31 Fun Cars Birthday Party Ideas to Fuel Your Creativity

Speed. You… are speed. One party, endless winners. You eat success for breakfast. YOU are the event planning master… well after you’ve got these ideas under your belt. If you are as hooked on the Disney movie Cars as I am, a 20 year old woman with impeccable taste, then you will love these cars birthday party ideas. Whether you are planning a race car themed party, a Disney Cars birthday party, or you are just looking for inspiration for any ol party, you've come to the right place!

Cars Birthday Party Decorations

1. Race Track

A race track is perfect for any cars theme party, whether you're focusing on Disney cars birthday party or just plain old race cars, the track applies either way. There are tons of ways to incorporate a race track: you could use race track tape and tape it all over the walls or floor, you could cover the walkway in a racetrack, or you could get a racetrack tablecloth.

2. Race Cars Signs

Signs are a great way to decorate for a cars birthday party because they are easy to hang up and add a lot to the theme as a whole. You could have classic signs like "STOP" or "one way." Or you can get humorous with it and put a sign on the bathroom saying "fueling station" or "rest stop" or even "traffic ahead" and "rough terrain." The opportunities for jokes are truly endless.

3. Cardboard Car Cutout

Who wouldn't like to walk into a party and stare deep into those endless Mater eyes, in cardboard form, of course. A cardboard cutout is an easy decoration but also perfect for pictures to post. Imagine how jealous everyone will be when they see that you have attained the dream of posing in a picture next to the iconic Lightning McQueen.

4. Cones and Race Flags

Remember your original sheer shock and delight when you first watched the Cars movie and saw the Cozy Cone Hotel in Radiator Springs? Place orange cones around your party space or on the walkway into the party to give your guests that same feeling. You could go the DIY route and cut them and place a toy car inside the cone to really give into the Cozy Cone Hotel idea. Or you can just set them outside into parking spots and evilly force guests to parallel park into the space given and laugh at them as they try. Too harsh?

5. Cars Themed Streamers

Streamers are an easy way to liven a party up, especially if you set them up in a doorway so guests are forced to walk past them and be impressed by your themed streamers. They are colorful and generally fix up any party. For a Disney cars birthday party, try to go for a red and yellow streamer theme to match king McQueen. But, if you are going for just a general cars party, streamers like the ones below may be the perfect choice for your party!

Cars Birthday Party Favors

6. Trophy Favor Holder

If you want favors, you must have a fun item to give the favors out in. Using a trophy to give out favors is such a unique and exciting way to get kids excited about the party - who doesn't love a free trophy for doing absolutely nothing? You can also write "piston cup winner" on the trophy to dig into the Cars movie theme.

7. Cars Temporary Tattoos

Nothing brings me back to the epic highs and lows of childhoods quite like temporary tattoos. The whole process just throws me back in the best way. Do the children a favor and let them live with the glory of having a temporary car tattoo stuck to their skin for the next few hours.

8. Crayon Cars

Especially for a kids party, crayons in the shape of a car would be the perfect favor. They can come in all kinds of colors, but know that you better save the red car for the birthday kid if it's a Lightning McQueen party. You could also add a coloring page with the favors if you wanted to go that extra mile.

9. Cars Stickers

There's nothing like a good honest sticker. That's all.

10. Mini Toy Cars

How do you expect yourself to throw a cars theme party without giving out mini cars? The beauty of it all is, you can choose generic race cars or Disney character cars. Each are exciting in their own way. Pity the kid who ends up with Chick Hicks rather than Lightning McQueen.

Cars Birthday Party Food Ideas

11. Popcorn (Fuel)

If you are having a cars movie marathon, which I couldn't recommend more, you will need some popcorn to make it throug; it is your "fuel" per se. Hand these fun bags of popcorn to your guests as they happily take their seats and prepare for the best few hours of their lives.

12. Nuts and Bolts

Nuts and M&M’s, of course. Feel free to get yourself some colorful almonds to spice things up. Make the guests a scrumptious trail-mix and call it “nut’s and bolts.” You can get funky with the mix too and add your own snacks to the mix. Add some marshmallows and call them the airbags!

13. Transmission Fluid Drinks

I hope this does not translate to me encouraging you to give your guests actual transmission fluid - the goal here is to enjoy the fun of pretending a drink is transmission fluid. You can honestly use any drink, the gag is in the label. So if you're going DIY, have a fun time making a stunning label for your beverage. If you want to get the Lightning McQueen vibes, try lemonade or kool aid to stick to his color palette.

14. Stoplight Pretzels and Chocolate

These are a super fun option because they are perfectly in theme and relatively easy to make if you simply get some pretzels, chocolate, and red, yellow, and green m&m's. Or you can just order yourself some here!

15. To-Maters

I mean we were all there when Mater infamously said that his name is To-Mater. It changed cinema for the better. Or at least it sure changed me for the better. Any dish with tomatoes in it will could as fitting the theme because of Mater's classic line. Perhaps you serve caprese appetizers!

16. Puppy Ka-Chow!

Maybe my wordplay is getting out of hand, but it would be criminal of you not to include Lightning McQueen's iconic catchphrase in the party foods. Puppy chow, otherwise known as muddy buddies (which could also describe McQueen and Mater, but that's beside the point) is rather easy to make. You can attempt making it from scratch if you are brave enough, but I might just be buying it. You can even go a step further and add some red/yellow sprinkles or coating to give it even more of a theme.

Cars Birthday Party Games/Activities

17. Stoplight Bag Toss

Continuing with the stoplight theme, this game is a blast even when it has nothing to do with the b-day party being thrown. It's also a great opportunity for the parents to absolutely smoke the kids because this game is truly one for the adults. It's always a blast and gets everyone involved.

18. Race

What is a disney cars themed or racing cars birthday party without a good ol' classic race? You could do any sort of race, be it a race to the tree and back, or a potato sack race where kids are falling all over the place. Maybe you race to see who can clean the table quickest - get it?

19. Car Piñata

A pinata is the perfect way to get some energy out for the kids and some serious entertainment for the parents. Just make sure the kids have enough room to swing the bat.

20. Parking Space Musical Chairs

Have the kids run around to the tune of Life is a Highway while playing a classic game of musical chairs. However, this game has a cars twist, or as some may say, a roundabout. There will be one less "parking spot" than kids - which will simply just be numbers laid out for kids to step on. When the music stops, whoever isn't stepping on a number will be kicked to the curb.

21. Clean that McQueen

This is a special shoutout to the parents for all their hard work. See, what happens is, if you frame it like a game and make it a competition, the kids will clean your car. Tell them it's a race to see which group can clean the car the quickest to get McQueen ready for his rustese promo shots. You can even include some fake rusteze or give your car a bumper sticker to fit the theme.

Cars Birthday Party Supplies

22. Cars Door Sign

A door sign is a great thing to put outside so your guest's know they are in the right place. It's very festive and features all your favorite cars characters.

23. Cars Theme Party Cups

If you don't want to go to the hassle of buying theme cups and you want to go the DIY cars party route, then print out some themed stickers of the characters or a rustese label and put them on regular old plastic cups. Or you can click on the image below if prefer the buy-it-yourself route to save some time.

24. Disney Cars Tableware

Whether you choose the race cars or disney cars theme, be sure to geer up your table with all the possible accessories you can find. A road table runner, black and red balloons, or tire plates!

25. Cars Birthday Party Hats

Here's another example of how you can choose the DIY option or the time saver option. For DIY, try making some traffic cone hats out of orange construction paper and elastic string. You can always buy some classic themed party hats as well though.

26. Speaker to Play “Life is a Highway” On Repeat

Truer words were never spoken, life really is a highway, and your friends will be hopping on it to get to this cars birthday party.

Cars Birthday Party Invitations

27. Race Car Invitation

Your guests will want to be flooring it the whole way over in excitement after getting this in the mail. It's a colorful and customizable invitation and is much more fun than just a generic invitation. I mean if you are having a race car party, you will need a pretty cool invitation.

28. Disney Cars Movie Invitation

This is such a fun invitation for a disney cars birthday party because of those iconic characters front and center. I know if I got that on my doorstep I'd be completely floored. There are other customizable options available at Etsy for any cars movie theme invitation.

29. Online License Plate Invitation

This idea is so creative and unique because it's perfect for a sweet 16 party. But parents... look out because this invitation may imply that the birthday kid may be getting a car for the birthday, and you're already spending enough on the party!

30. Online Start your Engines Invitation

This one is perfect if you are having a party at a racing venue or there's some sort of bumper cars involved. It's a very lively invitation, so guests will be expecting a lively party. I know you will deliver!

31. Transportation

This is such a cute invitation that leaves you lots of room for your theme because it includes everything transportation! You could rent a crane if you felt like going wild. It might also be funny if you have construction near your house, like me, to just work that into the theme.

Cars Birthday Party: Conclusion

I hope now your engines are revved up to throw a tire-riffic cars birthday party and your enthusiasm has been properly fueled. Sorry, I'm done with the puns. Easy event planning strives to make party planning simple and provides all kinds of tips, ideas, and guides at your disposal. Ka-caio and happy party planning!

Written by Ashley Cimarolli