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A garden Baby Shower with fun for all at a Tucson Event Venue.
- Laurel Loew
- 17 minutes ago
- 5 min read
Agua Linda Farm near Tucson, with it's spacious lawns flanked by trees and flower beds, was the PERFECT backdrop for this family picnic themed baby shower!
Okay... to be honest, baby showers BORE me!! I have never liked the typical games, the sitting in a circle passing around every gift opened and have never understood why the father-to-be wasn't included. If you are like me and are planning a baby shower that the whole family will enjoy, THIS one at my event venue/farm near Tucson Arizona might inspire you! Read on to learn about some VERY fun games and creative activities for Jesse, Lillyanna and their baby girl!
These days, the traditional, stuffy baby shower gathering is on the decline.
Picnic-Perfect Décor
The decorations struck a balance between playful and charming. Each table featured a centerpiece made up of stacks of vintage children’s books, a teddy bear tied with a pink ribbon, colorful alphabet blocks, and a terracotta pot blooming with pink-toned flowers. To complete the picnic vibe, rattan placemats and soft pink napkins added warmth and texture.
Being a venue owner, I have a lot of stuff - tables, linens, picnic baskets, vintage books etc. and I added to my collection for this event. Teddy bears were found at thrift stores and I purchased alphabet blocks at Wal-Mart. I ordered a sleeve-style photo-book that would fit 5x7" photos and printed alphabet coloring pages that I made with some help from Canva. I purchased small terra-cotta pots with trays and vinca flowers at The Home Depot and planted them the day before. I had a few items that I had collected from thrift stores (that were new in packaging) for prizes and added a "gag" prize of "dirty diapers" that were actually smeered with peanut butter and chocolate pudding! I utilized antique props from my own laundry room for the tie-dye onesie station - an old ironing board with iron, an enamel wash tub and a cute sign. Clothesline for drying the onesies could easily be hung between two trees, but I used a wrought iron arch that I have for weddings.
Each table featured a creative centerpiece made up of stacks of vintage children’s books, a teddy bear tied with a pink ribbon, colorful alphabet blocks, and a terracotta pot blooming with pink-toned flowers.
At each table, guests also found a Mad-Lib on clipboards— customized with the parent's and their baby's name.
Living flowers in pink hues were perfect for our theme AND easier and less expensive than fresh cut flowers. After the party, I planted them in flower beds on the ranch.
Games & Activities
This was no ordinary shower with a few predictable icebreakers—guests enjoyed a mix of hilarious baby-themed challenges and outdoor fun. I didn't include pictures in this post because the baby's God-Father videotaped EVERYTHING and you can click on YOUTUBE links to watch and GET INSPIRED!
This was no ordinary shower with a few predictable icebreakers
1. Don’t Break Your Water (Balloon Toss)
Guests pair up and toss a water balloon back and forth, taking a step back after each successful catch. The pair who can keep their “water” from breaking the longest wins!
2. Pacify the Baby
Players team up in pairs. One person is the “parent,” standing behind their “baby,” who is seated and blindfolded. The parent holds a dowel with a pacifier tied to a string, and the goal is to get the pacifier into the baby’s mouth. First team to succeed wins—lots of laughs guaranteed!
3. Baby Frenzy Relay
Pairs compete, sitting about 10 yards apart. One is “Mom,” the other is “Baby.” *Baby should be someone wearing pants or shorts, not a dress or skirt.
“Mom” has a bucket with items to dress Baby: an oversized adult diaper, a headband (I bought adult ones at the Dollar Store), and a bib (I made mine from vinyl fabric and ribbon that I had one hand, but you could use any no-fray fabric like felt or plastic from a disposable tablecloth)..
At “Go!”, Mom runs back and forth, dressing Baby one item at a time.
Once Baby is fully dressed, Mom calls Baby, who must crawl on hands and knees to her.
Baby sits on Mom’s lap, and Mom gives Baby a bottle of water.
First team to finish wins!
👉 Tip: To make the finish clearer, add one final step—like setting the empty bottle on a table.
4. Feed the Baby
This one’s a crowd favorite! The future Mom and Dad (or any chosen players) are the “babies.” Each sits behind a large draped fabric (an old sheet, or, like I used, a large tablecloth) with baby rompers sewn onto it at the neck, their heads poking through a slit cut in the sheet and hands poking through where the baby’s legs would be. Their chosen “feeders” slip their arms through the sleeves to do the feeding.
The challenge: who can feed their baby a pudding cup the fastest? Since the “feeder” can’t see what’s happening, it’s guaranteed to get messy and hilarious!
👉 Tip: Have the "baby" sit on a bar stool instead of a regular chair. This allows for the feeder to stand behind and also the knees of the contestant sitting are not sticking out into the sheet as much. ALSO: use onsies that are for an older baby - new-born are too small and be sure to get one's with the feet so the "baby's" feet do not have adult hands poking through!
Prizes
Winners pick from numbered picnic baskets filled with fun prizes—some are real prizes, some are “dirty diapers” smeared with peanut butter. After each game, baskets were refilled with hidden extras stashed under the prize table.
Tie-Dye Onesie Station
One of the most creative touches was the DIY tie-dye activity. A collection of plain white onesies in different sizes and sleeve lengths was laid out for guests to design. Supplies included spray tie-dye bottles, rubber bands, stencils, Sharpies for signing designs, and plastic gloves. A clothesline with clothespins allowed finished onesies to dry in the sun, creating a colorful display throughout the party. Directions from the dye box were posted for guidance, and aprons kept guests’ outfits safe. The onesies will need to be heat-set before washing in baby safe detergent.
A Special Spot for Kids
The shower was truly family-friendly, with a kids’ activity station set up on what usually functions as a dance floor for weddings and events. A picnic table held play-dough and tools, and little ones also enjoyed bubbles, a tipi for pretend play, sidewalk chalk and a giant checker mat. It gave younger guests a place to play and kept the party fun for all ages.
Some of the "big kids" enjoying a photo-op on our dance floor turned "Kid Zone!"
Food & Drinks
The menu leaned into the casual picnic theme. Guests enjoyed:
Burgers grilled on-site
Potato salad and pesto salad
Fresh fruit platters
Cupcakes for dessert, simple and sweet
To sip, there was something for everyone: pink lemonade, refreshing mimosas, and plenty of chilled drinks to keep guests cool in the garden sunshine.
A Celebration to Remember
Between the thoughtful details, the outdoor garden setting, and the mix of artistic and hilarious activities, this teddy bear picnic baby shower for a baby girl was a true celebration of joy. I hope that this blog helps you to plan your FUN baby shower - OR - book my venue and I can help you re-create this day!!
My venue, Agua Linda Farm is a 63 acre ranch in Southern Arizona near Tucson. My husband and I have been hosting weddings, harvest festivals and other events on our property for more than 15 years. I write my blog posts with my clients in mind but also hope to provide a little inspiration applicable to any wedding.
Happy Planning!. - Laurel Loew
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