I wasn't able to find many ideas for a Backyardigans-themed birthday party for my 4 year old...but when I saw a sign advertising Jumpy Castles" it all came together!!   I decided that since the Backyardigans (Bs for short!) always have their backyards transformed into a different adventure each episode I thought that our backyard would be transformed into a carnival!! I rented a bouncy/jumping castle for starters. A four hour rental (inc. set up and take down) costed $150. Then the ideas started to flow!  The "snack" (cause the Bs always have a snack at the end of their adventure!!) would be carnival-type snacks....hot dogs cotton candy popcorn ice cream cones. The backyard would be decorated with tons of balloons and streamers (colours matching each of the five characters). For games  we would fill the kiddy pool with water and little plastic fish which the kids would have to go fishing for (carnival game!).  I bought some face paint as well so the kids could have a true carnival experience!    Of course the Bs CD would be playing in the background and plates napkins and table cloth would be Bs party supplies.  However as I find these types of novelties to be rather pricey I went to the dollar store and bought bright coloured napkins and plates to mix with the other ones I had bought. That really cut costs.   We also have our own swingset in the backyard so between all of that the kids would have a BLAST!!    For the loot bag...hmm..well there are lots of ideas.  OF course you could buy Bs stuff and give that out..but that gets expensive.  So I saw a cute metal bucket at the dollar store in several different colours. ANd then I saw miniature (but real and functional) metal garden tools.  So going with the backyard theme ( a bit of a spin-off..but that's where the Bs like to spend most of their time right!) I thought i would send each of the kids home with their very own gardening tools to spend more time with mom and dad in the garden! (and besides...every mom out there knows..which kid needs any more of those cheapy loot bag toys?!). I put a few inches worth of "dirt" (Oreo baking crumbs!) into the bucket and hid some "worms" (the gummy edible kind!) into the dirt...so the kids would have to use their new tools to find their treat!     All in all very successful and lots of fun!   "