boy got to keep it at the end of the party...

GAME PRIZES - CANDY - and TAKE HOME LOOT BAGS !
Upon signing the "contract" the kids were given an empty gift bag with their name on it (can be decorated by birthday kid etc...) it would eventually be filled with Wonka Candy by end of the party ! - CHECK OUT THE "CANDY CANDY CANDY" SECTION FOR MORE SPECIFICS ...

HSAW AKNOW
After being greeted by Wonka himself, handing in golden ticket, and signing contract, The guest were issued their empty loot bag (see CANDY section) and then guided through the HSAW AKNOW - (WONKA WASH spelled backwards) into the "chocolate room"- that was simply streamers that covered the doorway that entered the decorated room (the room the party was in) - FYI - the Wonka Wash was the thing that the foaming contraption went through to get clean. It was just a cute touch that kinda kept the room a surprise until entrance.

CHOCOLATE ROOM ENTRY
After walking through the Wonka Wash - the guests enter the world of Willy Wonka - The heart of the factory - The Chocolate Room.
This room should include all the decorations in the decoration section (or whatever other exciting decorations you have) but also have a table or area set up with independent activities to keep the kids busy till all kids have arrived

INDEPENDENT ACTIVITIES - (also see Games and Activity section)
Candy and Wonka Coloring pages
Table and supplies for making Candy necklaces
Music from Soundtrack playing
Movie Playing
Exploration time (kids can explore the room, decorations, chocolate fountain, lickable wallpaper etc... if you want these things to be independent activities, they can also be directed activities too...)

ONCE KIDS ARE ALL THERE, THE DIRECTED ACTIVITIES/GAMES SHOULD BEGIN
We planned our games around the five kids in the movie. We had one game for each kid in the movie. - Kids will get candy at end of every game to put in Loot Bags

Our Willy Wonka cake was simple but cool looking. I made a square cake, and a second smaller square cake. I then cut the smaller one in half and stacked it so that there was a tall "wall" in the back. I frosted it so that it looked like the rock wall where the waterfall was located in the chocolate room in the movie. I had a chocolate pudding chocolate waterfall falling over this wall.

I added a gummy bear tree (directions below). This made the cake awesome, I think. And, I finished it off with some traditional looking simple lollipops, a few hard candies, and a candy walkway - check out my picture.

(MORE SPECIFIC DIRECTIONS:)

Make a regular square or rectangle whatever cake - mine was slightly larger than the usual size - 12x12 square.
I also made a smaller one that was like 6x6 or8x8 or something.

Take the smaller cake, and cut it in 2 pieces and stacked them to make the Chocolate waterfall - need the height. ) You would want one bottom piece to be a bit wider than the top, to make it stable, but not too much bigger. Mine was about 4 inches wide on top piece and maybe 5 on bottom piece.) and the length is not as important, it doesn't have to go the full length of the cake ... mine didn't. (see pic)

The Bottom is frosted first - Green for Grass (can also use coconut in frosting if you like that, for texture, but ours is just butter cream frosting) - (if going for the newer movie, can use eatable Easter egg grass - that looks more like the grass in the Jonny Depp movie, but not the Gene Wilder version)

The 2 smaller pieces of cake are positioned to butt up with the corner of the cake, and stacked with slightly narrower piece at the top, and then frosted gray to look like the wall of the chocolate room.

Chocolate pudding (previously made and chilled as described on box - Jello Instant Pudding Mix) - is then placed at the bottom of the new wall and going around like the river did (it turned and went into tunnel, I just had it go around the wall - effective). After the river is made, add the waterfall (see pic)

CANDY CANES - I added 2 Wonka Brand Candy Canes (could use any, but if you can get the Wonka brands, they are just the colors you want - Wonka has Sweet Tart flavored ones and Gobstopper Flavored ones, The gobstopper ones are solid colors, but the Sweet Tart ones are like the ones above (We used them on both the cake, and we had an indoor tree that we also used them to decorate as part of the room for the party. - I suggest purchasing a couple boxes of these at Christmas time !!!)

OLD FASHION LOLLIPOPS -
Look for the simplest ones you can find - simple circles on white sticks - I got these at Vermont Confectionary (A candy store in Bennington VT) but you can likely find them anywhere if you look. Be sure to remove any wrappers first ! - use about 3 in bold colors.

ROUND HARD CANDIES -
Look for circles - in the movie there was swirly balloons and balls that looked like candy. Small candies that are round and swirly work good - be creative.

THE GUMMY BEAR TREE - A must ! This really makes it perfect I think. Again at Christmas time, keep your eye out for "bare tree" in the village section - mine was 2.49 at Walmart - These trees should have no leaves and usually come kinda crystal finish to look like snow, but they look like sugar to me ! - All you need to do is (before it is on the cake) take REAL gummy bears, and a sharp tool, such as a Skewer, and poke holes (I found poke right through all the way) - you need to poke the holes first or else they fall back off tree. Add the brightest colored gummy bears you have, and then add the tree last to your cake. You could also make a tree out of some pipe cleaners if you cant find a bare tree.

We decorated shortly before the party, but I would not say to put tree on the night before as it might sag or fall ... I also suggest adding the waterfall chocolate the day of or not too long before, so it doesn't sag either ...

Opening the gifts can be a hectic time at any kids party. To fix this and keep ALL the kids interested, we had a box full of movie sized Everlasting Gobstoppers boxes. Each was marked with a child's name that was attending party.

The birthday boy pulled out a box of gobstoppers, and traded it for the present. This kept the kids attention during present opening time, waiting for their gobstoppers. It also prevented that moment when all the kids shout "open mine" leaving the birthday girl stressed and confused.
It also served to make the gobstoppers more special than the other candies, since it was a big part of movie.

So, I guess this method was a win-win-win-win.

I can send you a file that will include (perfectly formatted to fit chocolate bar) outer wrapper and Golden ticket. I will also include a printable Thank You Gene Wilder Post Card (great printed on card stock). The Wording for Guest Contract Birthday Card Poster, Printable Thank You Contract (can be printed on back of Thank You Post card, Printable Coloring Pages, and Wonka Trivia Questions
For all of this - send an email to BECHAND@aol.com but be sure to include "Willy Wonka Party Printouts" in the memo section - as well as the email that you would want it sent to - so I know. Anyone that would like to paypal me anything I would surely accept to this address, but I do not require payment. I just love sharing the work I did for my party to help make yours better !

Other items that I have left over and can mail you at small cost (will have to send me an email about interest in these) :

Willy Wonka Golden Ticket Gold Paper - I bought 100 sheets, you can get 2 golden tickets off one page easily. It was a bit expensive, so I saved the rest and can sell you just the number of sheets you need. THIS IS THE PERFECT GOLDEN TICKET PAPER ! It has a shiny luster - but can be used in regular printers -FYI - I had Staples print the golden tickets on this paper for regular copy price (like 5 cents) and also had Staples print the outer wrapper - we used glossy paper and color copy from staples - this cost more like 80 cents. (2 per sheet for both of these)

Oompa Loompa Poster (cut out face for kids to stick head out) - I have mine - it was done on foam board, - My brother drew it, He will likely do it again to sell to you - can do it on large paper pr regular poster board and roll to send, or put on foam board like mine - email with interest, and I will contact him for cost etc.
I can also sell mine as I don't need it anymore.

We also have formatted stickers/labels for burned copies of the movie (I don't do anything burned movies). We can likely print and send you them in sticker form to put right on movies for a small cost, or I can add the image in with the email of images above (for no additional cost) - if you want this, be sure to let me know.

1. Wonka Chocolate Bars (or other chocolate bars if substituting) - see links on this page for purchase online
2. Silver Foil (***I recommend using the cheapest stuff you can find - check the dollar store - as it is thinner and more delicate - it is too thin to work well in the kitchen, but makes for an AWESOME liner on these chocolate bars, and has great effect when opening - plus it is cheap!)
3. Glossy Photo Paper for Printing outer wrapper with Wonka logo on it
4. Regular Straight Edge Scissors
5. Golden Colored paper - see link on this page for the best "golden ticket" paper I can find - it has a little luster to it and shines a little.
6. Fancy Edge Scissors - like the scrapbooking type (optional)
7. Glue Stick.

1. Print out Color Copies of the "WONKA" bar art for outside wrapper - I have included a perfect fit format for the traditional WONKA bar that you can print from here. (Gene Wilder version and Jonny Depp version both included here) I suggest using Glossy paper.
2. Trim as needed with regular scissors.
3. Print out the "GOLDEN TICKET" - See the "golden ticket" orange box for all my GOLDEN TICKET info - I have included there both replica (for reference and link for purchase from someone that makes them) as well as a free printable template (made by my sister) that uses the wording from the movie adapted for a birthday party - simply change the time date and location to include your party info. Print on Gold Colored Paper.(see link for my suggestion of gold paper in that Golden ticket info section as well.)
4. Trim with Fancy Edge Scissors for a nice effect, or can use straight edge if you don't have these scissors available. - Make sure that the Golden ticket is slightly smaller than the WONKA bar outer cover so it does not stick out on final product.

TIP :
I chose to take my edited template and my ready to print outer wrapper image (both made by my sister - thanks kerri) to Staples for professional printout on glossy paper provided by them, and golden paper provided by me (see link in golden ticket section)

1. Unwrap the authentic Wonka Bar (or other chocolate bar) from its factory packaging.
2. Cut a piece of cheap thin aluminum foil to fit bar with about one inch on both ends of bar (DIMENSIONS)
3. Fold foil over top to bottom first. Then fold each corner in like triangle (as if wrapping Christmas gift) and in.
4. Set aside silver wrapped chocolate.
5. Place face down one Glossy paper WONKA Bar cover.
6. Place on top of this one Golden ticket (make sure it is slightly smaller than the glossy cover, and it is not sticking out.
7. Place the silver wrapped chocolate bar on top
8. Wrap the golden ticket around the chocolate bar
9. Wrap the outer wrapper around the Golden Ticket and sliver wrapped chocolate bar
10. Seal the outer wrapper to itself with a glue stick. Be sure to pull it snug and also that the golden ticket is not viewable at all.

- We presented our invitations (Wonka Bars with Golden Tickets including the Invitation Information) in a Greeting Card Envelope with silver lining (purchased near card stock in most stores - or through link on this site)
- In the envelope we had :
1. The newly formed authentic Wonka Bar with essential info lucky Golden Ticket
2. A copy of the Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory movie (Gene Wilder or Jonny Depp - your call - we loved the Gene Wilder version much better, but I have included both bar cover arts here to meet your needs)
3. A note that simply said - "Watch the Movie First !!!" (so of course it is clear that they will open the chocolate at end of movie (or middle of movie) and get the invitation to the party info.

We used the envelope to disguise the chocolate and movie during school hours and also put a note on outside of envelope that said "to the parents of : child's name" so that the candy and movie were revealed at school and opened early etc... to ruin the surprise and experience with movie... We had the teacher put in the take home folders at school to be discrete... Worked GREAT !

GOOD LUCK ON YOUR INVITATIONS - It was my favorite part !!!

Mike Teevee was all about television....and shooting. He was seen in the movie watching TV and shooting back at the screen.

• You can do Food Break and serve Banquet TV dinners (they are approx $1.00 at most grocery stores) and can pass as a meal for the party ... They cook fast in microwave ... We thought of this, but opted for the game below - and we didn't actually serve a full meal - just cake.


• TV Shooting
  We put the movie on the TV in the living room where the party was, on the "menu" screen, and had the kids take turns "shooting" Wonka with nerf gun - each kid got one bullet with his name on it. The kids LOVED this game ... and the winner got the big prize, everyone else gets a small one for trying. If you'd rather they didn't shoot at your TV, you can make a TV on a foam backed poster board and have them shoot for that.

Verruca wanted everything, and it was her insistence on a golden egg that led to her exit from the factory.

• Educated Egg Detector
  Before the party, blow up gold colored balloons and insert into them papers that say either "Good Egg" or "Bad Egg". Get a large cardboard box and cut front out - make it look like the Educated Egg Detector. Have the kids all take turns going in it and breaking their golden egg to find out if they are a 'good egg' or a 'bad egg'. If you want to speed it up, you can also do same game without the box - just handing out the golden colored balloons. If you want only one winner, you can put only one "good" or "bad" egg that you consider winner for the big prize, everyone else gets a small one for trying. For prizes here we used licorice. The good eggs got red licorice, the bad eggs got black. Be sure to get a pic of all kids holding up their "good egg" or "bad egg" sign - all in one group. This was the game we went with and it was my favorite at the party.


• You could simply play "hot potato" with a golden colored egg (often found at Easter time) or a gold colored balloon.

These chocolate eggs are golden wrapped and printed WONKA's GOLDEN EGGS on every one. - They are $6.00 for a bag of 40! The wonka bars are available from the same site (save on shipping). They would make great prizes or great "thanks for playing" prizes for any Verruca Salt Game - also great in the loot bag ! Be creative ! - They are Perfect ! - Wish I saw them before my party !!!

All Augustus did was eat. Filling his belly was all he seemed to care about.

• Augustus was pounding doughnuts at start of movie, so we did a traditional donut on the string eating contest - like is done at many Halloween parties. We did put down a disposable plastic tablecloth first, and had the donuts tied to a broomstick prior to party, so it was easy pull out and go ... and easy cleanup too ... The first one with doughnut gone, got the big prize, everyone else got a small one for trying.


• Pretty much any food related game will do. Any eating contest will do.


• Food related races could be fun too. You can put a photo of Augustus on buckets, and have the kids run across the room and pick up some kind of food on a spoon and carry it back and drop it into their Augustus. Whoever feeds their Augustus more in 1 minute wins.

Buy at AllPosters.comViolet's thing was chewing gum...and turning into blueberry.

• Bubble Gum Bubble Blowing Contest
  Biggest Bubble Wins, it's a simple and fun game that will lead to a lot of laughs and some great photos.


• "You're turning violet, Violet"
  Violet's addiction to bubblegum led her to turning into a blueberry. Have the kids split into teams, and each team with compete to turn one member "violet". They can use nothing but blue streamers and blue balloons (and maybe some tape). They'll cover the kid in blue balloons and wrap them like a mummy so she looks like a big blueberry. An impartial judge will choose a winning team.


• Juicing Miss Beauregarde
  Nathan Barry describes this as an alternative to a Pinata. Miss Beauregarde is covered in blue balloons filled with goodies.
  This is what it looked like before the juicing commenced.

(photo by Pink Sherbet Photography used by CC 2.0)

Well this sounds crazy, but believe me, the 7 yr old boys LOVED it!

• BURPING CONTEST !!!
  We served up the 'fizzy lifting drink' and had a burping contest - best one burp won - and you bet we had a winner !!!
  
  For fizzy lifting drink we used Sparkling Water! We served it at table with a bubble machine blowing bubbles. The bubbles around them made the game feel special, and not just something they play at lunch. It was also a cool interactive decoration.


• Newspaper throwing contest
  Charlie delivered newspapers. For a couple of weeks, keep your newspaper. Since they are so thick now, you could even split up the sections. Fold them like newspapers traditionally were folded. Have the kids throw their paper at a target. Perhaps a cardboard cutout of a mailbox hanging from the ceiling. If they hit the target, they get to go to the back of the line. If they miss, they are out. Last man standing in line wins.
  You could also have the kids try to throw their newspapers into a bucket as his name was Charlie Bucket.

Please do send me any great pictures or ideas from YOUR party - I would love to keep this page very comprehensive, and a great resource for others. If you have any new ideas that I did not have, please send them along to BECHAND@aol.com - and I will be sure to add it to my page. If you would like, I will credit you with the idea as well on the page.

If you have any great party pics - I would love those too ! This could be an even better page with everyone's input. You are spending a ton of prep for it as I did, why not show off your great efforts ! - pics of your games, cakes, decorations etc... We want them all :O)