With the last Harry Potter movie set to be released soon, these books and movies continue to serve as a timeless party favorite for kids.  Whether for a Halloween party or a birthday party, Harry Potter is chock full of fun and fabulous ideas to bring alive for your party guests.  iVillage has a wonderful slideshow of 12 Easy Ideas for a Wizard-Worthy Harry Potter Birthday Party that have been created by Jennifer Sbranti, the Hostess with the Mostess.  Everything from Official Hogwarts Invitations to Magic Drinks to Quidditch Broom Favors, this Harry Potter slideshow has you covered.

Photo: iVillage

Do you want your kids to find their own pot of gold at the end of the rainbow this St. Patrick’s Day? Send them on a treasure hunt looking for all of those things that are truly Irish:

Blarney Stone: Kiss me and maybe you’ll be as lucky as we!

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Looking for an easy, budget-friendly special activity to do with your children this St. Patrick’s Day?

I love the idea of having your kids wake up to a clumsy leprechaun’s trail of havoc!  Who could have possibly knocked over a chair, pushed a small (unbreakable) item off of a table, left books all over the living room floor, scattered cookies around the kitchen counter, and whatever other  clumsy tricks your leprechaun may have pulled?

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As the national emblem of Ireland, shamrocks play a big role in the St. Patrick’s Day holiday. Even if your heritage isn’t Irish, celebrating on March 17 is always a hit thanks to the color green, the taste of beer and the wishes for good luck. Making shamrock arts and crafts is also a fun way to take part in the celebration.

It always seems like there is never anything green to wear when St. Patrick’s Day rolls around. This quick project from Celebrations’ Karen Perkins remedies that situation and ensures you won’t be pinched all day.

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Mardi Gras means “Fat Tuesday” in French. It is a celebration full of feasting and merriment just before Lent is ushered in for the 40 days of “self denial” leading up to Easter. Mardi Gras is the time to march in parades; eat pancakes, donuts, and other treats; sing and dance; and generally celebrate good times. This is a great opportunity to have a fabulous party for your family, your kids, and their friends! People all over the world celebrate this holiday, and so should all of us. Here are some tips for your celebration:

• Have the kids come to your home in costumes for a parade, or ask them to dress in the traditional colors of purple (justice), green (faith), and gold (power).
• Buy balloons, streamers, and tableware in traditional purple, green, and gold colors. Have candies and beads on the table in these colors for added decoration. Play fun Cajun music in the background.
• Have the kids make masks before the parade.  Or if you are pressed for time, check out these budget friendly masks from Amazon.

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Come mid-February, Americans will turn their attention toward honoring presidents, particularly George Washington and Abraham Lincoln. Your kids are most likely off of school to honor the day. If you are looking for a teachable moment or some fun President’s Day activities, check out the following ideas and resources:

Decorate your home with red, white, and blue streamers and set up a balloon centerpiece on your kitchen table using the same colors.

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Looking for some Valentine’s fun with your kids, without throwing a party? Perhaps your child could invite his best friend over for a wonderful afternoon or evening of cooking up some tasty morsels to celebrate. If the idea appeals, you could make:

• A batch of Pokey Brownies
• Heart-shaped cookies
• Real chocolate pudding
• A dozen or so decorative cupcakes (get the cupcake pan at Amazon.com)

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