Fantastic 4 Party Planning Guide

Party Planning Checklist

Fantastic 4 Party

A step-by-step checklist for a Fantastic 4 birthday. Quantities are for 8 kids, plus a few grown-ups.

On a computer?
Scan this with your iPhone camera to open the checklist on your phone.

3–4 weeks before

Set the date, time and headcountA 2-hour party is the sweet spot for kids. Count the parents who'll stay too.
Send invitationsAsk parents to RSVP 1 week out and to note any food allergies.
Optional: dress codeBlue shirts make an instant team suit. Add a "4" drawn on paper and pinned to the chest.
Pick the spaceA backyard is best for the games. Indoors, clear a hallway for the stretch challenge.

3–4 weeks before

Tableware for 8The Standard or Deluxe Pack Prime Party covers this. To build your own, get 8 dinner plates, 8 dessert plates, lunch and beverage napkins and a table cover.
Placemats (8)Placemats Prime Party, one per seat. They mark each kid's spot.
CupsThere are no Fantastic 4 cups, so plan on solid blue or orange cups from the store.
Forks & spoonsGrab 20 of each: yellow forks and yellow spoons, or blue forks and spoons. Prime Party
StreamersTwist royal blue, white and orange together like the team suits. Prime Party
Latex balloonsPowder blue latex balloons plus white and orange pearlized balloons. Prime Party
ConfettiSprinkle silver circle confetti and silver star confetti down the table for a cosmic look. Prime Party
DécorThe 3 x 5 ft fabric wall banner and the jointed flag banner Prime Party.
Water bottle labels (16)Bottle labels Prime Party. They set how many bottles of water you buy. See the food section.
Favors (8)Fantastic 4 favor boxes Prime Party, one per kid.

1–2 weeks before

Order or bake the cakeA blue cake with a white "4" logo in the center, or a two-tier cake in blue and orange.
Buy 16 bottles of waterYou have 16 bottle labels, so that's 2 per kid. Standard 16.9 oz bottles are the easiest to wrap.
Plan the main course"Baxter Building" sliders, mac and cheese, and veggie trays.
SnacksPopcorn, orange slices and blue tortilla chips.
Plan the drinksMake Human Torch Orange Fizz (the recipe is after the store list), plus juice boxes. Plan for 2–3 drinks per kid.
IceAbout 1 lb per person, so one 10 lb bag.
Check allergiesConfirm against your RSVPs.

1–2 weeks before

Buy prizes for every gameWinners pick from the prize basket (see the DIY games below). Plan on 20–30 small prizes so every kid wins something.
Stretch challengeLike Mister Fantastic, see who can reach the farthest. Kids stand behind a line and stretch to set a bean bag as far out as they can without stepping over.
Invisible Woman hide-and-seekOne kid is "invisible" and hides. Everyone else counts to 20 and searches.
Clobberin' Time tossStack paper cups into a tower and let kids knock it down with a soft ball, The Thing style.
TriviaPrint this guide and leave the trivia page on the table. It's at the end of this checklist.

1–2 weeks before

Number Scramble: make the numbersWrite one big number per guest (1–8) on half sheets of 8.5 × 11 paper and tape them to the floor around the house. Write the same numbers on slips of paper and put them in a bowl.
Number Scramble: how to playAbout every 15 minutes, ring a bell or play the Fantastic Four theme on a speaker. Everyone scrambles to stand on an open number. Draw a slip from the bowl, and whoever is standing on that number picks a prize. Set the winning slip aside so every kid gets a turn.
Lucky Plate: mark one plateBefore you set the table, draw a small "4" in a circle on the bottom of one dinner plate.
Lucky Plate: the revealHalfway through the meal, announce that everyone should check under their plate. Whoever finds the small "4" in a circle picks a prize.
Prize basketFill a basket with inexpensive prizes for winners to pick from: movie-theater candy boxes, superhero masks, glow sticks, bouncy balls and stickers. Use it for every game. Buy more than you think you'll need. Leftover candy and toys make great thank-you prizes for your clean-up crew. 😉

1 week before

Buy favor fillers for 8A glow stick, a superhero sticker sheet and a small candy.
Check for choking hazardsUse age-appropriate fillers if younger siblings are coming.

Day before

Wrap the water bottlesPeel off the store labels, wrap with the Fantastic 4 labels and chill.
Fill the 8 favor boxes
Make the Number Scramble signs and slips; mark the lucky plateTape the numbers down on party day so they don't get kicked around.
Hang the banners and wall décorHang the fabric wall banner behind the cake table as your photo spot, and drape the flag banner over a doorway.
Inflate balloonsMix powder blue, white and orange. Air-filled clusters last longer than helium. Hang the streamers and scatter the confetti on the table last.
Set out serving dishesFood goes in bowls and on platters, not on the printed plates, so the artwork stays visible.

Party day

3 hrs before	Pick up the cake and order the food.
2 hrs before	Table cover and 8 place settings.
1 hr before	Fill the cooler, set up the games, and tape down the Number Scramble numbers.
Arrival	Music on and drinks out while everyone arrives.
Every 15 min	Ring the bell for a Number Scramble round.
+30 min	Food. Lucky Plate reveal while they eat.
+1 hr	Stretch challenge and Invisible Woman hide-and-seek.
+1 hr 40	Cake, candles and "Happy Birthday." Read trivia while they eat.
Goodbyes	Hand out the favors at the door.

Take this to the store

Everything here comes from the grocery or dollar store.

Signature drink (non-alcoholic)

A bright orange fizz to match the Human Torch. Alcohol-free and kid-approved. Makes about 12 cups, enough for 8 kids with refills. Time: 5 min.

Tip: Fill the labeled water bottles with the fizz for a ready-to-grab drink.

Table talk

Leave this page at the table and read them out between bites. They make for fun conversations at the table, and kids love stumping the grown-ups.

What is Mister Fantastic's real name?
Show answer
Reed Richards
What is the Invisible Woman's real name?
Show answer
Sue Storm
Who is the Human Torch?
Show answer
Johnny Storm, Sue's brother
What is The Thing's real name?
Show answer
Ben Grimm
What does The Thing shout before a fight?
Show answer
"It's clobberin' time!"
What does the Human Torch say when he powers up?
Show answer
"Flame on!"
How did the team get their powers?
Show answer
Cosmic rays during a space mission
What is the name of the team's skyscraper headquarters?
Show answer
The Baxter Building
What is the name of the team's flying car?
Show answer
The Fantasticar
Who is the giant, planet-eating villain?
Show answer
Galactus
What year did the Fantastic Four first appear in comics?
Show answer
1961
Which two creators invented the Fantastic Four?
Show answer
Stan Lee and Jack Kirby