Now that the kids have returned to school, it’s back to the same-old routine: chaotic morning scramble, regular drop-offs and pick-ups, the homework slog, and kids who refuse to describe their day as anything but “fine.” What a bummer.
Shake things up and win parent of the year by throwing a magical mini gathering they’ll talk about forever. The inspiration behind this surprise soiree? The arrival of everyone’s favorite blue buddies, the Smurfs, in living rooms everywhere on Paramount+. That’s right. Smurfette and her crew are now interdimensional time travelers (mm, yep, things have changed!) on a mission to rescue Papa Smurf—and your kids get to go along for the ride.
All it takes is a little creativity to transport them to Smurf Village, where they’ll get to design their own mushroom house, fill up on special snacks, and settle in for an awesome movie experience.
Set the Scene
To re-create the enchanted hideaway, lean into all things woodsy. Kraft paper pulls double duty as a forest floor and mess-friendly base. Cover your desired table and counter surfaces before securing with painter’s tape. Next up are simple centerpieces formed from fake moss, which can easily be purchased at craft stores or online: A roll-out mat version works nicely as a runner, while the stretchable filler is a breeze to style. Paper mushroom decorations (I used Meri Meri’s honeycomb set) add a dash of color, while white scalloped plates mimic shroomy undersides.
Keep the fun(gus) going with some oversized varieties. All you need are half a dozen red paper parasols and white paint for dotting. A quick tip: Round sponge brushes will make applying those circles super simple. And, of course, there’s gotta be blue! Grab a pack of balloons with as many shades as possible for a brilliant display. If your set doesn’t include a strip or an arch or you simply don’t want to bother with all that, just leave them loose (a.k.a. the keepy-uppy special).
Get Crafty with Mini Mushroom Houses
What you’ll need:
- 4-inch terracotta clay pots
- 6-inch foam ball halves
- White tempera paint + brush
- Kwik Stix markers
- Make-a-House sticker sheets
- Round sponge brushes (optional)
- Glue gun
To prep, give the pots a quick coat of white paint at least a day in advance and cut out the design features from the house sticker sheets (e.g., windows, doors, porches, etc—no need for the actual house!).
Once the party begins, kids will use the Kwik Stix color(s) of their choosing to paint the foam half-circle roofs. They can also use the small round brushes dipped in white tempera paint to create dots. Putting those aside, they’ll get to decorate the upside-down pots with their favorite combination of stickers. Once the movie has begun (and paint dots have dried), parents simply glue the roofs on top, and the pint-size abodes are ready to go.
Clever Concessions
What’s an exciting adventure flick without some Smurf-ing snacks? Stay on theme and keep set-up simple with a trio of kid-friendly options. Serve blue and white popcorn in mini boxes for a real movie-night feel. (I bought pre-made blueberry popcorn, but you can easily DIY with blue chocolate melts.) Strawberry and marshmallow skewers keep the mushroom vibes going while minimizing potential mess. To bring it all home, daisy cupcakes are the perfect nod to Smurfette’s iconic style. If those aren’t available at your local grocery store and you don’t want to DIY, blue-frosted cupcakes work just as well.
Use any small wooden bowls, coasters, cutting boards, or serving trays from your cabinets as platforms to display the goods. You can also add blue touches and wood slice decor (plates, stands) as you see fit.
Once they’ve snacked and crafted to their hearts’ content, it’s time for the real magic to begin. Make extra room on the couch (floor cushions work great for additional seating!), hand out cozy blankets, and watch your guests fa -la -la -la -la -la in love just like you did as a kid.
Where to Watch
Last, but certainly not least, Smurfs is currently available to stream on Paramount+. So, snuggle on in and grab your favorite pair of dancing shoes or mini-mic and bring on the blue.