B-day Ideas

I almost wish my girls had been born in Spring/Summer/Fall.... anytime BUT winter! LOL Their birthday is in January. Anyone got any ideas as to where to hold a party?? They LOVE the zoo, park, beach - but unfortunately it's to cold in January for any of that. Last year they insisted on going to the zoo the week before their birthday, we were the only crazy people there!

I know there's chuckie cheese, indoor bounce houses, etc. but I'm really trying to stay away from spending $500 on just a party (those places are not cheap). I need other ideas, other than my house, for hosting a January Birthday party.

 

Our local rec dept runs parties at a school gym. It costs $150 for two hours and that includes 3 college age kids running the activities. You just bring in the cake, tablecloths, decorations and any food. My kids loved it this past year. Maybe you could look at local towns to see if they have something similar? Or check with a local gym?

 

Definitely check places like the local Parks & Rec, YMCA, etc. they will often do parties (with a choice of themes) relatively cheap. Also, our local gymnastics places, dance studios, etc. offer party services. There are also a couple of hair salons here that will do princess type parties where the girls get their hair done, sparkles, etc.

 

We are in the same boat as you. Always too cold to go outside since the girls' birthdays are on New Year's Eve. Ours loves the indoor bounce houses and bowling. Here there is a fantastic place for girls where they host a party at a local salon for kids and all the girls can get a manicure/pedicure and it's anywhere from $5 - $10 a kid with a minimum of $25, which I think is really great. We are taking the girls either there (with maximum of 3 friends for each girl) or to the skating rink which will run us about $80 for 10 kids. I wish we had taken them to the salon last year because they love to have their nails done.

 

I am in the same boat! My girls b-day is in Jan too!

Maybe a fast food restaurant with a play place, just pay for happy meals for the kids?

Once I rented an entire movie theater for $250 for my son (we saw Monsters Inc which was new at the time) It was great because it included all parents and kids also popcorn and small drinks. we brought cake and icecream and did all of that plus presents in the lobby before the movie- the drawback was it was at like 9:30 on a saturday morning but it was a big hit! It was cheaper than I thought!

do you have a community center with an indoor pool?

try a skating rink maybe even a bowling alley we have had parties at both I have never spent $500 and we invite no less than 20

do you go to a church that may let you use a fellowship hall?

 

Hi:

Mine have an early March birthday (which limits outdoor parties.) We've been to winter bowling parties (fun!), and we've done an indoor gym party (run by the YMCA) and my favorite so far, we did an indoor nature center party where the naturalist took out animals, including a snake that the kids got to touch gently (and that pooped on the floor) -- believe it or not, that's what my kids and others remembered from their 4rth b-day party -- the pooping snake.

Also, our county has a community center that you can rent for a small fee.

Next year (for 5 years old), I think we will do separate b-day parties -- one boy party and one girl party.

Just some ideas.

Meg