Monkey Party Activities + Favors

Monkey Party: Emma’s Monkey Party-Activities.  If you want to monkey around at your monkey birthday party…you definitely need to check out these amazing monkey party ideas!! Looking for more Monkey party ideas?  Be sure to check out this Monkey headband tutorial and this diy ruffled tableskirt (used in this party)!

A monkey themed party is one of the most joy filled, high energy, and downright adorable celebrations you can plan. There is something about the silliness of monkeys, the bright tropical colors of a jungle theme, and the natural playfulness that comes with swinging vines and banana treats that makes kids light up the second they walk into the party space.

This theme invites laughter, imagination, movement, and plenty of photo worthy moments. Whether you are hosting a birthday for a toddler or planning a playful bash for an older child, a monkey party gives you endless opportunities to create a vibrant and immersive experience.

One of the biggest strengths of a monkey party is how easy it is to style with simple, budget friendly pieces. A few leafy greens, some cute printable signs, a handful of plush monkeys, and pops of bright yellow and green instantly set the stage. Layer in a few jungle vines, a fun backdrop, and themed tableware from your local party store or from the <a href=”https://md-printables.myshopify.com/”>Mimi’s Dollhouse Printable Shop</a>, and suddenly your everyday living room or backyard looks like a playful rainforest adventure. This theme also photographs beautifully, which makes the whole celebration feel polished without needing elaborate DIY builds.

Parents love that a monkey theme naturally lends itself to engaging activities. Kids can climb, jump, color, toss beanbags, dress up, and even “adopt a monkey” to take home. Whether your little one is a wild climber or a sweet snuggler, monkey themed activities meet kids right where they are and bring out the giggles in everyone. Plus, this theme blends seamlessly with other jungle ideas, so you can easily expand or simplify based on your child’s personality and your party budget.

With bright colors, silly monkey faces, and plenty of fun built into every corner, a monkey themed celebration captures everything wonderful about childhood. It is colorful, sweet, lively, and full of imagination. If you are looking for a party theme that feels joyful, approachable, and completely adorable, a monkey birthday party is the perfect match.

What’s a monkey party without some fun monkey games?  When I put together a small children, I like to have several different stations set up for the kids to play/interact with.  I typically don’t structure times for the different activities, but let the kids move freely among the options.  This helps with sharing and waiting at traffic jams.  It also helps me space out some pictures…I love party photos!  Don’t you?

Today I am sharing some of the different monkey party games and stations we set up for the little monkeys to enjoy…

1. The photo friendly monkey bench.

Every great party needs a fun spot for photos, and the monkey bench is the perfect centerpiece for adorable, memory filled snapshots. Kids love climbing onto a cute, themed bench, especially when it is surrounded by vines, balloons, and cheeky little monkey faces. This photo area becomes a natural gathering point where families stop to pose, siblings giggle together, and the birthday child gets a special moment in the spotlight. Not only does the monkey bench add personality to your decor, but it also gives you the opportunity to create a dedicated photo booth without needing elaborate props or expensive backdrops.

You can flank the bench with stuffed monkeys, banana balloons, or tropical leaves to make the scene feel lush and jungle inspired. Adding a simple printable sign or a vine wrapped frame instantly creates that picture perfect moment. This cute setup encourages guests to snap photos throughout the party, and those sweet smiles become treasured memories long after the celebration ends.

This one was awesome and oh so easy…firstly, kids love to ham it up for the camera. Giving them a sweet little photo booth (ok, bench) was perfect.  I hung a simple fabric banner behind a coordinating bench and laid out a few prop monkeys and let the kids sit and pose to their hearts’ content. Trust me the photos are worth it!!!

2.  Dress like a Monkey

One of the most delightful parts of a monkey party is watching kids fully embrace the silly, playful energy of the theme. Setting up a “Dress Like a Monkey” station gives little guests the perfect chance to jump right into character. Think headbands with monkey ears, banana necklaces, masks, tails, or simple safari hats decorated with jungle leaves. Kids adore costumes, and offering them fun add ons helps break the ice, encourages imaginative play, and results in some truly adorable photos.

You do not need anything elaborate to make this station a hit. A small basket of accessories, a mirror, and a cute sign can turn a simple corner into an instant kids’ favorite. This activity is ideal for little ones who love dress up, and it helps tie all the party activities together by letting kids move from coloring to games to photos while still dressed in theme. Your guests will love it, and parents will cherish the adorable snapshots.

Each little monkey got a homemade pair of monkey ears.  These were adorable, especially on the littlest monkeys.  They were easy to make (tutorial coming soon) and a great way to get the kiddos in the monkey party mood!

3.  Monkey coloring.

Coloring stations are always a hit at children’s parties, and a monkey themed coloring table is the perfect calm, creative activity to pair with all the energetic games. Kids love having a quiet corner where they can sit, color silly monkey faces, draw jungle vines, or decorate bananas with bright markers. It is especially ideal for younger guests who may need a little break from running around or who prefer activities that allow them to sit and focus.

Set out printed monkey coloring sheets, crayons, markers, and a few stickers for added fun. You can even offer a simple craft, like coloring a monkey mask to wear during the party. This station gives kids something to take home, makes transitions smoother, and helps keep the party balanced between high energy fun and sweet creative moments. It is easy to set up, budget friendly, and always well loved.

Coloring stations are perfect for little monkeys.  I downloaded some cute curious george photos from the internet (a cheap coloring book also accomplishes the same task) and let the kids color their own little monkey photos.  This was especially popular with the girls.  Girls just like to color!!

4. Pin the Banana on the Monkey.

Classic party games are always a winner, and “Pin the Banana on the Monkey” is a hilarious, kid friendly twist on the traditional favorite. This game fits perfectly with your monkey theme and gets kids laughing as they try their best to place the banana where it belongs. You only need a large monkey poster, some paper bananas, and a blindfold, and you instantly have a game that entertains kids of all ages.

Little ones love cheering each other on, and older kids get competitive in the best, most playful way. You can offer small prizes, stickers, or simply lots of applause for the closest banana placement. This is one of those classic games that never loses its charm and gives your party an energetic, joyful moment. It is simple to set up, easy to organize, and always a crowd pleaser.

This fun game lets the kids take a shot at putting the banana in the monkey’s hand.  Fun for all, even if they wouldn’t wear the blindfolds!!  The graphics for this game can be purchased here.

5. Adopt a Monkey.

An “Adopt a Monkey” station is one of the sweetest and most memorable additions to a monkey themed party. Kids absolutely light up when they get to choose their own stuffed monkey to take home. Not only does it make for an adorable party moment, but it also doubles as a themed favor that parents love. Set out a basket or crate filled with small plush monkeys and create a cute adoption certificate with the child’s name and the monkey’s new name.

You can decorate the table with vines, leaves, or little printable signs inviting guests to choose their new jungle friend. This station encourages gentle play, imaginative storytelling, and gives kids a keepsake that will remind them of your celebration long after the party is over. It is charming, heartwarming, and incredibly easy to organize.

Each little monkey got to take home a little monkey of their own to love.  We even had Monkey Adoption Certificates for the kids to fill out promising love and care for their adopted little monkeys.  These also double as party favors for the kids.  I love fun favors that work well with the theme like these.  Winning!!

6. Monkey Mouth Bean Bag Toss.

The Monkey Mouth Bean Bag Toss is an instant hit for little ones who love active games. This fun interactive activity encourages kids to aim, toss, laugh, and cheer each other on while they try to throw beanbags into a large cutout monkey mouth. Whether you use a store-bought set or create your own DIY version with a foam board and paint, this game adds delightful energy to your party.

Kids naturally gravitate toward games that involve movement, and this one keeps them entertained without requiring any complicated rules. You can set up simple scoring, offer small stickers as prizes, or just celebrate each kid as they make a great toss. This activity keeps the party lively and helps burn off energy while staying completely on theme. It is fun, silly, and wonderfully photo worthy.

Banana Bean Bags, A large Monkey head, and eager little kids…yeah, we had a blast.

Let’s go bananas…I’m sharing a fun tutorial for a Monkey Party game today.

Having a monkey party and looking for ways to entertain your little menagerie?  How about a Banana Bean Bag Toss?  The bananas are super simple…the monkey face takes a little more skill, but can always be simplified to your particular crafting comfort level…

Materials:

• Felt, Yellow and Brown
• Thread
• Sewing Machine (or a needle for the old fashioned way!!)
• Bean Bag Filler Plastic Pellets
• Safety pins
• Thin wood sheet or foam poster board
• Construction or scrapbook paper (various colors)
• Jig Saw (for wood) or knife (for foam board)
• Glue

Cut the Yellow Felt into two identical banana shaped pieces, leaving about .5 inch extra around the shape on all sides. Sew around all but the tip of the banana.

Turn the felt inside out and press out the felt to shape.

Using the bean bag filler fill the banana to desired consistency.  Cut the brown felt into strips and wrap around end of the banana.  Be sure to cover all open sections of the yellow felt.  Secure with safety pins.  Sew around the edges of the brown felt making the nub of the banana.

With either wood or foam board, trace out the outline of the monkey face.  Cut the wood with a jigsaw or the foam board with a large knife around the head and the inside of the mouth.  Using the construction or scrapbook paper, cut out shapes to make the monkey face and bow. Glue to the board.

Enjoy hours of playing with your monkey face!!

 7. Party Favors.

Monkey party favors are the perfect way to send guests home with a little piece of the jungle fun. Whether you choose banana candies, mini plush monkeys, stickers, bubbles, or themed coloring sheets, these favors help extend the joy of the celebration. Present them in tropical colored bags or kraft boxes decorated with a cute monkey face and a printable thank you tag.

You can also create simple DIY favor kits like “Monkey Snack Mix,” “Jungle Explorer Kits,” or small sensory bins filled with jungle animals. Kids love tiny treasures, and themed favors make them feel extra special. These sweet take home treats help parents remember the adorable theme, and children enjoy continuing the monkey fun long after the party ends.

And of course…party favors.  Since the monkeys had all been adopted, we needed to send their new owners home with some Monkey food (aka candy bananas in a tube).  For the larger monkeys, we also had monkey lollipops and Monkey Bars (chocolate!!!).

8. Hot Dog Bar

A hot dog bar is an easy, crowd pleasing addition to your monkey party food lineup. Kids love being able to customize their own hot dogs with toppings like cheese, ketchup, mustard, relish, mini pickles, or shredded lettuce. It is simple to set up, budget friendly, and keeps guests happily fed while being super hands on. Use cute themed signs like Jungle Dogs, Monkey Munch Dogs, or Safari Snacks to tie the food into your party theme.

Set out toppings in small bowls, add some tropical leaves or wooden boards under your serving dishes, and you instantly have a monkey party themed food station that looks adorable and functions perfectly. Parents appreciate the ease, kids love the independence, and the entire setup fits naturally into the playful jungle vibe.

Coming up with party food…you either love it or you hate it:)  Some parties, the food is so easy.  It just fits together so neatly.  And then there are those parties that it just seems like finding ideas is soooo hard! Of course, being totally type A means that I basically obsess over these little details, even when they are easy!

For my baby girl’s monkey party, there were of course tons of monkey food ideas I went through, but my little Emma LOVES Hot Dogs.  LOVES them!!  I knew I wanted to serve hot dogs at her party, but I didn’t want to just put hot dogs out on the table:)  So I decided to make a hot dog bar…and she FLIPPED!  Monkeys and hot dogs may not seem like the most logical of choices, but for my little monkey…it was a match made in monkey heaven!!

I turned our kitche counters into a “Monkey Bar” to serve up the hotdogs and ALL the fixins…

To make the Hot Dog Bar extra super awesome, I made signs with several famous hot dog recipes signs so all the party guests could try some of the country’s most popular hot dogs.  Some of the topping ideas were so yummy too…I don’t think I can go back to eating hot dogs without cucumbers again!!

My absolute favorite, however, is the Cincinnati Chili Dog and of course serving Cincinnati Chili, it just didn’t seem right to leave out the Nacho Cheese and chips, so we threw in some Monkey Nachos too!!

This idea was about as yummy as it was cute!

We had a blast monkeying around!!!

Looking for more Monkey party ideas?  Be sure to check out this Monkey headband tutorial and this diy ruffled tableskirt (used in this party)!

Monkey Party Tableware

The easiest way to serve all the glorious party treats you make and buy is with themed party ware. This is budget friendly and keeps the design flowing through every part of your party. Definitely a must buy. When you are planning a monkey themed celebration, coordinating tableware ties everything together and makes your snack and dessert tables look polished without requiring extra decorations. Bright green plates, banana yellow cups, palm leaf napkins, and monkey face dessert plates instantly communicate the theme and set the tone for your whole event.

Themed party ware also makes setup incredibly simple. Even if your food is low effort and kid friendly, matching plates and napkins make it feel intentionally styled. Little guests notice these small details, and parents appreciate how cohesive the tables look in photos. This is one of the easiest ways to add color, character, and personality to your monkey party without breaking the bank.

Another great benefit is how much party ware can elevate your display. Even the simplest treats—bananas, sandwiches, cookies, chips—look adorable when served on themed plates or in tropical colored bowls. Pair your tableware with a few vines, some banana cutouts, and cute printable labels, and your entire spread suddenly looks Pinterest ready. Coordinated party ware is truly one of the quickest and most affordable upgrades you can make, and it ties everything in your monkey party together from start to finish.

Sock Monkey Supplies from Oriental Trading

Monkey Plates from Meri Meri

If you love these monkey party activities, please pin this image to your birthday board:

Conclusion for Monkey Party Activities

A monkey themed celebration truly captures everything that makes kids’ parties magical. It is bright, silly, energetic, and full of interactive fun. This theme encourages imagination and play in the sweetest ways, giving kids plenty of opportunities to move, laugh, create, and make memories that last. From the photo friendly monkey bench to the coloring station, from pin the banana on the monkey to adopting a plush jungle friend, every part of this theme invites engagement and joy. That is what makes monkey parties so special. They are not just cute, they are immersive and perfectly suited for little ones who love to explore, climb, and giggle.

The beauty of this theme is how effortless it can be to execute. With simple decorations like leafy greens, bright balloons, banana cutouts, and themed tableware, you can transform any space into a playful rainforest. Activities that involve movement pair beautifully with quieter creative options like coloring or mask making, giving you the perfect balance of high energy and calm. Kids naturally flow from one station to another, and the whole party feels smooth and thoughtfully planned.

The food options make this theme even more charming. A hot dog bar, fruit trays, banana treats, and jungle snacks give you so much flexibility and allow you to serve food that is delicious, affordable, and fun to style. Cute labels, themed plates, and coordinated colors help tie everything together so the entire party feels cohesive and polished without requiring complicated recipes or difficult presentation.

Monkey themed favors are the perfect way to wrap up the celebration. Whether guests go home with their newly adopted plush monkey, some adorable banana candies, stickers, or coloring sheets, those tiny treasures remind them of the fun they had and help extend the joy of the party into the days that follow. This is what makes a monkey party feel complete — thoughtful planning, simple execution, joyful energy, and sweet little details that make the day unforgettable.

In the end, a monkey party is one of the most versatile, joyful, and easy to love themes you can choose. It works for any age, any space, and any party style. You can keep it simple or go all out, and it will still delight the kids and photograph beautifully. If you want a party that feels playful, colorful, and full of heart, this monkey themed celebration is the perfect choice.

Related posts for How to Throw a Monkey Birthday:

• Penguin Party Ideas
• Woodlands Animals Party Ideas
• Monkey Party Ideas
• DIY Monkey Headbands
• Circus Party Ideas
• DIY Sloth Cookies and Cupcakes
• DIY Penguin Cookies and Cupcakes
• DIY Tiger Cookies and Cupcakes
• DIY Raccoon Cookies and Cupcakes
• DIY Cat Cookies and Cupcakes
• DIY Panda Cookies and Cupcakes
• How to Throw a Cat Themed Birthday Party

Thanks for reading our Monkey birthday party ideas!