Candy Race Cars
These edible cars make a super place setting and double
as a fun party favor!

You'll Need:
large packs of gum 3"x1" -- car body
snack size candy bars --spoiler and headlights
round hard candy or peanut butter cups -- tires
low temperature glue gun and glue sticks

Use the glue gun to attach the tires onto the sides, spoilers off the back and and headlights on the front of the pack of gum. Positioned the back tire candies lower on the pack of gum, to simulate a "dragster".
Tips: the new mini candy bars no longer have silver wrappers. We covered ours with aluminum foil to make headlights. If you don't have  a lo-temp
glue gun, a standard glue gun can be used, but it will melt the chocolate,
so be cautious.

A SPECIAL WELCOME
Place a large piece of poster board, glue, scissors, 
magazines, crayons or markers on the floor or table.
When children arrive direct them to help make the birthday child a card to save. Cut and glue magazine car photos, add stickers, write notes or color pictures. Your child can save it for a poster and you can save it for a memory.

HOT WHEELS PARTY GAMES 
Keep your Hot Wheels fans entertained, with a few of these party games. Activities designed especially for younger children, can be found
a bit further down the page.

Road Rally
Have your own race with wind-up cars.
Before the party, write each child's name on a car and place masking tape
to signify the starting point and a few other pieces for finish markings.
Hand each player the car, with their name. Use a flag or cloth to start your race...Winners get a piece of candy or blue ribbons.

Obstacle Course
If you have the space...
Use old tires, cones, chairs and boxes. Prepare the obstacle course buy creating challenges. The children are cars. They must get through the challenge course. Around Tires, under tunnels (cut boxes), jump rivers (streamers on the ground) Etc. You can have your Birthday Child 
help with the set up of this activity. Don't forget to make car sounds!
They  run the course as many times as they want, receiving a candy,
or small treat every time.

Hot wheels Piñata Activity
Fill a Race car piñata with Hot Wheels stickers, candy and fruit snacks!

Bucket Drop
You'll need:
clothes pins
pictures of cars ( magazine, cut outs etc.)
bucket or box
Directions: Place bucket or box lower than the child.
You can use stairs, a chair, a stool or the back of a sofa. 
Attach car cut outs in 5 clothes pins. Take turns trying to drop the clothes pins/cars  in the container. Adapt this game for age by increasing or decreasing the size of the opening in the container. No need for winners or losers everybody has fun and gets a candy or sticker to add to their goodie bag.
VARIATION: Use a wide mouth plastic container and 
plastic cars for dropping.

What Am I?
You'll Need:
One 3x5 card for each child, Pictures of cars or Car Parts 
(Tires, seats, steering wheel etc.). Attach one picture to each card. Prepare these cards before the party. Have the children form a circle. Tape a card to each of their backs. When you say go…players look at each others 
cards and give clues until every player has guessed what's 
on their card.
Example: You are black. You are Round. You Roll.
"Am I a Tire?"...Yeah, you guessed! 
Add a challenge for older children by using  NASCAR Drivers, 
more advanced auto parts and well know races.

Paint Your Own Hot Rod or your favorite Car
Make your own car to take home!
Purchase wooden cars, kid-safe paint and paint brushes, or use with spray painted shoeboxes. Be sure to provide large shirt smocks and a protected space for painting. A large tarp on the ground will do just fine. Also provide wet-wipes for messy hands. Encourage the children to decorate their cars with racing stripes, numbers etc.

ACTIVITIES FOR YOUNGER CHILDREN
Set these party activities in "stations", much like a preschool. Enlist an adult helper at each station. Allow the children
to play freely at the individual activities. 

Hot Wheels Free Play
You can find plastic or carpeted mats  at most stores these days for under $10.00. Set the mat out with a basket of cars.

Make your own Goodie Bags
Provide plain favor boxes, or bags and car stickers, with which the children
can decorate their own bags. You can then add the favors afterwards.

Car Painting
You'll need old matchbox cars
Black paper
White and yellow paint (or any light color)

Pour paint in meat trays, or cookie sheets. Place a few cars in each paint tray. Children "drive" the cars through the paint and then drive them onto the paper. Use a white crayon to label each picture. Very little paint is actually used so that these dry quickly.

PARTY TREATS
Make Cookie Tires with Oreo cookies. Use a dollop of 
frosting to attach a life saver in the center. Then, top
a frosted cupcakes with a tire cookie.

Re-fuel with car shaped sandwiches. Cut kid's favorite sandwiches like P,B& J or ham and cheese, using a car shaped cookie cutter. Serve with carrot sticks, orange slices and grapes. 

Hot Wheels Birthday Cake
Frost a sheet cake with blue or yellow frosting.
Use black licorice ropes or Fruit by the Foot for a road way.
Place miniature cars on the road. You can also find street
signs and other accessories at local craft or party store.
cake topped with match box cars.

Rev it up Punch:
You'll Need:
"Hot wheels Fruit snacks", fruit punch frozen concentrate,
7-up, Large punch or mixing bowl

Place a hot wheel Fruit snack in each cube section of an ice cube tray. Fill with water and freeze. Mix the punch using less water than required. Add ice and 7-up just before serving.
Be careful to let the children know about the fruit snack car so they won't swallow it.

HOT WHEELS PARTY FAVORS
Use colored paper bags found in the gift wrap department of most stores. Provide the children with stickers of cars, markers crayons etc. for
decorating a favor bag.  Then fill the bag with Hot Wheels favors.
Hot wheels are as popular as ever, so you can easily find, candies,
cards, stickers or mini-puzzles.
Race car party supplies and favors can be found at Birthday In a Box >>