• Winter is a great time for a thirteenth birthday party.snowflake image by Egor Tkachenko from <a href='http://www.fotolia.com'>Fotolia.com</a>
  
  The first official teen year is an important milestone. The birthday girl or boy will want party themes and activities that are both fun and "cool." A winter birthday excludes a pool party, but cool party options will not be in short supply.
  
  

Winter Activities

• Take everyone down to the skating rink for an ice skating party. (Reference 1) For a large group you might even want to rent the rink for a private party. If you're lucky you'll have the option of skating outdoors on a pond or river for a magical birthday experience. Another great option is to go sledding, although teens will probably prefer a circular sled to the traditional long wooden sled. If you live close enough to a ski resort, you can organize an adventurous snow tubing birthday party. Check to see if the resort offers a birthday package with a reservation.
  
  

Winter Wonderland

• A Winter Wonderland themed party is more likely to appeal to a birthday girl than a birthday boy. (Reference 2) Light blue, white and silver, suggesting ice, frost and snow, will be your color scheme for creating a fantasy winter world. (Reference 3) Hang up crepe streamers and/or blue and white Christmas lights, but above all, use balloons. In addition to blue and white, check party suppliers for clear and silver nylon balloons and foil balloons shaped like stars or shaped and decorated like snowflakes. If the party takes place close to Christmas, you will be able to find many winter party decorations and supplies, such as paper cups and plates, at the department store. If it takes place after Christmas you can take advantage of sales. (Reference 4) Check online party suppliers for more elaborate, harder-to-find items.
  
  

Winter Party Treats

• Make sure you have lots of hot chocolate or marshmallows on hand, especially when everyone comes back from their outdoor activities. A fun and popular winter birthday cake option is to make a cake in the shape of an iceberg or igloo and decorate it with little fondant penguins. (Example included as Resource) More complex winter birthday cakes might require ordering from a confectioner, but recipes for many different kinds of winter wonderland cakes are available online.