This party was inspired by a city (Scottsdale, AZ) sponsored event called Mud Mania. Once a year children get the opportunity to play in the mud and they have a blast! The only problem is that it takes place on a week day during school hours so my children and their friends can no longer go to it. So we decided to bring the mud to them. Don't be afraid to host this party! It was inexpensive, not that messy and more fun than you could ever imagine.  INVITATIONS: We created our own flyers using our computer and printer. We used regular paper with a fun brown font and made borders around the invitation using brown splatters and insects (clip art was a great tool for this).  The invitations warned this would be a messy event and to bring an extra set of under clothes for any participants.    DECORATIONS: The party took place outside in our yard (the correct season makes a big difference!) so we used the typical party decorations of streamers and balloons, of course using brown colors. We also used caution� tape and hung a sign saying do not cross� to keep the kids on the patio (or in the house) until the activities were to start, at which point the kids would break through the caution tape (in a race for the game). Because we had just gotten new carpet, we laid down painters plastic on the floor from the back door leading all the way to the bathroom, making a pathway. We had planned for people to rinse off in the shower, but most participants just used the hose and sprinklers outside to rinse off. But it was a nice touch in case someone needed to use the restroom. Also, on the table with the food/cake, we decorated it with fake plastic bugs spread among the food.    PARTY SNACKS: We planned the party backwards, having food and presents before the activities, because the kids would be too messy to do it later. So as guest arrived, they mingled and snacked on the typical party snacks of chips, dips, veggies and fruit trays. After all guests arrived we did the presents and then the cake.  CAKE: This part was fun! Instead of a cake, we let each kid make their own mud pie. Each kid got a small silver pie pan to make their own creation (for a more inexpensive and more durable option, use the silver Styrofoam bowls). We had used large pie trays/pans set out with Oreo cookie crumbs (generic is cheaper) for dirt, brownie crumbs for mud and chocolate ice cream. The kids then got to top of their mud pie with gummy worms, candy bugs and chocolate whip cream. Of course we offered milk as one of the beverages!  COSTUMES: After the food, gifts, and cake were done. We had each child change into their party clothes�. This too was very inexpensive. At a second hand store I purchased white t-shirts and miscellaneous shorts for each child in their size and extras in case some did not RSVP. I also got a few adult sizes in case the parents felt adventurous. The used clothes were washed and we used a brown fabric maker to writeTrace's Mud Party on each one (except the birthday boys shirt said My Mud Party). This made for wonderful pictures before the mud portion of the party started. And don't forget to purchase towels (also at a second hand store) for the kids to use and also to give to parents to put down in their cars for the ride home in case of lingering mud.  ACTIVITIES: We had purchased seven large plastic kiddy pools (that would later be cleaned out and donated to our local humane society, much needed and a tax write off!) and ordered a ton or so of clean dirt (also very inexpensive!). To save some extra money, we picked up the dirt in our truck rather than have it delivered (or have a friend with a truck pick it up and promise to clean it for them, a good spray will get it out). We divided the dirt in the pools, and then added water from our hose (it did take awhile to get the right mixture though, so start early in the day). The mud pools were spread out through out the yard. We have a large plastic slide that we put the end of into one of the pools. We also added several plastic outdoor toys (a kitchen set with dishes, ride on toys, a water table, and a swing set, basically anything that can be cleaned/hosed off easy) for the kids who were a bit hesitant about getting muddy. And if there is going to be mud, there must be water! We had a kid sprinkler system, with many different shooters (so several kids could use at one time) and had plenty of squirting water toys available. The kids who chose not to get in the mud had a blast putting themselves in charge� of cleaning people off. We also had an automatic bubble machine located by the plastic toy area, as the younger kids seemed to gravitate towards the toys and bubbles. As an extra, a muddy kid could get showered with bubbles (aka soap) then get rinsed off! One extra note: the kids seemed to respond the best and have an absolute blast once the adults got in the mud! The parents got a chance to be a kid again and the kids got to see a side of their parents that is not normal! It was fantastic!  GAMES: The only game we played was to hide large and small fake plastic bugs in the mud pools. Any toy bugs that were found were that child's to keep and the first child to find a bug got a prize (a tube of eatable bugs of course!). This was a great way to start the party, as it allowed the kids to slowly get used to the feel of the mud before plunging in.  FAVORS: Each child took home a brown (of course) paper bag personalized by my son with stickers of bugs! The goody bags contained toy bugs, candy, stickers and misc. party favors.  AFTERWARDS: Once it was time to leave, the children (and some adults) put on their clean underclothes and the original outfit they wore to the party. For the parents who were a bit pickier about messy things, we provided them clean towels (for them to keep) to put on the seats or floor of their vehicles. ALL IN ALL: This has got to be the best party we have ever done! Although it was years ago, it is still frequently talked about by all attendees (even people we did not know then have heard of this party!). We had children ranging from 1 year to 13 years old (+ adults) and they all had a blast! Many parents believe that we were crazy to do this, but in all honestly, it was much less inexpensive (dollar stores and second hand stores can supply most items) and less work than other parties we have thrown. If you want to have a party worth remembering, this is 100% the way to go!