Party City Is Going Out of Business — Here's Where to Buy Party Supplies in 2025

RIP Party City. Blaming inflation, a slowdown in consumer spending, and other factors — and in the wake of filing for bankruptcy in 2023 — Party City CEO Barry Litwin announced in December that the company will close stores across the U.S. in 2025. The party store joins a laundry list of once-popular retailers that haven't seen strong sales in recent years and have decided to either significantly scale back or throw in the towel altogether.

In terms of inventory and selection at a brick-and-mortar store, Party City was the indisputable champ of party supplies. So, where will party-throwers turn now?

Online, most likely. In fact, Americans' virtual shopping habit probably contributed to Party City's failure in a big way. Why drive to the 'burbs for plates, napkins, and balloons when you can have them delivered to your door? (My why was the satisfaction of 5-cent candy and sparkly neon-colored impulse purchases, thankyouverymuch.)

To help ensure your next get-together is well stocked and impressively decorated, I've rounded up a list of places to pick up party supplies online and in-person post-Party City.

The best places to buy party supplies in 2025

Walmart and Target

While big box stores' selection of party supplies doesn't come close to Party City's, Walmart and Target are among the best places to shop IRL for decorations, tableware and party favors. Pros of shopping in person include sussing out the quality of items and (if you're matchy matchy like me) ensuring colors meet your expectations.

Hobby Lobby and Michaels

Both of these craft stores have a decent party supply section in-store, including a substantial selection of cake decorating products. Online, browse a bigger inventory of decorations, tableware, and tons of balloons. Don't stress about blowing them up — you can order an electric air pump online or a helium tank to pick up in-store.

In terms of price, Hobby Lobby and Michaels are hard to beat. Shop seasonally for huge discounts — you can usually score 40-50% off the current holiday theme. And both stores' weekly ads detail other on-sale categories. Michaels typically has a code for discounted online shopping (posted right on its website), and Hobby Lobby advertises 50% off most party essentials at all times.

Dollar stores

I had no idea dollar stores had a stellar selection of party goods until I joined a beer-in-hand kickball league several years ago. Each week of play was themed (think Hawaiian, '70s, neon, etc.), and we were supposed to dress up accordingly. I didn't exactly have money or time for that until someone on my team told me where to go!

If you're on a budget, check out Dollar Tree, Dollar General, Family Dollar — whatever's near you. In addition to tacky props like grass skirts and glow sticks, you can find party decorations, cups/plates/napkins, gift wrapping, balloons, toys, candy, and more.

Temu

Speaking of being on a budget, I hesitate to pitch a website like Temu (look up "Temu fails" for a good laugh), but I feel it's appropriate because party expenses add up so fast. I would know... I DIYed my wedding.

To spend less where I was able, I turned to Temu for things like table runners, wicker placemats, ice cream scoops, pie servers, dried flowers, and pompas. I also ordered the CUTEST little karaoke machine, which got heavy use both during and after the wedding. On a non-wedding note, Temu's selection of balloon arches, photo backdrops, and outdoor lawn signs is absolutely worth a browse.

A word of warning: Some Temu items ship from within the U.S., but lots do not. If your order is traveling overseas, it probably has to go through customs and could take around a month to arrive. TL;DR — Temu isn't for last-minute shopping.

Amazon

It goes without saying, Amazon is the GOAT in terms of convenience and selection. But like Temu, online photos and product descriptions can be deceiving. To avoid an endless cycle of orders and returns (or worse — neither using nor returning items), buy cautiously. Shop well in advance to avoid shipping issues, read reviews, pay attention to product dimensions, and have a backup plan so you don't end up without something critical on party day.

Facebook Marketplace

This is another party supply source I would've never turned to if I didn't DIY my wedding. For any future party needs, it'll be among the first places I turn. I bought plates, water glasses, wine glasses, an archway, dessert stands, and tons of other things I'm probably forgetting from former brides. Sure, you probably (hopefully) aren't throwing a wedding, but "wedding" can be a good search term to include if you're looking for similar party items for your event. The best part is anyone listing items for sale here is likely looking to unload them ASAP, so brush up on your haggling skills and go make some deals.

Goodwill

If thrifting isn't your thing, you might not know that the kitchen section of thrift stores are usually overflowing with donated items. My favorite score of all-time is a fancy shmancy punch bowl with eight punch glasses that can hang on the rim! But you could also find plenty of plates, glasses, and other serving vessels while upping the elegance of your soiree by avoiding plastic. Nowhere to store whatever you buy for your party? Donate it right back (or sell it on Facebook Marketplace lol)!

Party rental companies

For big items like tables, chairs, and tents — and even serveware like plates, glasses, and silverware — most decent-sized metros have party rental companies. I will say, this isn't always the most economical option though. Renting just a few items set us back several hundred dollars for our wedding. If you have storage space, I'd recommend comparing the price of buying to the price of renting — you might be surprised. However, perks include optional delivery, setup, and takedown, which could certainly save you some stress.

The bottom line

I'll miss Party City. It was a fun browse, and did I mention the 5-cent candy? But I'm confident we can all find what we need elsewhere and maybe cut down on some waste by thrifting/reselling things we only plan to use once (sadly, a thought that hadn't crossed my mind until the wedding!).

What kind of party are you planning? Where are you shopping? Let me know in a comment!