Kids look forward to their birthday all year long, which can make it hard for the big day to actually live up to the hype. Finding quality kids birthday party entertainment is the key to making your child’s next party a hit. To help you plan an epic event, we’ve rounded up eight snooze-proof birthday party ideas that are sure to entertain and delight your child and their friends.
1. Medieval Times
Medieval Times is a popular option for kids’ birthday party entertainment, but you may not live near one of their locations. If you can’t make it there, you can put on your own rendition in the backyard. You can find inflatable jousting games and foam swords and shields online, which provide hours of fun. Renting a pony will make your little one feel like a real knight and only costs about $300 for one hour. If that isn’t in the budget, set up medieval games instead like apple bobbing or Nine Men’s Morris, an ancient strategy game.
2. Trampoline Park
Trampoline parks have been a huge hit with kids over the past few years. Most medium and large cities have facilities that you can rent for your child’s next party. Bouncing entertains little ones for hours and helps them burn off excess energy. But if you don’t have a trampoline park nearby, renting a bounce house is a great alternative. It provides a similar experience in the comfort of your own backyard.
3. Science Museum
If your child is curious and inquisitive, they may enjoy going to the local science museum for their birthday. Planetariums and children’s science centers usually offer birthday packages that provide an unforgettable experience. You may get private access to the interactive exhibits or undivided attention from a docent, helping enhance your museum visit.
Unfortunately, some towns don’t have science museums. If there isn’t one nearby, you could help birthday guests learn about science by doing some experiments, such as building and launching a model rocket.
4. Amusement Park
Kids love rollercoasters, so it’s no surprise that amusement parks are a popular option for kids’ birthday party entertainment. Admission can be pricey, but luckily many theme and water parks (such as Cedar Point) offer discounted group tickets or birthday packages. Discount sites like Groupon and warehouse stores like Sam’s Club also sell discounted tickets. However, if a theme park isn’t in the budget, you may be able to find a local carnival or festival that offers more affordable admission without skimping on games, rides, or fun!
5. Host a British Tea Party
If your child doesn’t enjoy thrilling rides, they may prefer the slower pace of a British tea party. It’s easy to host afternoon tea at home on a budget. If you don’t have any china, you can usually find pretty ceramic plates and cups at the thrift store. Even if you aren’t much of a baker, British treats like finger sandwiches and scones are easy to make. You can also find English snacks like Jaffa cakes and Walkers crisps in the international aisle of many grocery stores.
For games, consider purchasing a children’s croquet set or play tea bag toss. You can also research fun facts about tea and create a fun trivia game.
6. Aquarium or Zoo
Kids of all ages love going to the aquarium or zoo to learn about and marvel at all the animals. Aquariums and zoos almost always have event rental space for children’s birthday parties. These packages include admission so your whole group can get in and see the exhibits. If you don’t live near a zoo, you may be able to find a local farm with a petting area.
7. The Circus
The circus is a classic choice for kids’ birthday party entertainment. You can find tickets on StubHub or Ticketmaster. However, if the circus doesn’t come to your town, it’s easy to throw a similar event at your home by booking local entertainers. You can find skilled clowns, magicians, and face painters on sites like GigSalad or Bark.com. You could even dress up as a clown yourself to save money!
8. A Car Show
A car show is a low-cost kids birthday party entertainment option for little boys who love classic rides. Major car shows are special events that only happen once or twice a year in specific locations, so you might have to travel to get there. However, your local group of car enthusiasts may have smaller, more frequent meetups.
Reach out and see if they’d be open to sharing their love of cars with a group of youngsters. Since these events are often hosted in parking lots, ask if you can bring some foldable tables and chairs and set up a little picnic.
What are your favorite children’s birthday party ideas? Let us know in the comments!
Vicky Monroe is a freelance personal finance writer who enjoys learning about and discussing the psychology of money. In her free time, she loves to cook and tackle DIY projects.
