For hosting the most incredible, star-studded, red-carpet event right in your living room. We are heading into awards season, and for movie buffs, this is the Super Bowl of cinema. While the Academy Awards ceremony is often a late-night affair filled with long speeches, it provides the perfect backdrop for a family-friendly celebration of movies, creativity, and glitz.
Whether you are planning to watch the live broadcast or simply want to host a movie-themed party on the weekend, a DIY Oscars Party is the perfect way to get “artsy-craftsy” with the kids. It’s time to celebrate the magic of storytelling, the fun of dressing up, and the joy of being together.
Below, we have curated 20 DIY Oscars Party Ideas for Kids (and Adults) that cover everything from invitations and decor to food and games. Lights, Camera, Action!
Setting the Stage: Invitations and Atmosphere
You cannot have a gala without the glitz. These ideas are all about setting the tone before the guests even arrive.
1. The VIP All-Access Pass
Don’t just send a text message. Make your guests feel like A-list celebrities with a VIP Lanyard.
- The DIY: Cut rectangles out of gold cardstock. Print “VIP ACCESS: 98th Academy Awards Party” on white paper and glue it to the center. Punch a hole at the top and thread a red ribbon through it.
- Why it works: Kids love wearing “badges.” It serves as their ticket into the living room theater.
2. The DIY Red Carpet
You don’t need to buy an expensive rug. You can create the illusion of a grand entrance with ease.
- The DIY: Use a roll of red butcher paper, a red plastic tablecloth taped down securely, or even red fabric from a discount store. Tape it to the floor leading from the front door to the main party area.
- Safety Tip: Use painter’s tape or gaffer tape to secure the edges so no little movie stars trip on their way in!
3. The “Walk of Fame” Entrance
Hollywood Boulevard has the famous stars on the sidewalk. Bring that to your hallway.
- The DIY: Cut large stars out of gold construction paper or cardboard painted gold. Write the name of each guest on a star using a black marker. Tape these stars onto your “Red Carpet.”
- Engagement: Kids love seeing their own names. It makes them feel like the star of the show.
4. The Velvet Rope Barrier
Create an exclusive “paparazzi zone” feeling.
- The DIY: Use red crepe paper streamers or red pool noodles. String them between chairs or banisters to create a roped-off entry area where guests have to show their VIP passes to enter.
Glitz and Glamour: DIY Decor
The color palette for the Oscars is strictly Black, Gold, and Red. Keep it consistent, and it will look professional even if it’s homemade.
5. Gold Balloon Statues
You need the golden man himself!
- The DIY: Buy gold balloons. Using a black marker, draw the outline of the Oscar statue (or just a silhouette of a man) on the balloons. Alternatively, group gold and black balloons in an arch around the TV screen.
6. Glitter Dipped Cups
Transform boring plastic cups into fancy “crystal” flutes.
- The DIY: Brush Mod Podge or school glue onto the bottom third of clear plastic cups or champagne flutes. Sprinkle gold glitter heavily over the glue. Shake off the excess and let dry.
- Result: You now have custom drinkware that sparkles in the light.
7. Tinsel Photo Backdrop
Every celebrity stops for photos.
- The DIY: Tape rows of gold and silver tinsel curtains (party streamers) against a blank wall. Provide a basket of props like feather boas, oversized sunglasses, and a clapperboard.
- Tech Tip: Set up a tablet or phone on a tripod so kids can take their own timer selfies.
8. The Clapperboard Centerpiece
- The DIY: Use a small chalkboard or a piece of black foam board. Use white chalk or a paint pen to draw the classic “Scene / Take / Roll” lines. Write the date of your party and the family name (e.g., “The Smith Awards”). Place this on the food table.
The Concession Stand: Food & Drink
Movie theater food is great, but Oscars food should be “fancy” (yet kid-friendly). The key is bite-sized portions.
9. “And the Weiner Goes To…”
A punny take on pigs-in-a-blanket.
- The Recipe: Wrap mini sausages in croissant dough and bake until golden. Serve them on a silver platter. Stick a toothpick in each one with a little gold star flag.
10. Tuxedo Strawberries
Dress up your fruit!
- The DIY: Dip strawberries in white chocolate, let them dry, and then dip the sides in dark chocolate to create a “V” shape (the white shirt). Use a toothpick with dark chocolate to dot on a bow tie and buttons.
11. The Ultimate Popcorn Bar
It isn’t a movie party without popcorn.
- The Setup: Pop a massive batch of plain popcorn. Set out shakers with different toppings: Cinnamon sugar, ranch seasoning, grated parmesan cheese, and melted butter. Let the kids mix their own custom “Nominee Blend.”
12. “Reel” Sandwiches
- The DIY: Make pinwheel sandwiches (wraps rolled up and sliced). Lay them flat on a platter. They look just like film reels!
13. Sparkling Cider Toast
When the Best Picture is announced, you need a toast.
- The Drink: Serve sparkling apple cider or grape juice in your glitter-dipped cups. Add a single raspberry or strawberry slice to each glass for an extra touch of elegance.
14. Microphone Cupcakes
- The DIY: Bake mini chocolate cupcakes. Place them inside flat-bottomed ice cream cones. Frost the cupcake with chocolate icing and roll it in silver sprinkles. It looks exactly like a microphone!
Activities: And the Winner Is…
If you are watching the live show, there is a lot of downtime during commercials. If you aren’t watching live, you need games to keep the energy up.
15. DIY Oscar Statuettes
Let the kids make their own awards to take home.
- The DIY: Buy cheap Ken dolls or generic action figures from a dollar store. Spray paint them entirely gold (do this outside ahead of time). Mount them on a small wooden block or a tuna can painted black.
- Activity: Kids can decorate them further with ribbons or glitter.
16. The Acceptance Speech “Mad Libs”
Speeches can be boring, but not when they are funny!
- The Activity: Write a template speech with blanks. “I want to thank [Animal] and my [Adjective] teacher for this award. I couldn’t have done it without eating [Number] pounds of [Food]…” Have the kids fill them out and perform them.
17. Red Carpet Bingo
Keep the kids engaged during the show.
- The Game: Create Bingo cards with common Oscar occurrences: “Someone cries,” “A speech gets cut off by music,” “Someone trips,” “A winner thanks their mom,” or “Technical difficulty.” The first to get five in a row wins a prize.
18. Movie Trivia (Kid’s Edition)
Test their knowledge of animated films.
- The Quiz: Prepare questions about popular movies from the last year. “What is the name of the panda in Kung Fu Panda?” or “What color is the emotions character ‘Anxiety’ in Inside Out 2?”
19. “Best Dressed” Contest
Encourage guests to come in their fanciest clothes—or their fanciest pajamas!
- The Award: Have everyone vote anonymously for “Best Dressed,” “Most Creative,” and “Funniest Outfit.” Hand out chocolate coins as prizes.
20. The Swag Bag
Celebrities get gift bags worth thousands. Your guests can get one too (on a budget).
- The DIY: Use simple black paper bags. Fill them with a Ring Pop (the “bling”), a pair of movie-star sunglasses, a small bag of microwave popcorn, and some star stickers.
Fun Facts to Share During Commercials
To make the party educational, sprinkle in some trivia about the history of the Academy Awards:
- The Name: Officially, the award is called the “Academy Award of Merit.” The nickname “Oscar” stuck after a librarian at the Academy said the statue looked like her Uncle Oscar!
- The Weight: The statue weighs about 8.5 pounds—that is as heavy as a gallon of milk!
- The Speech Limit: In 1943, Greer Garson gave a speech that lasted over 5 minutes (some say nearly an hour!). Because of her, winners now only have 45 seconds to speak before the music starts playing them off.
- The Red Carpet: The actual red carpet in Hollywood is 900 feet long. It takes a dedicated team two days to install it!
Conclusion: That’s a Wrap!
Organizing a DIY Oscars Party doesn’t require a Hollywood budget. With some cardboard, gold paint, and a little imagination, you can create a night of memories that your children will cherish. It is a wonderful opportunity to celebrate art, practice public speaking (via fake acceptance speeches), and enjoy family time.
So, print out those ballots, pop that corn, and get ready for a night of glitz and glamour. See you on the red carpet!