Enola Holmes Party

Your time is not over. Your time is now and it is time to host your very own Enola Holmes party. Don't be scared, you will not be alone on your birthday this year, just turn it around, as backwards it spells Enola. There are two movies, Enola Holmes and the sequel, Enola Holmes 2. By using these simple party ideas, create your own path and party, making it your own and step into the role of detective, or step into your own detective agency.

Enola Holmes Party Invitations

Whichever invitation design idea you choose, send it in the mail like an old fashion letter. This way they will not get discovered in the chimney and will actually reach your guests on time.

Watercolor flowers - on a piece of 5 x 7 watercolor paper, paint your favorite flower in a light color to make up the background. Then, using a black pen, write overtop and around the flower with your Enola Holmes party information.

Scrabble letters - on a piece of 5 x 7 white construction paper, At the top write, “you are invited to a ___Enola Holmes___ party. Have the words ENOLA HOLMES in code with its corresponding scrabble letter values (1, 1, 1, 1, 1, and 4, 1, 1, 3, 1, 1) and print out scrabble letters for the guest to decode the message (explain the rules of how to solve). Around the invitation, draw Enola Holmes related figures around the outside. On the back of the invitation, write out the answer, just to be sure the guests know the theme of the party.

Newspaper clipping - On a computer, choose an easy to read, but old fashioned font to type out a short story that creatively describes your party and details. In the top left hand corner, have a black and white image from the movie, you dressed up, or party related activity (like tea or tennis). Finish by adding a black border around the outside. Print off and fold to make it look like it was cut out of a newspaper.

Enola Holmes Party Decorations

Decorate with a late 1900s England theme - lots of pillows and paintings
Place newspaper clippings around and see if your guests discover any hidden messages or facts
A newspaper stand with a chalkboard message
Lots of flowers, especially chrysanthemums
An array of top hats - you can use these as party hats
Lots of candles, use them to light up the night back when there was less electricity
An old violin, like the one at Sherlock Holmes’ apartment
A large code deciphering wheel - using large pieces of bristol board, cut out three circles, starting with the overall size you want and each one smaller than the last and layer them on top of each other. Then using a ruler, markers, and watercolor or pencil crayons, write uppercase letters of the alphabet around the outer circle (not in order), lowercase letters in the middle circle, and a large bird in the middle. Have a secret message on a banner (in uppercase letters) and see if your guests can decode it by using the corresponding lowercase letters.
Tree house - using a rope ladder, climb up into your very own tree house getaway. Here. have lots of blankets and pillows to be comfortable and look among the clues left by Viscount Tewkesbury. Decorate with small green plants, watercolor flower paintings and pressed flowers, maps, and a hammock.

Enola Holmes Party Games & Activities

Tennis - if possible use old tennis rackets like Enola and her Mother, but be careful to not break any statues or paintings in the process.

Scavenger hunt - gathering clues as you go, try to uncover a made up hidden plan or person. Try to incorporate the same steps that Enola uses (phase 1, phase 2, etc.) to make your search a success. Who will win? You, Enola, or Sherlock Holmes in uncovering the mystery.

Painting - have pieces of watercolor paper, brushes, and watercolor paints with reference photos of flowers or live flowers in the center that can be used as inspiration. Then, when finished painting, use a thin black pen to write a hidden message on the front or back.

Word games - play games like Scrabble and word searches to test your abilities

Archery - if you are unfamiliar with the sport, take a group lesson and see if you can get a bullseye like Enola

Train ride - get train tickets and take a ride in a carriage, hopefully there are no nincompoop stowaways or play with toy trains

Makeovers and dress up - have makeup, hair products, and historical clothing that your guests can use to look like different characters in the movie and take some fun before and after photos. Then, put the images in a slideshow and have everyone guess who is who. Do you think you are as good undercover as Enola and Viscount Tewkesbury?

Science experiment - with supervision, use safe ingredients and wear safety equipment, mix ingredients to try and uncover something new (find a simple age appropriate activity online and print out instructions).

Chess - make sure you have a worthy opponent, create a mini tournament schedule and have a final game to see who is the champion.

Bicycling - go for a nice bike ride along a nature trail with your friends and if you want, talk with your friends as though you are Enola talking to the audience, informing them of her plans and what is happening around her.

Local market shopping - look among the lovely flowers and find your favorite.

Tea time - get dressed up and go to a local team room with your friends

Make your own Dash - using pinecones and craft supplies to create your own pinecone and string animal like Enola when she was young.

Ball/dance - you can choose how fancy you would like your dance to be and have a premade playlist that your guests can add requests to.

Enola Holmes Party Food

Breakfast foods - Sherlock Holmes favorite meal of the day
Tea with biscuits and scones, use real teacups and teapot
Cake
Soup and dinner rolls
Rectangular sugar cookies, iced with a white background and flowers (looking like miniature paintings)
Small square sugar cookies, iced to look like scrabble letters