Disney Cars-Themed Food Party With Printables

*Updated December 7, 2024* 

Free printables are available to enhance the party’s visual appeal and organization.

Planning a Pixar Cars Movie Birthday Party

Planning a Pixar Cars movie birthday party can be so much fun for kids and adults! Start by deciding on a theme and color scheme. You can choose a Radiator Springs vibe, a Lightning McQueen focus, or a Mater-centric theme. Once you have your theme, it’s time to think about decorations, food, and activities that will bring the party to life.

Consider the birthday child’s age and interests. Simple games like “Pin the Wheel on the Car” or a “Cars”-themed coloring station can be a hit for younger kids. Older kids might enjoy more complex activities like a scavenger hunt or a craft station where they can create their race car designs.

Budget is another crucial factor. You can save money by making decorations and food or shopping at discount stores. Homemade cake and DIY decorations can add a personal touch and decrease costs.

With some creativity and planning, you can throw a Pixar Cars movie birthday party that your child and their friends will never forget. Every detail, from the decorations to the activities, can be tailored to create a magical and memorable celebration.

#DisneySide – With Printables

If you follow us here at TOTS, you will have seen our posts about our #DisneySide @Home Celebration.

You can see some of our activities here and here.

Along with some great activities, we had some fantastic food!

This post will help you brainstorm ideas for your own Lightning McQueen party.

We’ll include free printables to enhance the party’s visual appeal and organization!

At this party, we hosted 10 kids aged 0-9, most aged 3-5.

With so many food options, I decided to keep serving sizes small so everyone could taste each item and there wouldn’t be as much waste.

Our Lightening McQueen Cupcakes

They were made by Original Cake Designs. She has made cakes and cupcakes for us many times, and we have never been disappointed.

We had (my fave) red velvet and vanilla cupcakes.

I ordered way too many, but my colleagues in the NICU were happy to help us solve that problem.

Main Course and Appetizer Ideas

When planning the menu for a Pixar Cars movie birthday party, the options are endless and delicious! Here are some fun and creative ideas for main courses and appetizers that will delight both kids and adults:

• Lightning McQueen’s Speedster Sandwiches: These sandwiches are tasty and fun to eat. Use cookie cutters to shape them like cars and fill them with options like turkey, ham, or the classic peanut butter and jelly. They’re sure to be a hit!
• Mater’s Tater Tots: These bite-sized tater tots are easy to make and perfect for little hands. Serve them with dipping sauces like ketchup or ranch dressing for a fun and tasty treat.
• Sally’s Salad Bar: Set up a salad bar with toppings such as cherry tomatoes, cheese, and croutons. Offer different dressings like ranch or vinaigrette to cater to all tastes. It’s a healthy option that’s still fun and interactive.
• Fillmore’s Fruit Cups: These colorful fruit cups can be made with grapes, strawberries, and pineapple. Add a dollop of whipped cream on top for an extra treat. They’re refreshing and perfect for a summer birthday party.

These main courses and appetizer ideas will surely add a fun and delicious touch to your Pixar Cars movie birthday party, making it a memorable event for everyone.

Drink Options

For drinks, I had two options.

My older boys love to drink soda.

We let them drink Soda on special occasions.

However, we prefer that younger kids not have pop, so their special treat is chocolate milk.

Both options provided the visual effect I was hoping for. Mater Motor Oil.

Check out the printable for Mater Motor Oil.

I used plastic ‘shot glasses’ for our cups.

The printable fit reasonably well on the cups from my local dollar store.

Additionally, we made a cozy cone dessert inspired by the Cozy Cone Motel in Radiator Springs, using sugar cones and customizable decorations.

The Lightning Jello and Mater Pudding Cups

didn’t photograph individually as well as I would have liked, but you can imagine how cute they were.

The Lightning McQueen eyes printable can be found here.

We used red jello in the same ‘shot glass’ plastic cups we used above. The boys loved the Lightning Jello and Mater Pudding Cups.

For the Mater cups, I used chocolate pudding.

I was not happy with the Mater eyes alone, so I included a small Mater image instead.

For Luigi’s Nuts and Bolts

I once again shopped at the dollar store for these ‘to-go’ containers and filled them with nuts and bolts mix.

For those looking to save time, a store-bought nuts and bolts mix can be a convenient and affordable option for your party.

I used Avery round labels, the printable found here, and this one.

 

 

Disney CARS Party Ideas Printables:

You can find the Mater poster here.

I printed it 24″ X 36″.

You can find the mouths we used here.

I printed these on cardstock 8.5″ X 11″

I would love to hear how your Disney CARS Party Ideas turned out, please share your posts, pictures and stories below!

And check out the Disney Cars Party Food article.

The Mater’s Dip Sticks

These are the items I was least happy with.

I opted for round labels with a circle around the edge.

My printer did not align with the labels properly.

In the future, I will skip the red and black circles to prevent this problem.

Honestly, however, the kids didn’t notice, and the parents were happy to see something healthy (it was a party, after all).

One of the highlights was the Piston Cup Popcorn, which added a fun and thematic touch to the menu.

 

Party Favors and Activities

Planning party favors and activities for a Pixar Cars movie birthday party can be so much fun! Here are some creative ideas to keep your little racers entertained and happy:

• “Cars”-themed Party Favors: Send each guest home with a small toy car, a “Cars”-themed sticker, or a coloring book. These little gifts will remind them of their fun at the party.
• “Pin the Wheel on the Car” Game is a fun twist on the classic “Pin the Tail on the Donkey.” Create a large poster of a car and have each guest take a turn trying to pin a small wheel on it. It’s a simple yet entertaining activity that kids will love.
• “Cars”-themed Craft Station: Set up a craft station where guests can make their own “Cars”-themed crafts, like a Lightning McQueen hat or a Mater mask. Please provide all the necessary supplies and let their creativity run wild.
• “Cars”-themed Scavenger Hunt: Organize a scavenger hunt with clues and challenges inspired by the Pixar Cars movie. This activity will keep the kids engaged and excited as they search for hidden treasures.

Mater Motor Oil

Check out the printable for Mater Motor Oil.

I used plastic ‘shot glasses’ for our cups.

The printable from my local dollar store fits the cups fairly well.

.

Party Decor and Favors

Transform your entire party space into a scene straight out of Radiator Springs with the right decorations and favors.

Set up a dessert table with a vintage-style backdrop, and use old vintage oil cans and soup cans to display food and drinks.

Decorate with balloons and streamers in red, yellow, and blue—the signature colors of the movie.

Consider giving guests a little wooden car with their license tag, an official Cars PEZ dispenser, or a trophy (Piston Cup) for party favors.

You can also create a DIY photo booth with cardboard cutouts of Lightning McQueen, Mater, and other beloved characters from the movie, ensuring that every guest leaves with a smile and a keepsake.

 

 

Making the Party a Success

To ensure your Disney CARS birthday party is a roaring success, focus on creating a fun and interactive experience for the kids.

Set up engaging games and activities, such as Pin the Buck Teeth on Mater, a McQueen piñata, and large cardboard cars for racing.

Consider hiring a face painter or setting up a craft table where kids can make their license tags.

Make sure to have plenty of adult supervision to keep everyone safe and happy.

With careful planning and attention to detail, you’ll create a Disney CARS birthday party that the kids will remember and cherish for years.

Readers also enjoyed Disney CARS Photo Booth: Party Activity, Disney CARS Party Ideas: Pin The Mouth On Mater , Most Popular TV Show Cars and Disney CARS Party Food #DisneySide – With Printables.