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Bowling Party Favor Ideas for a Celebration That Wows

Image with thank you boxes and bowling pin on a table with the gold words bowling party favors across the center of the image

Every good bowling-themed party has party favors. And not just any party favors – bowling-themed party favors. But what are you supposed to do if you’re fresh out of good ideas?

It’s good that you stumbled upon this article. Whether you’re looking for some favors you can buy or DIY at home, this is the right place to be. Here are some fun and easy bowling party favor ideas that will delight your guests!

Bowling Party Favor Ideas: The Top Ones

Without wasting any time, let’s get right into some of the top bowling party favor ideas. There are so many possibilities to explore that we’re sure you’ll find something that’s just perfect for your party!

Key Takeaways

  • Diverse Bowling Party Favors: For a different bowling party, provide a variety of bowling-themed favors. You can find many bowling-themed items like mini candy containers, keychains, and pens. Personalized items such as bowling pins, water bottles, tattoos, stickers, shirts, and mini bowling game sets add a nice touch. These items add a creative and personalized touch to the party.
  • Engaging Party Activities: Make the party fun with costumes, bowling games, and special prizes. These activities foster a fun and competitive atmosphere.
  • Culinary Choices for Every Taste: We have a variety of foods for everyone’s taste, like nachos, hot dogs, and pizza. We also have unique choices like sushi, sliders, and a taco bar.
  • Creating a Lively Atmosphere: Make your party lively with themed decorations like cosmic bowling or retro styles. Play upbeat music and set up a photo booth with bowling-themed props for added fun.
  • Bowling Party Etiquette and Organization: When planning a bowling party, remember that party favors are not required but are nice to have. Choose practical items that fit the theme. 
  • For a fun party, decide on the date, time, place, who to invite, food, and drinks. Make sure everyone feels included and has fun.

Mini Bowling Pin Candy Containers

One of the most iconic components of bowling parties is the bowling pin. You can either buy some cute bowling party mini plastic bowling pin containers or make them yourself using empty toilet paper rolls and white and red paint. Fill them up with your favorite candies, and voila – you have a fun and creative play on the traditional goody bag (more on goody bags later).

Bowling Ball Keychains

If you’re feeling crafty, why not make some mini bowling ball keychains for your guests? All you need is some small styrofoam balls, acrylic paint, and keychain rings. You can even personalize each one with the name of a guest or a fun bowling pun.

If you’re not all that crafty, that’s okay. You can find bowling ball keychains online. Most of the time, it features both bowling balls and pins.

BOWLING PARTY FAVORS!
bowling pins that can be used as bowling birthday party favors everyone will enjoy

Bowling Pin Pens

Keep the bowling theme rolling even after the party with some bowling pin pens. These are very cleverly designed with a retractable pen inside a mini plastic bowling pin. Not only are these usable and practical, but they are sure to get a lot of reactions as people try them out.

Your guests can use these pens at school or work and remember the fun they had at your bowling party.

Personalized Bowling Pins

For a more sentimental touch, consider giving out personalized bowling pins as favors. You can purchase mini bowling pins online and use paint or markers to customize them with the names of your guests. Another option is to order personalized bowling pins with your guests’ names and the date of your party.

These make for a unique and meaningful keepsake your guests will cherish for years to come. If you want to take things a step further and are a regular at your local bowling alley, ask the staff if they have any old or worn-out pins to give away. These can make for a more authentic and personalized gift since they’ve been used in games.

Bowling Pin Water Bottles

Though bowling isn’t the most physically demanding sport, staying hydrated is still important. And everyone needs water on and off the lanes. So, why not gift your party guests with some bowling pin water bottles?

These can be found online or at party supply stores and come in a variety of sizes and colors. Your guests will appreciate the thoughtfulness and practicality of this favor, and they can continue using it well after the party.

Bowling Themed Temporary Tattoos and Stickers

Tattoos may be considered permanent, but if you’re looking for a more flexible option, temporary tattoos and stickers are the way to go. They’re a fun and non-committal addition to your goody bags, perfect for children and adults alike. You’ll be delighted to discover that there is a wide variety of bowling-themed temporary tattoos and stickers to choose from.

Whether you prefer cute cartoon pins or cool bowling ball designs, you’ll find something that perfectly matches your party theme.

Bowling Birthday Party Ideas

Custom Made Bowling Shirts

Do you have a little extra money in your budget? Get some custom-made bowling shirts for your guests. These can be personalized with their names or a fun slogan, and they make for a memorable group photo opportunity.

Since bowling shirts can get expensive, you may want to reserve this party favor for smaller groups rather than large ones.

Mini Bowling Game Sets

Mini bowling game sets are a fantastic party favor that can truly capture the essence of your event. These small kits usually come with a miniature bowling alley, tiny pins, and a small ball, and they allow your guests to take a piece of the fun home with them. What’s more, these sets aren’t just great mementos – they also offer a fun, interactive experience that kids and adults alike can enjoy during the party.

Upclose image of mini bowling pins with a blurred background

Themed Goody Bags

Whether you’re entertaining kids at a cute birthday party or planning a get-together for a bowling team, goody bags are a real crowd-pleaser. Not only are they affordable on virtually any budget, they can be personalized to your tastes. Fill up your party bags with miniature bowling pins, colorful scorecards, candy, snacks, or other goodys.

Reference the items we mentioned earlier as well. You can also include personalized gifts like eye masks, key chains, or shot glasses.

How Can I Make My Bowling Party More Fun?

You can make your bowling party more fun with dress-up or themes. Also, include bowling games and challenges. You can also include awards and prizes for your guests.

Everyone knows that the people make the party, but the effort you put in can really go a long way. In addition to party favors, there are many other ways you can make your bowling party more fun for everyone involved. Here are a few things to think about: 

Themed costumes or dress up: Encourage your guests to come dressed in their best bowling attire, whether it’s retro-inspired outfits, silly hats, or anything else they can imagine.

Bowling challenges and games: Spice up your bowling party by incorporating some fun challenges or games.

Customized trophies or awards: A great way to keep your guests engaged and the party on a high note is to give our customized trophies or awards either at the end of the party or at multiple points throughout.

Make accommodations for the little ones. There will be children who aren’t able to bowl in the same manner that others are. These children might appreciate bumpers, ramps, small bowling balls, or other accommodations.

What Food Is Best for a Bowling Party?

The best bowling food includes: nachos, hotdogs, pizza, or chips. Not so traditional optional include sushi, sliders, fruit & veggie platters, or taco bar

When it comes to food for a bowling party, there are many options to choose from. Traditional bowling fare such as nachos, hot dogs, and pizza are always a hit.

But if your party is for older folks or you would rather pass on the typical bowling eats, you can jazz things up by going with other options, like sushi, sliders, fruit and vegetable platters, or even a taco bar.

And don’t forget about the drinks. If you can get your hands on soda, water, and adult beverages, you should have no problem keep your guests happy and hydrated throughout the party.

How to Create a Fun Atmosphere at a Bowling Party

Creating a fun and encapsulated atmosphere starts with a lively theme that gets everyone excited! Anything like cosmic bowling, character or 80s retro is always a hit. Invest in colorful decorations matching your theme to give the venue a festive feel. You can then curate an upbeat playlist that keeps the energy high and encourages people to get moving.

Creating a fun atmosphere at a bowling party boils down to fostering an environment that encourages light-hearted competition and camaraderie.

To take things a step further, consider interactive elements like a photo booth with bowling-themed props for amusing snapshots or a fun challenge where guests guess the score of the next player.

What Is the Etiquette for Party Favors?

Great news- the only real etiquette for party favors is there is no strict requirement!

Party favors are a nice touch but there are no hard and fast requirements. So, don’t get bent out of shape if you’re unable to make them happen. If you decide to include them, though, aim for something that aligns with the theme of the event and ideally has some utility (is practical). 

The best time to distribute party favors is usually as guests are leaving, but feel free to shake things up if you think another time works better. Budget-wise, keep it reasonable; thoughtfulness is what really counts. And don’t forget to have a few extra favors on hand for unexpected guests or as a backup. 

How Do You Organize a Bowling Party?

Organizing a bowling party is planning the party from inception to party favors in a manner that makes the party flow smoothly. This is done by creating a planned itinerary for the days leading up to and the party and laying out the resources, online and local.

The way you organize your bowling party will depend on various things, including the occasion, who will be coming, and much more. But, in general, here are the main things that will be involved: 
Date & Time: Choose a suitable date, usually weekends.
Venue: Book lanes at a bowling alley; inquire about group rates. Guest list: Knowing how many people will be attending and how long a game lasts can be helpful during this step.
Invitations: Send via email, text, or printed invites.
Arrival: Show up early for setup.
Food & Drinks: Pre-arrange with the venue or bring your own if allowed.
Side Activities: Plan optional games for non-bowlers.
Goal: Create a fun, inclusive atmosphere.
Resources: online or local (Party City)

Creating a fun atmosphere at a bowling party boils down to fostering an environment that encourages light-hearted competition and camaraderie.

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So, there you have it – everything you need to know about bowling party favor ideas and planning for the occasion. We hope you found all the information you were looking for, and we wish you the best as you plan for a great party.