Atlanta Parent Party Guide

Atlanta Parent Magazine’s

PaRTY

GuiDe

Party Countdown

Keep your birthday party planning on track with this helpful checklist.

From setting a budget to finding a venue, this timeline is sure to make your bash a success. l Six

Weeks to Go

Decide on time and budget Research costs of party locations and packages Research entertainers for in-home party Check websites, such as Pinterest, for theme and game ideas l Four

Weeks to Go

Choose party theme Select party location Determine maximum number of guests Finalize date and time Book and send deposits for entertainers or party locations l Three

Weeks to Go

Make and send e-vites Order cake and food Arrange for extra helpers l Two

Weeks to Go

Shop for paper goods, theme props, goodie bags and game prizes Make favors and/or assemble goodie bags Select a party playlist

Checklist for At Home Party

Buy any craft supplies needed for party crafts

Six hours to go

Plan games and make any decorations or game props

Pick up last-minute items, such as helium balloons l One

Week to Go

Confirm final numbers with party location

Clean up clutter and put away any special items not used for the party

Confirm arrangements with entertainer

Four Hours to Go

Shop for non-perishable foods and ingredients

Decorate house

Develop a schedule for the party day

Three Hours to Go Make final food preparations

l Three

Days to Go

Confirm that helpers will show up Finalize all props and music needed for games and crafts l Two

Days to Go

Make food that will keep in refrigerator or freezer Check the house for safety hazards Put away any special breakables l One

Day to Go

Bake or pick up cake

atlantaparent.com

Make final game preparations

One Hour to Go Set table Dress yourself and your children

30 Minutes to Go Have helpers arrive Run through schedule and basic responsibilities with helpers Put out materials for first activity or game

Party Time!

Welcome your guests

March 2020 Atlanta Parent 3

Create a Birthday

BOX

by Tiffany Doerr Guerzon

W

EVERYTHING A Toy Store Should Be See what’s HOT See what’s NEW See what’s TRIED See what’s TRUE That’s Kazoo...

a Buckhead staple since 2012 • Complimentary Gift Wrap • Call-ahead Ordering • Knowledgeable Service • Personal Shopping 3718 Roswell Rd. | Powers Ferry Sq. | 404-500-1027

KazooToysAtlanta.com

4 Atlanta Parent March 2020

hen you have young children, attending birthday parties can become weekly events. In the preschool and elementary age set, kids tend to invite their whole class, which can mean lots of presents to buy.

A birthday box is a stash of age appropriate gifts ready for these occasions. When it’s time for the next party, your child goes “shopping” in the box. This will save you money, because you’ll stock up on items found on sale.

The key to stocking your gift box is not only to choose items that are on deep discount but also to stay away from fads, current trends and time-sensitive items. Choose timeless gifts, such as craft kits, art supplies, games, puzzles and educational toys. That way, whether you have an opportunity to give the present tomorrow or six months from now, the gift will be appreciated.

Here are some ideas for where to shop to stock your box. n Warehouse Stores: I’ve found great gifts at Costco such as megapacks of colored markers, play dough and multi packs of books. Sometimes I even break up sets and mix and match items to make gift sets, increasing the savings. Warehouse stores are also a great place to stock up on gift cards for tweens and teens. n Craft Stores: Craft stores such as Hobby Lobby, JoAnn Fabrics and Michaels often stock a selection of craft kits at slashed prices. n Drug Stores: Most drug stores have a toy aisle, and sometimes you will find smaller gifts at discounted prices. I once found these cute clear bath soaps with a goldfish toy embedded inside the soap. I bought several and tied them onto wrapped birthday packages. They were a huge hit and cost me less than a dollar apiece. n Discount Stores: Walmart and Target often have items on clearance prices. Always check the clearance and sales aisles to find a potential gift!

And your local dollar store can be a treasure trove for a bargain seeker. If you like using gift bags, purchasing these at the dollar store will cut way down on your wrapping costs. n Online: When stocking up, check online stores, such as Mindware and Learning Resources. Both carry educational and unusual toys and games.

Because these items are less common, you decrease the chance of giving a duplicate gift. Check the sale or clearance section. Melissa & Doug, offer quality toy products, and I’ve found some gems in the clearance section on their website. n End of Season Sales: Don’t forget to check the clearance aisles at your favorite stores at the end of each season. For example: at the end of summer, stock up on water toys, sand toys and bubble mix.

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Birthday Party Resource Guide ADVENTURE AIR SPORTS kennesaw.adventureairsports.com

Celebrate with fun-fitness, stress-free parties. Looking for extreme thrills, or a wide-open indoor space to jump, Adventure Air has got you covered. Packages include access to one of the largest Ninja Courses in the state, Dodgeball, Zip line, WipeOut, Climbing Wall and so much more! Essentials provided – Pizza/Drinks, Invites, Setup, Clean-up, Tableware and an Epic Experience for all ages with a personal host. Party upgrades available. Schedule your party today!

CHILDREN’S MUSEUM OF ATLANTA childrensmuseumatlanta.org

A party at Children’s Museum of Atlanta is the perfect way to celebrate your child and provide a fun and memorable experience.

Parties include play time on the exhibit floor followed by a private room or reserved tables for you and your guests to celebrate.

Great for birthdays, class or team parties, tea parties, and more!

Recommended for children ages 8 and under. Discounts available for Museum Members.

READY SET FUN! readysetfun.com

Celebrate your child’s next birthday at Atlanta’s premier indoor playground and exploration center. They offer all-inclusive birthday party packages to fit every budget and party size! Each party package ALWAYS comes with an extensive list of perks, including a private event coordinator, cupcakes for all the kids, and all set up/ clean up. Best of all, an in-house chef can prepare food options for kids and adults. 6331 Roswell Road, Sandy Springs. 404-596-5566.

SOUTHEASTERN RAILWAY MUSEUM southeasternrailwaymuseum.org

Train-loving children will have an unforgettable party in an authentic railcar!

Southeastern Railway Museum offers railcars and other spaces to celebrate parties and special occasions to excite train lovers of all ages. Explore all that Georgia’s Official Transportation History Museum has to offer, complete with full scale and model train displays, antique cars, historic depot displays, taxi cabs, tractors and more. Children can even get an inside look at a new theme of transportation each month with police vehicles, cabooses, construction vehicles and more. 770-476-2013. 3595 Buford Highway, Duluth. atlantaparent.com

March 2020 Atlanta Parent 5

A customized day full of imaginative adventures for them.

A stress-free party for you, or in other words an

AWESOME BIRTHDAY BASH!

At a The Little Gym Awesome Birthday Bash, your child and their friends will have the whole place to themselves for fun activities created especially for them.

Plus we’ll handle everything from set-up to clean-up, making birthdays at The Little Gym a big wish come true for parents too.

Call or go online to schedule your child’s next birthday at The Little Gym The Little Gym of Alpharetta/Johns Creek thelittlegym.com/alpharettajohnscreekga 404.600.4894

The Little Gym of Snellville thelittlegym.com/snellvillega 770.982.0901

ONE OF THE BEST PLACES

IN NORTHEAST GEORGIA

FOR BIRTHDAY PARTIES! Birthday Party packages begin at $150!

The Little Gym of Smyrna thelittlegym.com/smyrnaga 770.434.6661

LASER SPORTING Festival Events & Party Rental

• Over 20 exhibits • Pottery Studio • Gift Shop • Private parties available OPEN

INFLATABLES • CARNIVAL GAMES ROCK WALLS • TRACKLESS TRAINS ARCADE GAMES • LASER TAG • And more

10 a.m.-5 p.m.

Monday - Saturday 1-5 p.m. on Sunday 9.00 per person

$

LASER SPORTING/THE BOUNCE HOUSE LASERSPORTING.COM • 770-253-0407 Serving metro-Atlanta and beyond

6 Atlanta Parent March 2020

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Birthday Party Resource Guide CHATTAHOOCHEE NATURE CENTER

chattnaturecenter.org Families love birthdays at CNC! During a 90-minute party, children will hike in the woods, observe and learn about animals in their natural habitat, be outside with nature and friends, enjoy a live animal encounter and more! Parties include a private room, themed cookie cake, drinks, a special t-shirt for the birthday child, nature party favors for every attendee, invitations, and more! Let CNC will take care of the details. Available year round for children turning age 4–12. Celebrate with CNC!

CIRCUS CAMP BIRTHDAYS

circuscamp.org Celebrate your child’s birthday with Circus Camp’s trained professionals. One-on-one instruction learning to swing on the trapeze, spin on the Web, and get all fancy with our expert face painting. Magic shows, balloon sculpting, juggling and other extras are also available. Register online NOW before all time slots are filled! Dunwoody and Decatur, 404-370-0001.

TINY TOWNE – DRIVE SAFELY tinytowne.com

Test your driving skills, hop on the train and even earn your very own Tiny Towne permit. Kids ages 3-18 drive three different size cars on two different tracks. Enjoy a real life driving experience by following the rules or get pulled over by Tiny Towne police. Delight in the Carcade games and high-tech driving simulators. The Indoor Edutainment park has private themed party rooms, healthy and tasty food made fresh at the Grill to serve our guests. Unique, Fun, Safe and Educational. Drive Safely! 2055 Beaver Ruin Road, Norcross. 470-265 6665.

TREETOP QUEST treetopquest.com

The only way to celebrate your birthday party is swinging and ziplining from tree to tree at Treetop Quest, an aerial adventure park in Dunwoody and Gwinnett! This action-packed 2.5-hour treetop activity for adventurers ages 4 and up features exciting obstacle courses, and thrilling challenges over suspended bridges, tight ropes, slides, net bridges, and high-flying zip lines (for older kids, teens, and adults)! Let Treetop Quest host your birthday party in the trees!

Dunwoody, 770-365-0356; Gwinnett, 404-277-6113.

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March 2020 Atlanta Parent 7

MINI CAKE DECORATING CHALLENGE

by Tiffany Doerr Guerzon

N

ot sure how to entertain tweens and teens at their next birthday party? Try having a delicious competition. Turn them loose in the kitchen with a mini cake decorating challenge. Teens can explore their creativity as they cut cupcakes into shapes, stick them together with frosting or build towers by spearing the cakes with toothpicks or skewers. They’ll have a blast with this fun and delicious activity.

Start the challenge by giving each tween six, unfrosted cupcakes and two paper plates. Kids can build their creations on one paper plate and use the second plate for décor items. Write several different cake themes on slips of paper and place in a bowl or hat. Each participant draws a cake theme, and then must create a mini cake based on that theme. If you have a large group, divide guests into teams.

Make this activity as basic or as elaborate as you would like. Buy premade frosting and toppers or go wild with everything from fondant to homemade icing in a variety of colors. The suggested tools and toppings are just that – suggestions. Choose toppings that work for the themes that you will use or from what you have on hand.

Suggested tools

Suggested toppings

Theme ideas

n Two butter knives per kid, one for frosting and one to cut the cupcakes if needed

n Candy, such as jellybeans, gumdrops, M&Ms, red licorice, sour belts

n Buildings: the Eiffel Tower, the Leaning Tower of Pisa or the Space Needle

n Bamboo kabob skewers or toothpicks

n Mini marshmallows, chocolate chips, sprinkles, canned whipped cream, flaked coconut

n Holidays: Independence Day, St. Patrick’s Day, Valentine’s Day or Day of the Dead

n Scissors

n Premade fondant sheets

n Several bowls and spoons for tinting frosting

n Liquid or gel food coloring

n Animals: cat, dog, monkey, frog or octopus

n Frosting, premade or homemade, and in a variety of colors

n Objects: handbag, jewelry, hat or high heel shoe

n Box of sandwich bags

n Small cookie cutters for fondant

RE E H W N FU !

S E V I L ADE ARC NG I WL INE O B OL RSE S P U RT AM TR A CO KA NJ GO NI 8 Atlanta Parent March 2020

BOOKY! TODA 30

2 636-3 e.com ) 0 7 n (4 itrozo n @ t c conta 6344 Cash Ct NW, Peachtree Corners, GA 30071 atlantaparent.com

LET THEM HAVE CAKE Best Value Publix Bakery makes themed decorated cakes, mini cakes, flavored cakes and more to fit your needs. Or you can buy a premade cake and theme it yourself with figurines. Starts at around $26.99. See locations and pricing at publix.com.

Smashing Cake For your one-year-old, get a cute smashing cake that’s just for them to demolish from Sugarbenders Café & Bakery. They’ll make themed birthday cakes for any age, and their delicious flavors include banana white chocolate, caramel, chocolate lover’s, red velvet and more. sugarbenderscakes.com.

Gluten-Free Cake Hag offers gluten-free options, including choc tort, carrot cake, butter sponge, sweet potato crème brulee cheesecake and more. cakehag.com. Sally’s Gluten Free Bakery has hummingbird cake, carrot cake, cinnamon pecan coffee cake, pound cake and triple layer cakes available for special order. sallysglutenfreebakery.com.

Parents looking for parties look here!

Vegan Dulce Vegan Bakery & Café is 100% vegan and most of their options can also be made gluten and soy free. Choose from chocolate mint, chocolate raspberry, orange cardamom, banana chocolate sunbutter and more. dulcevegan.com.

#1 Online Search for birthday parties in Atlanta

Ice Cream Cake Try Morelli’s ice cream cakes, which can serve 6-8 people. You can choose two different flavors of ice cream, a fudge or caramel layer and chocolate or yellow cake. morellisicecream.com.

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email lpowell@atlantaparent.com 770-454-7599 March 2020 Atlanta Parent 9

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10 Atlanta Parent    March 2020

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Essay by Paige Wolf

Birthday Party Etiquette:

Invitation Guilt is Real It’s all or nothing – that’s the philosophy I’ve tried to follow for birthday invites.

With 30 kids in a class, friends from a variety of activities, and our own friends’ children, it’s nearly impossible to invite everyone. The idea of only inviting a select group of children from the same social circle makes me uncomfortable. I’ve been able to mostly avoid this conundrum in two ways.

For my son’s 5th birthday party, we did a huge blowout. We rented and decorated a local recreation center for less than $100 and had the playground mostly to ourselves.

We hosted more than 30 kids. It felt warm, inclusive, personalized and ours.

We had another simple solution for his 6th birthday – no party. We spent the day at a state park with a beach and posted an open invitation. Two families were able to make the day trip and the celebration was perfect.

I’ve always said that in the future we could go by the rule of birthday age equals number of friends. For his 7th, he could choose seven friends. But in reality, I just don’t think I could do that with a clear conscience.

Like most children, my son’s idea of his “seven best friends” changes daily. He’d change his mind immediately after the Evite was sent. How could I not invite my best friends’ children, the ones he’s grown up with? How would I explain those Facebook photos – because even if I didn’t post them, somebody else would.

Look, I get it. We should teach our children they can’t always be invited to everything.

They won’t always be on the winning team

and may be picked last in gym class. We need to prepare them for the real world.

That doesn’t mean we shouldn’t put in a little extra effort to avoid hurt feelings. Let’s be honest – sometimes the parents’ feelings are hurt more than the kids.

In the past few months, I learned of three separate parties my son wasn’t invited to, despite the fact he considered those children close friends, and my husband and I are friendly with the parents. My son was mostly in the dark, but I was stung by the images a parent posted online.

Was my son not as liked as we thought?

Did the parents not like us? Was I entirely imagining these close social circles in my own mind?

I can fully own up to much of this heartache and “FOMO” (fear of missing out) as an extension of my insecurity. Even with a wide group of friends, it’s been difficult to fit squarely into any long-term social circles. I’ve inherited a crippling sensitivity and hyper awareness that is hard to shake. I have admiration for those who react to life’s little disappointments as water off a duck’s back.

My children have been invited to

birthday parties where I did not know who the children – or their parents – were. I was delighted other families thought so highly of my children. But being included in a select group of invitees made me feel a bit cautious about sharing my whereabouts, lest someone else’s feelings get hurt.

We are all bound to be left out in various ways throughout our lifetimes. I still want to do what I can to avoid being the cause of anyone else’s hurt feelings. When I host a party at my home, I pretty much invite everyone I know within a 10-mile radius. I’d rather run out of spinach dip than run into an uninvited acquaintance at the playground.

When it comes time for parties to become smaller, I will make every effort to be conscious of other people’s feelings.

And I will try to teach my children that same kindness – maybe they can’t be invited to everything, but no one who wants to join in a game should be excluded.

I haven’t yet sorted out my plan for “7.”

Maybe we’ll just skip town or post an open invitation to a large public space. Or maybe I’ll eat my words, invite seven friends for cake and feel hopelessly guilty for the next seven years.

I get it. We should teach our children they can’t always be invited to everything. That doesn’t mean we shouldn’t put in a little extra effort to avoid hurt feelings. atlantaparent.com

March 2020 Atlanta Parent 11

PICCADILLY PUPPETS Let us entertain you with puppets, music, storytelling and audience participation.

Birthday child always gets a puppet!

Puppet making workshops available

404-636-0022 www.piccadillypuppets.org piccadillypuppets@gmail.com 12 Atlanta Parent    March 2020

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SPECI AL ADVERTI SI NG

Party Planner Whether you’re planning a birthday bash for 20 kids or a block party for 100, our Party Planner is your ultimate resource for finding entertainers, party places and everything you need to plan your event.

Listings provided by advertisers

Entertainers/ Mobile Party Services/ Party Rentals Addy and Al’s addyandals.com POP UP parties for boys and girls to provide a memorable “party on purpose” experience in various venues. Their creative parties transcend the traditional celebration.

404-602-2475.

Auntie Renee’s Storytelling auntiereneestoryteller.com Party entertainment for boys and girls ages 1-12. Includes storytelling, puppet shows, games, arts and crafts. 770-402-0564.

Brainy Bytes brainy-bytes.com/w-atlanta/ Create the perfect hands-on LEGO NXT Battle Bots or LEGO Crazy Tops celebration for ages 6 and older. Brainy Bytes brings the party to you! They supply everything needed for an unforgettable robotic adventure. Kennesaw. 470-219-8662.

Dream Friends Entertainment dreamfriendsentertainment.com Costumed characters, circus acts, shows and themed entertainment for private and corporate events. All the family favorites.

Atlanta based since 2001. Over 250 party options. 404-319-0180.

High Touch High Tech sciencemadefunatl.net Hands-on SCIENCE parties conducted by degreed professionals. Since 1994 HTHT has been turning children onto science with multiple party packages, camps, and school programs. HTHT comes to you!

770-667-9443.

Jason’s Music Party jasonsmusicparty.com A birthday concert for children! Interactive, live musical entertainment. Ages 1-7. $150 and up. 678-708-2321.

Jump Joy Gaga Ball jumpjoyllc.com Georgia’s first exclusive provider of inflatable gaga ball pit rentals. Jump Joy brings this “friendlier version” of dodgeball to your private party, school, church or community event. Cobb, Douglas, Gwinnett and Paulding counties!

678-903-2800.

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Laser Sporting Lasersporting.com Everything you need for parties and festival events.

Inflatables, carnival games, rock walls, arcade games, trackless trains, laser tag and more.

770-253-0407.

Piccadilly Puppets piccadillypuppets.org Choose between several interactive puppet shows with stories and music. The birthday child receives a puppet. Make-a-puppet activity also available.

Ages 2-10. $190 and up. 404-636-0022.

Sam’s Path Mobile Petting Zoo samspathpettingzoo.com The petting zoo can come to you! Monkey, kangaroo, zebra, camel, lemur and farm animals.

Camel and pony rides. $250 and up. 706-717-8837.

Sleepovers & Co. sleepoversandco.com Luxurious, completely customizable sleepovers and events! They turn timeless traditions into magical experiences. Deliver and Style. Serving the greater Atlanta area. 256-454-6786.

Virtual Reality Game Truck Atlanta virtualrealitygametruckatlanta.com Want your child to have the best party ever? A mobile virtual reality and video game truck brings all the excitement to you. Plus, state-of-the-art VR stations that are loads of fun! 678-572-9574.

Party Places Adventure Air Sports kennesaw.adventureairsports.com Looking for extreme thrills, Adventure Air has you covered. Packages include access to one of the largest Ninja Courses in the state, Dodgeball, Zip line, WipeOut, Climbing Wall & so much more.

Kennesaw. 678-384-2020.

Autrey Mill Nature Preserve autreymill.org Give the gift that inspires exploration, appreciation, and preservation of the natural environment and local history. Have a birthday at Autrey Mill!

678-366-3511.

Children’s Museum of Atlanta childrensmuseumatlanta.org Have a fun and memorable party! Packages include private party room, party host, along with fun and exploration on the Museum’s interactive exhibit floor.

Discounts available for Museum Members. 275 Centennial Park Dr., Atlanta.

The Little Gym

Circus Camp circuscamp.org Jump, twirl, spin and swing! Circus parties with aerial trapeze training and more. Other circus arts available. Ages 5 and older. 404-370-0001.

Chick-fil-A Fan College Football Hall of Fame cfbhall.com/groups A party worth a victory dance! Plan a legendary birthday party they’ll remember long after the last bite of cake, with more than 50 interactive exhibits and three floors of football fun. groups@cfbhall. com; 404-880-4841.

Funopolis Family Fun Center funopolisfamilyfuncenter.com 11 acres of indoor/outdoor FUN for all ages. Come to Funopolis and celebrate your next big birthday bash. Funopolis is the place where the fun begins and never ends for birthdays! Try our new GLOW Parties! Commerce. 706-335-3866.

Gwinnett County Parks and Recreation gwinnettparks.com Various facilities available to rent for birthday parties, team celebrations, class parties, pools, gymnasiums, pavilions, community rooms.

770-822-8840.

Interactive Neighborhood for Kids Inkfun.org All parties include admission to the museum for up to 16 guests, a party room and a T-shirt for the birthday child. $150 and up. Gainesville.

770-536-1900.

The Little Gym thelitlegym.com An Awesome Birthday Bash at The Little Gym gives your birthday kid and their friends the run of the facility, filling the celebration with instructorled games, music, and fun activities. Alpharetta, 404-600-4894; Smyrna, 770-434-6661; Snellville, 770-982-0901.

Continued on next page

March 2020 Atlanta Parent 13

SPECI AL ADVERTI SI NG

Party Planner Stevi B’s Pizza Buffet stevibs.com Unlimited pizza + games = unlimited fun! Everyone loves Stevi B’s Gameland! Party packages available. Birthday parties, team parties, pizza workshops, more! 10 metro Atlanta locations. Plan your party: stevibs.com/parties-events/

A Birthday Concert for Your Child

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Music Together Metro Atlanta musictogethermetroatlanta.com Celebrate your baby’s birthday with live music! Singing, clapping, dancing, laughing and real-instrument fun for your child’s special day. A unique, memorable experience your baby or toddler and guests will la la la la love!

404-618-1475.

www.jasonsmusicparty.com

Netherworld Laser Adventure netherworldlaser.com/birthday-parties/ Netherworld Laser Adventure brings video games to life for the ultimate battle royale birthday experience! Ages 7+, up to 20 players in the private laser tag arena. Make this birthday epic!

678-580-5642.

Impress Your Party Guests with a Unique Party Experience

Nitro Zone nitrozone.com Buckle up for an Explosive Birthday Party at Nitro Zone. Birthday Party packages are custom-made to provide reserved access to activities and giving your friends an awesome experience!

Peachtree Corners; 470-636-3230.

D New aCble Avail

678-708-2321

Puppets Storytelling Perfect for 1 to 6 year olds In-House Preschool Field Trips

770-402-0564|AuntieReneeStoryteller.com Renee@AuntieReneeSpeaks.com

TUMBLETOTS

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Stories

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770-729-9660

FUN INDOOR PLAYGROUND 14 Atlanta Parent March 2020

Ready Set FUN! readysetfun.com Atlanta’s premier children’s play and exploration center. All-inclusive birthday packages designed for every budget and party size. They do it all, so you can have all the FUN! 404-596-5566.

Southeastern Railway Museum southeasternrailwaymuseum.org Parties in restored rail cars or outdoor pavilions. Party packages for 10 guests start at $185. Train rides also available.

Duluth 770-476-2013.

Stars and Strikes starsandstrikes.com Brag-worthy kids’ parties with more fun and less stress. Party packages for kids and teens with bowling, arcade, laser tag, bumper cars and more.

Parties include host and grown-up play date. Book your online and party planners take care of the rest. 10 Georgia Locations; 678-965-5707.

Tiny Towne Drive Safely tinytowne.com Indoor Park for aspiring drivers, ages 3-15. Learn the rules of the road, drive, ride, play, eat and party! Private party room and packages. Packages are $249 and up. 2055 Beaver Ruin Rd., Norcross. 470-265-6665.

Treetop Quest treetopquest.com Bring your own cake, food and drinks, table decorations, and plan a picnic in the park. Picnic tables can also be reserved when you upgrade your party to include Treetop Quest goody bags.

Dunwoody: 770-365-0356, dunwoody@ treetopquest.com. Gwinnett: 404-277-6113, gwinnett@treetopquest.com Tumbletots Preschools & Parties funttots.com Small private birthday parties for ages 1-6. Fun indoor playground with moonwalk, crafts, story, songs, goody bags and themes custom-tailored to your child. 770-729-9660.

Xdrenaline xdrenaline.com Xdrenaline offers fun activities for all ages. From morning time Toddler Takeovers to Cosmic Nights parties, parents and kids are guaranteed a great time. Incredible trampoline park, rock climbing walls, a ninja course and state-of-the-art virtual reality centers. 770-604-1367.

Young Chefs Academy youngchefsacademy.com/georgia Come celebrate your special occasions with their “one-of-a-kind” culinary party experiences! Young Chefs® Academy offers “ALL-INCLUSIVE” party packages where you supply the chefs and they supply the rest!

Zone of Light Studio zoneoflightstudio.com From toddlers to teen and adult special occasions, Zone of Light Studio has the expertise, enthusiasm, and creative arts workshops that will help you celebrate your special day in style and fun.

678-948-8059.

Zoo Atlanta zooatlanta.org Be a party animal! Celebrate birthday parties at Zoo Atlanta. Includes 90-minute pavilion rental, admission and catering for 16 guests. Additional entertainment options available. $475+tax. Contact specialevents@zooatlanta.org or 404-624-5650.

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It’s a Party!

For your kid’s next birthday, make entertaining easy with these exciting ideas – including one that gives back.

n Décor Galore Save time with ready-to-go party supplies from Party Dash.

Themes include Magical Unicorn, Space, Wild One Jungle Safari, Greatest Show on Earth, Let’s Be Mermaids or Over the Rainbow.

Available at partydash.com starting from $29.99-$39.99.

n Playtime Starlux Games’ Capture the Flag REDUX, Glow Battle or Wizards and Werewolves are great for helping your kid and his friends burn off their excess energy. With multiple ways to play, the kids at your party will never be bored.

Available at starluxgames.com for $39.90-$49.90.

n Cute Cards This cute Birthday Note Box from Star Kids Company can be a fun party activity. The wooden box has note cards that party goers can personalize for the birthday child. Available at starkidscompany.com for $14.99.

n Charitable Giving Check out Together We Rise’s Birthday Box program. These decorated boxes provide foster children with goodies to help them celebrate their special day. A single birthday box costs $20. A birthday box duo costs $40 and helps two children. Learn more at togetherwerise. org/sponsor-birthday-boxes/.

Put some fun into your function!

We have all kinds of great locations to choose from and plenty of room for kids to play and celebrate.

Your reservation is just a call or click away!

• Park pavilions • Aquatic centers • Community rooms • Themed parties*

770.822.8840 GwinnettParks.com *GwinnettEHC.com

The Best Birthday Parties PARTIES INCLUDE: Trampolines • Foam Pit • Dodgeball, Augmented Reality “Balloon Pop” • Rock Walls • Ninja Obstacle Course • Option to add on: Virtual Reality Experience

atlantaparent.com

$20 OFF

Birthday Party Packages

when you mention code “ATL-Parent”

1611 Roswell Road Marietta, GA 30062 www.xdrenaline.com 770-604-1367 events@x-drenaline.com

March 2020 Atlanta Parent 15