How to Plan a Cowboy Party Theme: A Get-Together With Giddyup

Since the early days of saloons and stagecoach robberies, people have been enamored with the idea of the Western cowboy lifestyle. Because it still exists today for ranchers, rodeo athletes and anyone who spends time around livestock, public fascination with cowboy culture is alive and well, making a cowboy party theme (or cowgirl party theme!) an excellent idea.

Whether you’re planning a child’s birthday celebration or a more grown-up event, here’s how to pull off the best boot-scootin’ cowboy theme party possible.

Table of Contents

• What is a cowboy theme party?
• Cowboy theme ideas
• Themed decorations
• Food and drinks
• Party games and activities
• Cowboy party venue ideas
• Invitation ideas
• Party favors
• What to wear
• Finding the best location

What in tarnation are cowboy theme parties?

Cowboy parties are celebrations that focus on elements of the Wild West and its cowboy culture, which began in the 1500s with Spanish and Mexican “vaqueros” or cattle drivers. In the early 1800s, that way of life became the foundation for cowboys in the United States as large ranches popped up in the Southwest.

Today, hardworking ranchers in that area are still known as cowboys, but their aesthetic has been adopted across the United States as one of stylish but casual fun. (Think cowboy hats and boots, jackets with fringe, distressed denim with giant belt buckles, mechanical bull riding, line dancing, rodeos and cutesy farm-related home decor.)

Although you can tailor your cowboy party theme ideas to your preferences, most of these types of gatherings include guests’ dressing the part. Hosts usually provide homestyle food, themed drinks, and decorations and activities that somehow tie in ranch, rodeo or livestock references.

Cowboy party theme ideas that’ll make ‘em say ‘yee-haw!’

It’s party time, pardner. From food and decorations to games and activities, here are some of the elements you’ll need for a fun and successful shindig.

Decorations for cowboy party

When considering your cowboy party decorations, you’ll definitely want to factor in a country feel that’s heavy on farm and livestock vibes. Consider setting up hay or straw bales, barrels and crates that can serve as tables and chairs, food displays, photo backdrops (or go all-out with a Western-theme photoshoot) or a combination of all of those.

For an extra touch, work in stuffed, blowup or cardboard farm animals and cacti, and decorate the walls with “wanted” posters bearing photos of your guests – similar to the ones shared on Pinterest.

Set tables with checkered tablecloths or coverings made from faux buckskin or cow-print fabric. Choose plates and napkins that feature a barnyard theme. For centerpieces, incorporate horseshoes and Mason jars with colorful wildflowers.

Cowboy theme party food and drinks

The most on-theme cowboy party foods will include Southwestern country favorites, or you could also opt for a more fusion-style take by offering Tex-Mex foods.

• Barbecued ribs or chicken wings
• Baked beans
• Biscuits
• Cornbread
• Corn on the cob
• Macaroni and cheese
• Tacos
• Enchiladas
• Black beans
• Nachos
• Cubed meats and cheeses held together with themed toothpicks

Desserts might include cupcakes decorated with cowboys, hats or farm animals or cookies shaped like horseshoes, cacti, cowboy boots or cattle. Several creators on TikTok have also shared ideas for adorable marshmallow squares coated in shredded wheat to look like edible bales of straw. Here are a few other creative ideas.

• Chocolate-dipped Pringles topped with Rolos or chocolate-dipped marshmallows to look like cowboy hats
• Peelable Twizzlers held together with strips of paper that read “TNT” to look like dynamite sticks
• Fruit cut into Western shapes with chocolate or vanilla sauces for dipping

For drinks, fill Mason jars with popular Southern libations like sweet tea or sarsaparilla, or put individual bottles of each on ice in large tin serving buckets. If you’re looking for selections that include alcohol, you can’t go wrong with rye whiskey- or bourbon-based cocktails or, simply, beer. For a child’s party, although they aren’t necessarily the healthiest drinks available, Little Hugs that come in tiny plastic barrels carry the theme through nicely.

Check out these themed cocktail ideas:

• Stone fence: rye whiskey, angostura bitters, medium-dry apple cider
• Brown & gold derby: bourbon whiskey, grapefruit and lime juices, honey lemongrass simple syrup
• Agua verde: unaged mezcal, Mexican chile liqueur, cucumber and lime juices, simple syrup

Cowboy-themed party games, activities and prizes

Cowboy party games should be tailored to the age of the guests. For an adult party, set up a game of horseshoes or poles or barrels for “cattle” roping. If you want to go all out, rent a mechanical bull that will allow partygoers to compete to see how long they can ride before taking a tumble.

For kids, consider slightly more age-appropriate games, such as stick horse racing, Nerf blaster shootouts or pin the tail on the donkey.

If you’re looking to dole out prizes for winners of the games, consider: 

• Certificates for line-dancing classes
• Gift cards to your favorite local Western apparel store
• A complimentary trail ride at a local horse farm
• A set of brand-new Mason jars
• A DVD of famous Western movies
• Edible items like chocolate cowboy hats

In terms of non-competitive activities, line dancing to hit country-western songs fits the theme and is a suitable activity for all ages. For kids, consider hiring the services of a mobile petting zoo or horseback riding setup, where a farmer will bring the animals to your location for kid-friendly fun. (Just make sure you have enough outdoor space and the proper permissions to do this.)

A place to hold the hootenanny

A key component of hosting a truly memorable cowboy party is, if possible, to find a location that’s either outdoors or has access to an outdoor space. That will allow you to cook out, play yard games and set up decor like hay or straw bales without making a complete mess inside.

Event spaces that fall perfectly in line with these requirements are public parks, private homes with backyard spaces, or bookable barns, farms and ranches that might even have easily accessible themed decor and on-site livestock to add to the ambiance.

Cowboy party invitation ideas

You’ve come this far with your theme, so it’s only natural that you’d want to tie the invitations into it also. Consider “wanted” poster invites with Old West-style typeface and a photo of the host or guest of honor. Alternatively, if you’re on a tighter budget or don’t want to order custom invitations, look for pre-printed ones that feature a cowboy, Western or farm theme that features livestock, cacti or other elements that fit.

As for the informational nuts and bolts, be sure to tell people the date and time of the party, where it will be held and how to dress (especially if you’d like them to dress in costumes).

Ranch-style cowboy party favors

To leave your guests with a parting memento at the end of the party, consider gifts like cupcakes or even tiny bottles of barbecue sauce, which are consumable. If you go the candy route, you might opt for chocolate drops wrapped in bandanas and labeled “horse poop” or burlap-bagged historic candies like lemon drops or root beer barrels that harken back to the early days of cowboy culture.

For adults in particular, pony bottles of alcohol with tiny cowboy hats on top make terrific favors. You can find the cowboy hats on Etsy, along with other themed ideas, including soaps and boot-shaped bottle openers.

Non-edible favors for kids could include coloring books with crayons, stick horses or cowboy hats. For adults, look to famous Western movies or TV shows like “Gunsmoke” or “Bonanza” or “Rawhide” on DVD.

What to wear to a cowboy party

If your cowboy party theme is more general in nature, consider these on-theme get-ups:

• Embroidered button-down plaid shirt and jeans
• Chaps, cowboy boots and cowboy hat
• Bandana, fringe jacket, leather vest or belt with a large buckle
• For comedic effect: sheriff badge, fake mustaches, fake pistol, and a stick horse

With the recent popularity of more modern Western shows like “Yellowstone,” “Longmire” and “Deadwood,” you could also request that each attendee dress as their favorite character from your favorite series. Just remember to include any special dress code requests on the invitations.

The best locations for cowboy theme parties

For your Southwestern soiree, you’ll want to ensure you’ve got access to both indoor and outdoor spaces so you can bring all of your decoration visions and activity ideas to life without limitations. That means having an indoor space for things like restrooms or inclement weather but also outdoor areas for hay and straw bale setup and games like horseshoes.

If you’re on a limited budget, one great idea is a public park that might also have a pavilion with shade, shelter and picnic tables, which will make setup easier. Your own home or that of a friend is also worth considering, especially if there’s backyard space.

However, if it’s an option for you, booking a ranch venue or barn location for your cowboy party would be ideal. Not only will you have a large indoor and outdoor location that comes with the theme already baked in, but there might even be farm animals nearby, which will only add to the vibe.

Make your hoedown hassle-free

Feeling like choosing a venue is too much to wrangle? Peerspace can help you lasso the proper space for your cowboy party by connecting you with tons of options in your area from spacious backyards to barn venues and everything in between. 

In addition to bookable locations that will fit your theme flawlessly, Perespace also provides hourly bookings, which will save you from having to pay for a longer time than you need. Plus, you can connect directly with event space owners to ask questions and coordinate setup.

But don’t take our word for it. Check out our transparent pricing, and view photos and honest reviews from real people who have booked the same spaces you’re considering.

With how easy it is to find a venue for your cowboy party, Peerspace will have you back in the saddle in no time.