Emerson is Turning 6: Narnia Birthday Party Inspiration

There are some stories that shape your childhood. And then there are the stories that shape your family.

This year, we read through The Chronicles of Narnia together for the very first time with our almost six-year-old, Emerson. Night after night, we stepped through wardrobes, met talking animals, trembled at the Stone Table, and rejoiced at the sound of Aslan’s voice.

And when we closed the final pages, we all cried! There is something about Narnia—the goodness, the bravery, the deeper magic—that stays with you long after the story ends. So when Emerson said she wanted a Narnia-themed birthday party this year, I was so excited.

This felt less like planning a party… and more like inviting her friends into a story we love!

All the images and their sources can be found on my Pinterest board: Party Ideas.

Step Through the Wardrobe

The heart of the whole party is the wardrobe! We’re creating a simple cardboard wardrobe for guests to step through as they arrive. You don’t need anything complicated here—just a little imagination.

Our plan is to either:

• hang thick paper over a cased opening and draw wardrobe doors, or
• cover the front door with paper and sketch out the wardrobe details

And then, the magic. 🙂

On the other side, we’ll hang coats so that each child has to push through just like Lucy. That moment matters. It slows them down and invites them into the story.

I want them to feel it—that they are stepping into something different.

Bringing Narnia to Life (on a Budget)

We’re leaning heavily on what we already have.

Our Christmas trees (with the lights turned off) will create a woodland feel throughout the space. I ordered a winter tapestry to hang on the wall to give the room that snowy backdrop that feels distinctly Narnian.

It doesn’t have to be elaborate to be beautiful.

A few trees. A winter scene. A little imagination.

A Corner of Cair Paravel

While part of our space will feel like stepping into the snowy woods of Narnia, another corner will echo something altogether different—

Cair Paravel.

The place where the Pevensie children are crowned.
The place of feasting and celebration and rightful rule.

We’re creating a simple “castle corner” using what we already have. I’m draping green table runners along the walls to give that regal feel—like banners hanging in a great hall. It warms up the space and makes it feel set apart.

And for the walls, I’m making paper sconces with small “flames” tucked inside. Nothing complicated—just enough to suggest the flickering light you’d expect in a castle.

It’s amazing how a few simple touches can shift a space.

From woodland to royal hall.
From wandering to belonging.

And I love that the children will move between both—the wintry world of Narnia and the beauty of Cair Paravel—just like the story itself.

Crafts Fit for Kings and Queens

For our craft time, we’re keeping it simple and hands-on.

The children will make:

• paper shields
• swords
• crowns

Because if you’re in Narnia, you are not just a guest—you are a king or queen.

I love giving kids something they can become during a party. It changes everything. Suddenly, they aren’t just attending—they’re participating in the story.

Tea with Mr. Tumnus

One of my favorite details: “Tea with Mr. Tumnus.”

We’ll serve tea in teacups alongside a simple charcuterie spread inspired by the meal at the Beavers’ home in The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe.

Nothing fancy, but kid friendly and fun!

A Game Across Narnia

For our outdoor game, we’re putting a Narnian spin on “four corners.”

Each corner will represent a place in Narnia:

• Cair Paravel
• The Stone Table
• Aslan’s Country
• The Beavers’ Dam

I’ll call out moments or clues from the story, and the kids will run to the place they think matches.

It’s simple. It’s active. And it keeps the story in front of them as they play.

A Simple Narnian Cake

And of course—cake.

We’re keeping this simple: a white cake from Sam’s Club, topped with bottle brush trees and a small lion figure.

A snowy forest.

A nod to Aslan.

It doesn’t need to be elaborate to be meaningful.

Why We Do This

There are easier ways to throw a birthday party. But there is something about stepping into a story together that feels worth it.

Stories shape our children. They give them language for courage, sacrifice, and joy. And when those stories echo deeper truths, they stay with them.

That’s what I love about Narnia. It invites our children into a world where good and evil are real, where courage matters, and where a Lion brings life out of death. And maybe, just maybe, as they run through a cardboard wardrobe or sip tea with sticky fingers… they’ll carry a piece of that story with them.