25 Amazing Birthday Party Locations By Katy M. Clark
Your child’s next birthday is fast approaching and you’re wondering where to hold the party. Perhaps the thought of having it at home makes you break out in a cold sweat. Maybe it is simply not an option. And with all the Covid restrictions, it is harder than ever to know where to go. As the mother of two kids, now a teen and tween, I’ve spent over a decade attending or hosting birthday parties at over two dozen spots. There truly is a place for everyone and every budget. Check out this list of 25 amazing locations for your child’s next birthday party and get ready to celebrate! (But keep in mind, some locations MAY be limited due to the pandemic.) • Take your group to a local sporting event, such as a minor league baseball game. • Visit a zoo or petting zoo. • Go to a swimming pool, water park or splash pad. • Try the local park where you can rent a pavilion as home base while the kids run around. • Think about special events in your town. Piggyback your party on an outdoor summer concert or a viewing of the holiday parade. • Go to the movies. • Take a walk or hike at a nature 32 | birminghamparent | may / june 2021
center or botanical garden, where you can learn about the outdoors and celebrate with a picnic. • Have a party at the fire station. Our local fire station offers short tours for kids, lets them climb on the trucks, and passes out free firefighter hats. Be prepared that the party could be cut short in the event of an actual fire! • Visit an orchard in the summer for fruit picking or pick pumpkins at a pumpkin patch in the fall. • Most children’s museums welcome birthday parties. • Craft stores often let kids pick a craft and include supplies and a guide to instruct kids in making the craft. • How about Build-a-Bear Workshop? • Visit a laser tag venue. • Go to the bowling alley. In our town, the bowling alley offers an affordable package that includes two games of bowling, shoe rental, pizza and a drink. Just show up with a cake or sweet treat for the end. • Scale the highest heights at an indoor rock-climbing center. • Celebrate at a mini golf venue. • Try a martial arts studio, where kids can play games and learn age-appropriate skills.
• Go roller skating at a roller rink. • Jump over to a trampoline park. • What about the Humane Society or a cat cafe? Don’t forget to check for allergies first! • Have the party at a bounce house or inflatables venue. • Gymnastics clubs and gyms let you rent their space so kids can run, jump and play to their heart's content. • Try an ice kating party. Many ice rinks offer party rooms and packages that include skate rentals and public skating for every child. • Book a group session at a paint-ntake studio. • Celebrate at any indoor play place, such as those found at play cafes or fast-food restaurants.
Finally, perhaps you are able to have a party at home, but are just too worried that your house isn’t big enough or exciting enough. In my experience, some of the best (and cheapest) birthday parties I ever hosted were in our home. The home parties pleased kids and parents alike! Katy M. Clark is a writer who celebrates her imperfections as a mom at ExperiencedBadMom.com.
