Christine in Rancho Cordova, CA - USA

You can call it anything you want "All Aboard" or "Trains" or whatever - but it's using a train theme. First - the invitations are "boarding passes" that say something to the effect of "All Aboard, Boarding Passes for Austin's 5th birthday party" "Arrival time is 1:00 pm on June 18th, 2001" "Please present pass to the boarding attendant upon arrival". Next, at the party, if there is a window that is waist high, remove the screen and cover one side or top of the window and label it "ticket booth". Have someone sit on the other side and give out "engineer" hats for each child as they "present" their boarding passes. Be sure to put them in the goodie bags because the kids love to keep them. Be sure to verify attendance at the party so you aren't buying too many hats. If there is no window, then the door is going to be the best "ticket booth" option. Some "props" to make and buy for the party. First - out of strong cardboard and stencils, make "railroad crossing" signs. You cut two triangles of cardboard, about 3 inches wide by 16 inches long. Paint these white and glue together in an "X". On the length that is on the top of the X - use stencils to paint black "CROSSING". On the bottom X piece, paying "RAIL - ROAD". Glue, nail or staple the X to an 8 foot stake. Then as an addition, if you want - put two black circles of cardboard (about 5 inches round) underneath with round, red "bike deflectors" for "lights". This part can be an option. I made two of these and put them on each side of my walkway to my doorway. Next, I made, with the help of my dad, a rectangle piece of wood and "antiqued" it with stain. I then painted an "itinerary" on it. If you don't have access to wood/plywood - you can always get more cardboard or go to a craft store and get a large wooden plaque. I painted it like a train itinerary. It said at the top "The Austin Express" and then the date underneath (using stencils).  #1 1:00 to 1:29   Arrival of Guests #2 1:20 to 1:59   Play Station (in pool outside) #3 2:00 to 2:29   Piñata Town (we had a train piñata) #4 2:30 to 2:59   Craft Bend (we painted wooden trains) #5 3:00 to 3:29   Present Junction #6 3:30 to 4:00   Cake Time and Departure A few hints. Buy small men's undershirts for "smocks" they are cheaper and will protect guests clothing during painting time - also buy washable paints. Dry the craft during #5 and #6 and put into the goodie bags.  In the goodie bags - you can make "candy trains" with hot glue and candies (easy to find directions on the internet), find little plastic trains and go to your nearest "Amtrak" or train station and get "discount coupons" for children to ride free or at discount and include them. Other little things if you'd like. You can get a cake with a train on it at most cake decorating places. I made mini-cakes and turned them into trains with frosting and candy - too complicated to give directions here. I also got my son a t-shirt with a train on it and stenciled on it "It's my Birthday, June 18th" and he wore it all day with his engineer hat. I didn't do this, but you can buy "engineer" outfits from Thomas the Train. We also got a train video and turned off the sound and played a tape of "train songs". I was able to find non-Thomas train plates - but Thomas train plates would work great as well. It's a super fun party and it's designed perfectly. The kids start with free play where they get to know each other and the other guests do too. Then they do a busy activity of piñata - then to a slower activity of craft, then sitting to watch presents opened and then you load them up with cake and send them back to mom LOL! You will find that there is NO fighting, no whining and no arguing from your little guests - they are so occupied from one thing to the next that the party goes quickly and without a hitch. It's fun!