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                                [FORM OF E NOTE]

THIS SECURITY HAS NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, as
AMENDED, or any state SECURITIES laws, AND MAY NOT BE OFFERED OR SOLD, UNLESS IT
HAS BEEN REGISTERED UNDER SUCH ACT AND APPLICABLE STATE SECURITIES LAWS OR
UNLESS AN EXEMPTION FROM REGISTRATION IS AVAILABLe AND THEN ONLY IN COMPLIANCE
WITH THE RESTRICTIONS ON TRANSFER SET FORTH IN THE SECURITIES PURCHASE
AGREEMENT, DATED AS OF AUGUST 16, 1999, AS AMENDED ON JANUARY __, 2000
(COLLECTIVELY, the "PURCHASE AGREEMENT"), A COPY OF WHICH MAY BE OBTAINED FROM
PARTY CITY CORPORATION AT ITS PRINCIPAL OFFICE.

PAYMENT OF THIS OBLIGATION IS SUBJECT TO THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF THE
INTERCREDITOR AGREEMENT (AS SUCH TERM IS DEFINED IN THE PURCHASE AGREEMENT), A
COPY OF WHICH MAY BE OBTAINED FROM PARTY CITY CORPORATION AT ITS PRINCIPAL
OFFICE.

                             PARTY CITY CORPORATION

                 14.0% SENIOR SECURED NOTE DUE JANUARY __, 2002


No. E-_____

$___________                                                  New York, New York
                                                                January __, 2000


     FOR VALUE RECEIVED, the undersigned, PARTY CITY CORPORATION, a corporation
organized and existing under the laws of Delaware (the "Company"), hereby
promises to pay to ___________, or registered assigns, the principal sum of
_____________ DOLLARS ($_________) on January __, 2002 (the "Maturity Date").
This Note is one of the Company's 14.0% Senior Secured Notes due 2002 issued
pursuant to a Securities Purchase Agreement dated as of August 16, 1999, as
amended on January __, 2000, by and among the Company and certain investors
named therein (collectively, the "Purchase Agreement"), and is also entitled to
the benefits thereof to the extent provided in the Purchase Agreement.

     1. Payment of Principal and Interest. On the tenth (10th) day of each
January, April, July and October during the term of this Note, commencing on the
first such date to follow the date hereof, and continuing thereafter until the
Maturity Date, the Company shall pay to holder of this Note all accrued interest
as of the end of the immediately preceding calendar quarter at the rate of 14.0%
per annum (computed on the basis of a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months). On
the Maturity Date, the Company shall pay to the holder in full the entire
remaining balance of the principal sum and all accrued interest. Payments of
principal of and interest on this Note are to be made in lawful money of the
United States of America at the address required by the Purchase Agreement.

     2. Optional Prepayment. As provided in the Purchase Agreement, the
principal amount of the Note is subject to prepayment, in whole or in part, at
any time at the option of the Company.


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     3. Event of Default. If an Event of Default, as defined in the Purchase
Agreement, occurs and is continuing, the principal of this Note may be declared
or otherwise become due and payable in the manner, at the amount and with the
effect provided in the Purchase Agreement.

     4. Intercreditor Agreement. This Note is a subject to the terms of the
Intercreditor Agreement in the form attached to the Purchase Agreement, as
amended.

     5. Security Interest and Guaranty. The obligations of the Company are
secured by that certain Security Agreement (Parent), dated as of August 16,
1999, in the form attached to the Purchase Agreement, and other agreements
described in the Purchase Agreement, subject to the provisions of the
Intercreditor Agreement. The holder of this Note is further entitled to the
benefits of a certain Guaranty Agreement dated as of August 16, 1999 by the
subsidiaries of the Company in the form attached to the Purchase Agreement.

     6. Transfer. This Note is a registered Note and is transferable only upon
surrender of this Note for registration of transfer, duly endorsed, or
accompanied by a written instrument of transfer duly executed, by the holder
hereof or such holder's attorney duly authorized in writing. Reference in this
Note to a "holder" shall mean the person in whose name this Note is at the time
registered on the register kept by the Company as provided in the Purchase
Agreement and the Company may treat such person as the owner of this Note for
the purpose of receiving payment and for all other purposes, and the Company
shall not be affected by any notice to the contrary.

     7. Governing Law. This Note shall be construed and enforced in accordance
with the laws of the State of New York.

                                        PARTY CITY CORPORATION


                                        By:
                                            ------------------------------
                                            Name:
                                            Title:


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