Little people adore the spectacular stripes of a rainbow and the hope of one day finding a pot of gold at the end. But, the problem with rainbows is they simply don’t happen enough! So, why not create a rainbow party for a really magical celebration? Here are our top ideas.

Rainbow party ideas.

First you need to transform the party room into a rainbow of color. Set the party table with napkins, plates and cups with gorgeous rainbow designs. Add ribbons, garlands, confetti and balloons. Ask your guests to come dressed in one, or all, the colors of the rainbow – a sensational way to make everyone look and feel really special. Do check out our fabulous rainbow fairy dress up kit, with a bright striped tulle dress, wings and a smiling sun wand.

Rainbow party activities.

1. Create water rainbows.

Fill a smooth, tall glass full of water and place on a white piece of paper in front of a window where the sunlight is shining through. Take a piece of paper and cut a slot into the middle of it, then tape onto the side of the glass so the sunlight can pass through the slot. When this goes through the glass of water it splits into different colors, so you should see a mini rainbow appear on the paper below the glass. Magic! 
Note, if the sun is hiding behind the clouds, you can do this activity in a darkened room with a torch instead!

2. Make a Rainbow bracelets.

All you need is string and different colored stringing beads – red, orange, yellow, green and purple.

3. Fill a jar with a Rainbow.

We love this simple art and science activity. You’ll need tall see-through containers, like small mason jars, some honey, light corn syrup, green dish soap, olive oil, water, rubbing alcohol, purple, blue and red food colorings, and a dropper. Explain to the kids that the different ingredients have different weights, which is what will make them float in the jar in separate colors (learning is fun!).

Now, get ready to make your rainbows. Pour the following five ingredients into the middle of the jars, not touching the sides. First, pour in the honey. Next the corn syrup, which you’ve colored purple with the food coloring. The green dish soap comes next. Next water, which has been colored blue. Next the olive oil. Lastly, add the rubbing alcohol, which has been colored red – but don’t pour it into the middle. You want to slowly add this with a dropper along the side of the container so it doesn’t mix with the ingredients below.
Source: Playdough to Plato

Make a rainbow cake.

It’s easy to add a rainbow of party foods to the table – think different colored fruits and vegetables (place in rows on a platter to make a rainbow shape) and bright candies. Let the centerpiece of your party table be a magnificent rainbow cake. The party girl or boy, and guests will be amazed to see the layers of colors when you slice into the cake! Here’s one of favorite rainbow cake recipes to try:

Ingredients:

(For the cake)
3 ½ cups all-purpose flour

2 teaspoons baking powder

½ teaspoon salt

2 ½ cups sugar

3/4 cup vegetable oil

4 large eggs

1 tablespoon vanilla extract

1 ¼ cups milk

Red, pink, orange, yellow, green, blue and purple gel food coloring

7 disposable baking pans

(For the vanilla buttercream)

3 ½ cups butter (7 sticks) softened

1 tablespoon vanilla extract

7 cups powdered sugar

¼ cup milk

Rainbow CandleNeon Acrylic Star Toppers, Shooting Star Cake Topper

To make the cake:

  • Preheat the oven to 350F. Spray the baking pans with non-stick spray.
  • In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder and salt.
  • Combine the sugar, oil, eggs, and vanilla extract in another bowl. Mix with an electric mixer on medium speed until the ingredients are combined.
  • Now add half of the flour mixture and half of the milk. Mix well. Repeat with the second half of the flour mixture and milk.
  • Divide the batter evenly into 7 bowls. Add ¼ - ½ tsp of food coloring to each bowl, and mix well. Add more coloring if necessary (Note, you must use the gel food coloring to get the intense colors that look fantastic!). Pour the cake batter into the prepared pans.
  • Bake in batches of two to three for 10-12 minutes, or until the center has set and edges of cake slightly pull away from the pan. Let the cake layers cool completely before frosting.

To make the buttercream:

  • In a large bowl, cream the butter with an electric mixer on medium-high speed. Mix in the vanilla extract.
  • Add the powdered sugar in three batches, adding the milk as necessary. Scrape the sides of the bowl between each batch. Mix on low speed until mostly combined then up the speed to medium and mix until smooth.
  • Spread around ½ cup of frosting between each cake layer. Use the remaining to cover the cake. Add a rainbow of sprinkles all over the cake if you want a colorful touch.

Source: My Recipes

Rainbow party bags.

Fill party bags with a shimmering rainbow of gifts, like rainbow glitter iron-on patches, rainbow glasses, rainbow hair slides, rainbow stickers, and rainbow temporary tattoos.

Shop our Rainbow Collection here