Good Birthday Venues
Posted on December 4th, 2008 – 4:45 PMBy May Chen
We’re looking for suggestions.
Zoe turns five at the end of the month. Up till now, we’ve celebrated her birthday in the midst of Christmas festivities and she’s been just fine with that.
But after going to several 5-yr-old parties this year, she’s asking for her own. In fact, she’s already verbally invited her guests. Even before we said yes.
Any ideas for good indoor venues to host a kid’s party in these frigid times (temperature and economic both)? Details on price and activities would be much appreciated. We’re looking at about seven kids total. It’s a mix of boys and girls so no princess themes, please.
20 Responses to "Good Birthday Venues"
The Little Gym in St. Louis Park is a good venue. I am not sure of the cost as my daughter was a guest. Also we are looking at having a bowling party for our almost seven year old for about 15 per child including food, beverages, decor and bowling. This will be our first non-home party for any of our kids.
Good luck and remember keeping it simple makes it easier and the kids love anything fun.
We’ve had parties at Lookout Ridge in Woodbury (not sure where that is from you). About $6/kid, big place where they can climb, crawl, run through tunnels, etc. Good for a mix of ages (we had a baby in addition to 4 year olds). You do have to get cake etc. from them but it’s not too expensive. I’m sure other suburbs have something similar.
There’s always Pump It Up; I have no idea about cost but it’s a very fun place. Also, check out local nature centers. There is a great one in Richfield (Wood Lake) that will do fun outdoor AND indoor activities for birthday parties starting at age 4.
We just did a birthday party for our son at McDonald’s and he enjoyed it. The price for food, a birthday cake, ice cream, and a gift bag per child was ~$60 for up to ten children.
Another party we have done before is the Minnesota zoo. The price is higher, but the kids get to spend the day at the zoo and they have birthday cake and fun treats for the guests.
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We had our son’s birthday party at Choo-Choo Bob’s in St. Paul, and girls and boys alike loved it. They got to play with the little train tables in the back of the store, and they each went home with a little train car they decorated. The store provides cake, decorations and drinks for $125 for up to 8 kids, so it’s a good deal.
I just received a card in the mail from Way Cool Cooking School - they do birthday parties. Not sure of the cost -but it made me think of Zoe and her love of cooking.
Or - hey - you could have a potsticker party at your house! 
ryan had a birthday at ‘The Blast’ in Eagan’s community center a couple of years back. Here is a link to the site. We had a great time.
Mill City Museum does a nice kids party. It will probably set you back $100.
Pump It Up will be over $200.
Are you a member of the Children’s Museum - they do member packages.
If you’re going super cheap, ask your community center if you can simply rent a room and then search the Internet for party games.
Good luck and let us know what happens.
Lucie
If Zoe and her friends like playing in the pool, check out Foss Swim School. They have locations all over the Twin Cities and they’ll host a birthday party with instructors leading games and races. You get to pick the theme (pirates, princesses, beach theme are some of the options) and they provide the cake, goody bags, thank yous, decor and a special present for the birthday girl. Not sure about the cost, but it should be on their website, http://www.fossswimschool.com. Good luck!
Thanks for all the great suggestions, everyone. We’re going to be in the same boat next year so I’m writing all these down.
How about sledding and hot chocolate? Our neighbors bring thermoses to the hill. Kind of fun if it’s not toooo frigid. And think how exotic (crazy?) it will look to their family in Malaysia.
My daughter’s birthday is also in Dec. and given the nightmare of wet boots and a dozen 5 year olds in my small house makes it very easy to throw down $100-$150.
We had her 4th birthday party at the Bell Museum, where a guide takes you through the exhibits and leads games.
This year, we’re trying out the Harriet Alexander Nature Center in Roseville where a naturalist will also lead a program. I’d try any of the nature centers near you if Zoe is into that kind of thing.
We also considered the Como Zoo.
Charlotte’s favorite party she’s attended by far, however, is at the Eagle’s Nest indoor playground in New Brighton. You can rent out the place for yourself on certain off-days/times. The party she went to was on Sunday morning.
Good luck!
We had Emmet’s 4th bday at the Wood Lake Nature Center in Richfield. It was low-key but fun for the kids - they did an indoor and outdoor scavenger hunt (and it was early January). I don’t recall the cost, but it was maybe around $70 for about 10 kids?
You might also want to consider Kiddywampus in St Louis Park (near Excelsior and Grand). They have a great big studio space where kids can have a blast painting and doing other craft projects. Plus, the woman who owns it is really fun and nice.
Oh yea, and I have to echo the Eagle’s Nest comment. It can get CRAZY there on Saturday and Sunday afternoons, but if you pick a less busy time it’s a nice place for a kid party.
What about a local indoor ice rink for public skating? The Eagan Civic Arena is very reasonably priced for kids.
Skating might be a little intimidating for 5-year-olds, but if you have plenty of grown-ups to help lace skates and keep track of gloves, it could be fun.
We have had two parties at The Little Gym and have loved it. They run the whole party, have great staff and best of all we were able to enjoy the party and talk to our friends instead of running the party (like we do at home). Well worth it.
Thanks for all the great suggestions! Turns out Zoe backtracked and agreed to the usual combined birthday/Christmas/New Year festivities with the family. But these are all good ideas for next year…
We were just at a birthday party for a 6 year old at Edinborough Park in Edina the other day. It was SO fun for the kids and it was safe and easy for the parents, too. It costs about $100 for the party for 10 kids.
Check out this website for the MN Party Directory! I had no idea such a thing existed!
http://www.kidspartyfun.com/pages/partydirectory/minnesotapartydirectory.html
Well, I can’t leave this post without throwing Chuck E. Cheese into the mix. It’s lots of fun, but not cheap. Mostly because we had a lot of adult mouths to feed in addition to the kids… and since it was one of my favorite places as a kid, I had to play it old school.
As party guests we have enjoyed The Little Gym and the Maple Grove Community Center (using a party room, the pool and the indoor playground/tunnels).
