We had a fantastic Amazing Race Birthday Party for our teens. It was so much fun that we’re thinking of doing it again!
An Amazing Race party is the perfect activity-filled birthday party for older kids, teens, or adults. Even those who have never seen the Amazing Race TV show will have a great time.
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Yes! An Amazing Race birthday party is a lot of work. I won’t deny it. BUT, I’ve put together this “amazing” ๐ guide to help you with all the tools you need to throw the most fun filled birthday party you’ve ever thrown.
From the birthday invitations to the official-looking Amazing Race clue cards, decorations, supplies, food, challenges, and games, you’ll find a well-rounded party that your guests will talk about for years to come.
I have a bunch of posts about our Amazing Race Birthday party that go into much more detail. So most sections of this post will offer only a short summary and will link you to a much longer post on the subject.
But I also have a secret weapon.
For a party with so many moving parts, my Ultimate Birthday Party Planner was an invaluable tool to keep me organized and on task. It’s the first thing I grab when I plan a party and it keeps everything neatly in one place.
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The Amazing Race Invitation and (nearly) official Cue Cards
If you’re thinking about throwing an Amazing Race birthday party you’ll need some official looking invitations AND clue cards.
The TV game’s clue cards are so iconic that your guests who’ve seen the show will know exactly what they’re looking at. With editable Route Info cards, Road Block cards, Detour cards, Speed Bump cards, and Fast Forward cards you’ll find all the supplies you need to create your challenges.
My printable Amazing Race clue cards look like the real thing and come with a small Race flag as well as a label to put on yellow envelopes that will make them look exactly like the real thing. We didn’t use the actual rip-top envelopes but if you want genuine Amazing Race yellow envelopes to rip open, they’re available here.
In the shop, you can buy the Amazing Race printable invitation and clue cards individually but I’d recommend getting the full set with all the decorations. They’re all fully EDITABLE with Adobe Reader DC so you can use them over and over. And Adobe Reader DC is totally free.
Plan Your Amazing Race Challenges
I’m really big on scheduling your party right. I have a whole blog post on how to schedule your party in a way that will keep you sane, as well as a freebie sample schedule to download. When you’re planning your party schedule, the challenges in an Amazing Race party will take the longest. Use them as your game time.
We put together some really fun challenges like, “Find your shoes” and “Stack it high or Stack it low”. I have tons of suggestions and a long list of all the Amazing Race challenges we played, but no matter what, be sure to give your challenges a good name just like in the show. It makes ’em way more fun.
We also had fun placing the envelopes in difficult to reach places like up in a climbing tree or hanging high above the trampoline where they had to jump to get the clue.
After the challenges were done the kids had a great time taking a whack at our Travelocity Roaming Gnome pinata. Who doesn’t love a good pinata at a party?
You won’t find this awesome gnome pinata in a store, so I’ve included all the instructions you’ll need to make it from scratch. And the pinata does double duty as a decoration too.
Get the full DIY here:
Fantastic Amazing Race Birthday Decorations
Great party decorations are the difference between a get-together and a birthday party. Of course, I like to go all out, and my full set of Amazing Race party printables has everything you’ll need at your fingertips. From banners to cupcake toppers and favor bags, all you’ll need are some color-coordinated balloons and table settings and you’ll be set.
Learn more here:
And you can’t forget an Amazing Race pit stop mat for your guests to reach at the end of the race.
We put ours in front of a PVC photo backdrop with a “Winners” banner and a balloon garland strung along the top.
I made my pit stop mat very inexpensively and I give you all the details so you can make one yourself.
The Amazing Race Party Treats
I tend to keep the food at my kid’s birthday parties pretty simple. As I recommend in my 5 Major Money Saving Tips for Any Party on a Budget post, I rarely serve a meal at our kids’ parties.
For an Amazing Race party you could serve snacks from different countries and label them accordingly. I kinda cheated and just went with simple fruit cups, popcorn, and trail mix, as well as the birthday cake and cupcakes and labeled everything “Amazing”.
I did put little country flags in the fruit cups.
That counts, right?
You can see more food ideas in my Amazing Race Party Decoration Ideas post.
The Amazing Race Party Favors
A little goodbye gift at the end of any party is a welcomed treat. I used the favor bags from my Amazing Race party printable set and filled them with homemade travel luggage tags and fun eye masks.
Learn how to make them here:
Get the full DIY and free SVG:
I hope you have a fabulous Amazing Race birthday party. Grab your Ultimate Birthday Planner and start jotting down all of your fantastic ideas. And send me some photos!
Don’t forget to pin it:
All such fun ideas! What a great theme!