How to Host a Costco-Themed Birthday Party

You heard it right: the hottest summer birthday party theme is Costco — at least according to social media.

The member warehouse is seemingly more popular than ever, and a slew of TikTok creators and influencers are getting in on that discount * vibe * by celebrating their birthdays with Costco-themed fêtes. Just look at Jasmine Pak’s (@jasminebellpak) Costco-themed birthday party from 2023 as the prime example, which came complete with Kirkland hot dog t-shirts and the signature Costco employee red aprons, a party that garnered a whopping 4.5 million views on the social media app and was even covered by ABC7LA.

Since then, this unique birthday theme has spread — and it’s not just for adults. In July, husband-and-wife content creators Tiffany and Caleb Remington (@ustheremingtons) threw a Costco-themed birthday party for their two children, and their party set-up video has 1.9 million views at the time of this writing.

Do you love hot dogs and deals this much, too? Here’s how to host the ultimate Costco-themed birthday party for yourself or someone you’re willing to share your Costco membership with because, let’s face it, that’s the purest love of all.

Start with the food.

Any great party has to have great food. And, if you ask any club member what the best food at Costco is, most people answer with their favorite in-house food court offerings. So, it’s no surprise the heart of a Costco-themed birthday party is replicating the food court. The delicious (and affordable) hot dogs, pizza, and the viral chicken bake have amassed a cult following, mainly due to the company’s unwavering commitment to keep the hot dog-and-soda combo meal priced at $1.50 for four decades.

To remake this experience in your home, begin your food service with canapes. But rather than present them as you would at any old dinner party, prepare and serve them in free sample cups. As to what goes in those cups, we suggest going for some of the box store’s most popular selling items like Trident Fish Sticks, Costco Fresh Berries, and maybe even whipping up a few boxes of Goodles Mac n’ Cheese, which is statistically the most popularly talked about Costco product in America. Appetizer hour is also an excellent opportunity to incorporate your favorite frozen goodies like the mini wontons, stuffed churro bites, or Kirkland (Costco’s internal brand) Italian-style meatballs.

Just leave room for the main event — Kirkland Signature Beef Hot Dogs. Purchase a few red serving trays, pile on the dogs, and you’re good to go.

Don’t skip the Costco cake.

What’s a birthday party without a birthday cake? Costco sells round, sheet, and bar cakes. Fair warning: A half-sheet cake measuring 12 x 16 inches is more than enough to feed a party crowd. In fact, it can serve up to 48 people. Half-sheet cakes come in two flavors: white cake with vanilla cheesecake mousse filling and buttercream icing and chocolate cake with chocolate mousse and chocolate buttercream frosting.

And, naturally, serve Costco-inspired beverages.

Costco sells what seems like every soft drink, including all Pepsi brand beverages, so you’re well covered for any party. For the adults, stock up your bar cart before the party with your personal favorites or buy your state’s most popular Costco alcohols (yes, there is actual data on this.) Once again, Kirkland for the win with its hard liquors like the signature Tequila Reposado and French Vodka and a great selection of wines like Sonoma County Old Vine Zinfandel. You can also pop some bubbly with the signature Champagne Brut.

Get the right decor to bring it all together.

Decorating for any party can be stressful, but it’s easy to transform your space into the Costco warehouse of your dreams with a few simple goodies. It turns out there’s a ton of party packs for Costco parties on Etsy. You can pre-purchase signage like member ID tags, food court menu signs, and iconic item price signs complete with bar codes. There’s also plenty of Costco-themed clothing like hats, t-shirts, and sweatshirts. To be even more on brand, purchase decorations like balloons and streamers in blue and red colors as a nod to the company logo. Lastly, don’t forget to dust off the old Polaroid camera and make some memories with Costco “member photos.” Bonus: They make great party favors, and who doesn’t want to remember their first, and certainly not last, Costo party?