EEP editors sometimes link to products to make your planning process fast and easy. We may earn a small commission if you make a purchase from a link.

45 Fun Bowling Theme Party Ideas

Bowling Theme Party

Updated on: Feb 20, 2024

Looking for a way to include fun activities into your party plans? A bowling theme party is a great idea for birthdays, company team building events, holidays, and end-of-school celebrations. With our ideas for decorations, favors, food ideas, games and activities, supplies, and invitations, your bowling party will be a perfect strike!

You can search our directory to find a venue with bowling lanes here.

Bowling Theme Party: Decorations

1. Centerpiece

Set up a miniature toy bowling set or pre-arranged vases at the center of the table for a fun bowling-themed centerpiece.

2. Garland

Create a bowling theme garland by cutting out bowling-related pictures, such as bowling balls, pins, shoes, and shirts, out of colored paper. Then, attach them to a length of string to add the perfect touch to your decorations.

3. Signs

Make some signs for your party with bowling theme phrases. Some options are “Let The Good Times Roll,” “Party at the Lanes,” or vintage-looking signs. Get creative with the bowling puns. You can also find customized bowling signs for the guest of honor!

Open Road Brands Good Times Roll Bowl Embossed Metal Sign - Fun Vintage Bowling Sign for Game Room or Man Cave

Open Road Brands official product: What ever happened to spending Friday night at the bowling alley?! This retro wall art is the perfect homage to that forgotten hobby. Featuring old-fashioned bowling alley inspiration, a pin, and a ball, this sign is the perfect way to remember the good old days.
Fun Vintage Sign: Reading, "OPEN - Let the GOOD TIMES Roll Bowl," this vintage sign is an instant classic.
Material: This sturdy but lightweight decor is made of embossed tin and features drilled holes for quick and straightforward wall display.
Places to Use: Use this sign to make a retro statement in your dining room, living room, man cave, or shop!
Size: 11" W X 20" H X 0.125"

4. Balloons

Use a black sharpie to draw three holes onto marbleized balloons. They will look like bowling balls! You can buy a variety of these at many online vendors!

5. Banner

Create a banner for the guest of honor with a bowling theme design on it, such as a bowling ball about to knock over some pins. Customize a banner for an even memorable event! If the event is for a birthday party, search for themed birthday banners!

6. Neon Bowling Sign

Nothing says retro bowling party like a neon bowling sign!

7. Wall Décor

Decorate the walls with bowling posters or hanging wall decals to really set the party vibe!

8. Lights

Dress up the dark bowling alley with strings of Christmas lights. These can be plain white or colored, whichever you prefer. Or use glow-in-the-dark bowling pins for a fun addition!

9. Yard Signs

Let your guests know which house/venue the party is at with a bowling-related yard sign or even a customized sign with your event details on it.

10. Streamers

Get some colorful streamers and hang them up in the venue or house. The best colors for bowling would be red and white!

11. Do-It-Yourself Bowling

Create your own bowling pins and balls to decorate your party area. Simply spray paint 16 oz soda bottles white and paint a red stripe around the necks once they are dry. For the balls, simply paint foam balls black and punch out three finger holes. You can use these as centerpieces or you can hang them from the ceiling. You can also use them to line the walkway to the party area.

Bowling Theme Party: Party Favors

12. Pens

Give a unique and funny gift of bowling pin-shaped pens.

13. Trophies

Let everyone be a winner by giving your guests miniature bowling trophies.

14. Bowling Treats

Give your guests paper baskets full of treats that look like bowling items. For example, Nutter Butter cookies resemble bowling pins while gumballs resemble bowling balls.

15. Bowling Goodies

Fill a treat bag with small bowling-related items such as temporary tattoos, charms, or keychains.

AUEAR, 12 Pack Bowling Pin Keychain 3 Inch Sport Keychain for Backpack Hook Educational Tool DIY Craft Accesories

FEATURES: Small and exqusite, easy to use and carry.
Multi-purpose Use: for home, school, office, it can hang in a sports bag, wall, locker, door or lanyard.
PACKAGE INCLUDED: 12 Pack of Bowling Pin Keychain.
How to use: it can hang in bag, key, wallet decoration accessories.
After-sale service: We are committed to creating the best customer service of the Refrigerator Handle Covers. If you are unsatisfied, please contact us.

16. Scorecards

Let your guests keep their scorecards along with a photo taken of them in a mid-bowling stance.

17. Stress Toys

Give your guests a bowling pin-shaped stress toy, a unique party favor that is, memorable and entertaining.

18. Bowling Apparel

Purchase some bowling socks or t-shirts and guests can wear these right at the party and then take home as a memory!

19. Bowling Set

Give your guests a bowling alley to take home with them! Buy some miniature bowling sets as a parting gift.

Bowling Theme Party: Food Ideas

20. Cupcake Topper

If you're choosing cupcakes over cake, you can find themed cupcake toppers or DIY them by cutting out related pictures and glueing them on wooden sticks.

21. Cake Topper

Decorate your cake with a bowling theme topper or you can customize one for the guest of honor! Or print out pictures of bowling accessories such as bowling bags, shirts, and shoes and cut them out. Then, tie a piece of string between two popsicle sticks and attach the pictures to the string with miniature clothespins. Stick the popsicle sticks into your cake.

22. Edible Candy Decoration

Want a cake without as much pizzazz or want to add even more? Edible candy/fondant pieces can be added to any cake or cupcake!

23. Candles

Top your cake off with bowling-themed candles. Find candles shaped like bowling pins or bowling balls and your party will be on fire!

24. Cupcake Holder

Add a little extra to your cupcakes by using a paper cupcake holder to cover up the wrapper.

Big Dot of Happiness Strike Up the Fun - Bowling - Birthday Party or Baby Shower Decorations - Party Cupcake Wrappers - Set of 12

Strike Up the Fun - Bowling Cupcake Wrappers INCLUDES 12 decorative cupcake wraps. Strike Up the Fun - Bowling cupcake supplies are perfect for a baby shower or birthday party.
SIZE: Strike Up the Fun - Bowling cupcake wrappers are adjustable up to 2" wide in diameter. Decorative cupcake wrappers will fit standard and medium sized cupcakes, easily hiding the baking wrapper and creating a pretty party treat.
EASY PARTY DECORATIONS: Strike Up the Fun - Bowling birthday party cupcake wrappers make it easy to style a bowling themed event. Create impressive cupcake towers with decorated treats placed on a tiered stand at the buffet table, style adorable tables with individual cupcakes at each placesetting, or make creative centerpieces using decorated cupcakes and a coordinating treat stand.
PREMIUM PARTY SUPPLIES: Strike Up the Fun - Bowling cupcake wrappers are professionally printed on heavy-duty cardstock paper with a photo-like shine. They are individually inspected and carefully packaged by hand. Cupcake wrappers will arrive flat but easily turn into a perfect-sized circular wrap using the tab and slot closure. Decorative cupcake wrappers wrap around a finished cupcake for perfect party decorations!
MADE IN THE USA: Strike Up the Fun - Bowling - Birthday Party or Baby Shower Decorations - Party Cupcake Wrappers are designed and manufactured at our Wisconsin facility using materials that are Made in America.

25. Cookie Cutters

Get cookie cutters in the shape of bowling pins or bowling balls. Not only can you make shaped cookies, but you can create finger sandwiches with these shapes as well!

26. Popcorn Holder

Make your serving sizes pop with a colorful popcorn holder that goes along with your theme. This will also make serving easier and mess-free!

Bowling Theme Party: Games & Activities

27. Photo Booth

Take your party to the next level and create a photo booth area to give your guests the chance to take home memories. Cut out bowling related pictures/phrases and glue them onto wooden sticks or find pre-made photo accessories.

28. Prediction

Have everyone predict the number of pins they’ll knock down before they bowl. You can have everyone predict only whether they’ll knock over an even or odd number of pins, or you can have them be specific about the number of pins they’ll hit to make it more difficult. Keep track of each time someone guesses correctly. Award the player who guessed correctly the most times.

29. Bowl Differently

For one of your bowling games, have everyone bowl backward or with their least dominant hand. Keep score on who does the best, or the worst! This will be as fun as it is challenging.

30. Piñata

Piñatas are always a hit at parties. Use a bowling pin piñata and fill it with lollipops, chocolates, and bowling-themed key chains.

31. Scratch Off Game

One way to create excitement and anticipation is to have a scratch-off game where your guests can earn a prize if their scratch off reveals a certain picture.

32. Bowling Pin

Purchase bowling pins, get a wooden pin-shaped board, or ask the bowling alley for a spare pin they no longer need and have all of the guests sign it with colored sharpies. This makes a great memento for the guest of honor. These personalized bowling pins make for the perfect accent for your party.

Bowling Theme Party: Supplies

33. Plates

Themed plates are essential to any event. Find awesome plates that have bowling pins or fun sayings on them to pull your party together!

Amscan Bowling Round Plates Party Supplies, 9", Multicolor

9in; 8 in a package
Package Length: 1.0"
Package Width: 1.0"
Package Height: 1.0"

34. Cups

Whether you choose to use paper or plastic cups for your party, have fun with the options! Another option would be these plastic reusable bowling pin-shaped cups which also double as a party favor!

35. Ice Cubes

Order circle shaped ice cube trays and add fun bowling ball ice cubes to any guest's drink!

36. Napkins

There are a number of options out there for themed napkins. If you are having a glow-in-the-dark or even retro themed bowling party, these napkins would fit the aesthetic nicely!

37. Tablecloth

Tablecloths are another easy decoration that are visually pleasing and practical to your needs. Tablecloths can pull together nay party look and can be used on food, activity or gift tables. Mix and match different styles to get the look you are wanting!

Ambesonne Bowling Party Tablecloth, Pile of Vivid Bowling Pins and Skittles with Red Stripes 3D Style Print, Rectangular Table Cover for Dining Room Kitchen Decor, 60" X 90", White Red

Your purchase will help victims of recent major earthquakes in Turkey since we donate a percentage of our profits to local NGOs helping with quake relief efforts.
60 Inches wide x 90 Inches long - Highly unique. Versatile. Fun.
Machine washable - Cold cycle. Easy to clean. Durable enough for both indoor and outdoor use.
Made from - High quality 100% polyester woven silky satin fabric with hand-sewn finished edges
Creates - A wonderful and luxurious setting for your family and friends to enjoy together.
Perfect - For any occasion at home, party, hotel, restaurant, cafe, kitchen, dining room.

38. Table Runner

If you are selecting clear/solid colored tablecloths instead of a themed tablecloth like seen above, then you can get a themed table runner! This will still tie in a theme to your table while still being simple.

Big Dot of Happiness Strike Up the Fun - Bowling - Petite Birthday Party or Baby Shower Paper Table Runner - 12 x 60 inches

Strike Up the Fun - Bowling paper table runner is a perfect baby shower or birthday party decoration for gift tables, candy buffets or dining tables.
SIZE: Strike Up the Fun - Bowling baby shower or birthday party petite table runner measures 1 foot by 5 feet.
EASY BOWLING PARTY DECORATIONS: Strike Up the Fun - Bowling Party Table Runner is an easy way to decorate for your baby shower or birthday party and bring the bowling party theme to life. Easily dress up any food or gift table with this cute paper table runner.
PREMIUM BOWLING PARTY SUPPLIES: Strike Up the Fun - Bowling petite table runner is professionally printed on premium-grade satin paper with a photo-like shine. Each paper table runner is individually inspected then carefully packaged by hand and rolled into a protective sleeve. Paper table runners are water-resistant and will make your party clean up a breeze!
MADE IN THE USA: Strike Up the Fun - Bowling - Petite Birthday Party or Baby Shower Table Runner is designed and manufactured at our Wisconsin facility using materials that are Made in the USA.

Bowling Theme Party: Invitation Ideas

Bowling is such a fun thing to do with friends and family but it will hold more memories during a party and how you invite them should be special. You will get people talking about the party no doubt about that. Invitations set the tone for your party!

39. Phrases

Use plenty of bowling puns when writing your invitations. For example, use phrases like "Let's Strike Up the Fun," or "Let's Get the Party Rollin'."

Consuming Passions: A Food-Obsessed Life

40. Themed Invite

If your party theme is even more detailed (for example, a glow-in-the-dark bowling party) find or DIY invitations that will get that across to your guests!

Consuming Passions: A Food-Obsessed Life

41. 3D Invitations

Paint a black plastic craft ball and add three finger holes in a different color so that it looks like a bowling ball. Then, write your party details on a colorful tag and tie it to the craft ball. This creative idea is a great addition to bowling parties!

42. Bowling Pin

Cut the shape of a bowling pin out of white paper and add a strip of red paper to the neck. Write your party details onto the pin with a red pen.

43. Bowling Ball

Create an invitation shaped like a bowling ball! Simply cut out a large circle from black paper and three small circles from white paper. Glue the white circles to the black circle in the form of a triangle so that they look like bowling ball finger holes. Use a gel pen to write the party details on the back of your bowling ball. You can mail these in CD envelopes.

44. Bowling Bag

Order invitations in the shape of a bowling bag if the party is going to turn into a sleepover. Ask guests to pack their bags and come enjoy a bowling and slumber party.

45. Customized

Customize your invitations to save yourself time from writing the same information over and over!

Bowling Theme Party: Conclusion

Don't settle for less when it comes to your party planning ideas. With these bowling theme party tips and tricks, your party is sure to score a strike! If any of these ideas for bowling theme parties helped you plan the celebration you desired, be sure to check back with us when planning all of your future parties!

Check out our other adult birthday party ideas to gain insight on budgeting, themes, best gifts, and other ideas!

Written by Jessica Bundy; Contributors: Vanessa Marsocci, Jack Leduc, Sadie Penwright and Savannah Harrold

Jose Cuellar Jr

Baker College

Visit profile:

Sadie Penwright

Medaille College

Visit profile:

Savannah Harrold

University of Texas at San Antonio

Visit profile:

Vanessa Marsocci

Rhode Island College

Visit profile: