Winter park parties?

[Anonymous]

What about outdoor ice-skating instead of a park?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP, as you can tell, there are people prefer outdoor parties even in the cold (me, I'm one of them) and people who dislike them, just like there are people who dislike venue parties (because germs) or summer outdoor parties (because heat/dehydration/mosquitoes) or any other aspect of the party you plan. Organize a party you and your kids will not be miserable hosting, assume people who don't like your preferred set up will not attend, and have fun!

+1 I think this is so true! You see from dcum on every birthday post that people have such different opinions on these things, you will never please everyone so it's a good reminder. Some people love park parties no matter the weather, some people apparently hate park parties no matter the weather. Some people hate indoor play places iwth a passion some love them.

[Anonymous]

I would definitely pass unless it was my child’s absolute best friend/we were very close with the family ….and even then would be annoyed. Don’t really get why a “germy” indoor play place is any different than a typical day of preschool?

[Anonymous]

I feel cold going to park todayat 50s, and sorry, I don't want to attend outdoor park party in the cold.

[Anonymous]

Why the hell would you plan an outdoor birthday party in the dead of winter? Are you planning to go ice skating or something?

[Anonymous]

We go to the park all winter but no you shouldn’t plan an outdoor party in January. The parks have a ton of party rental rooms and buildings. Get one of those - if it’s nice out, you can move most of it outside.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I would definitely pass unless it was my child’s absolute best friend/we were very close with the family ….and even then would be annoyed. Don’t really get why a “germy” indoor play place is any different than a typical day of preschool?

Because it's more like 15 different preschools bringing all the sick kids together in one big room. Things that weren't circulating at one school now will be. We still go, but the rep for being "germy" isn't unwarranted.

[Anonymous]

Try a nature center. It’s usually one group there at a time and they tend to plan an outdoor activity like a hike if weather permits but the food part is inside.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am the PP who said I would not SIT outside with my friends for 30-40 minutes.

If they are just going to be outside running around for an hour or two then that doesn't sound like much of a party to me. To my toddler, understandably, a party means cake and to eat cake you have to sit down and take your gloves off at a minimum.

At that age, I'd just invite everyone to a local playground, have coffee and doughnuts for the parents, and then pass out Cheryl's cookies and juice boxes that kids can take home.

[Anonymous]

Have a half-birthday in the summer instead. We did that this year because of the omnicrom covid surge in Dec/Jan and it was so nice to have an outdoor park party. Might do it again.

[Anonymous]

We would be a no (or maybe a wait until the weather forecast is available before RSVPing). We went to a backyard party first weekend of November last year; it was just November cold, not January cold, and it was unpleasant by the end.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Try a nature center. It’s usually one group there at a time and they tend to plan an outdoor activity like a hike if weather permits but the food part is inside.

Any suggestions? Most of the ones I have looked at have a 40 person limit total.

[Anonymous]

I think winter park parties are great as long as it's in the 30s or above and sunny. Anything lower than that or w/ rain or an awful windchill, and I would not want to attend (or host) one. So I think you just kind of have to be flexible and plan it sort of last minute for a time that's predicted not to have terribly cold or rainy weather.

We've been to a few such parties and I have a February baby myself for whom I'll be planning a party. I think the main key to it is to a) plan it for a nice(r) day, b) plan it for mid-late afternoon when it is at its warmest, c) have hot drinks and foods that are easy to eat without having to remove gloves/mittens (cupcakes instead of a fork to eat a slice of cake, for example, pizza or a sandwich instead of any food you need utensils for), and come prepared w/ extra winter gear (blankets for adults to wear while sitting and watching the kids play? those little hand warmer packets?), and finally keep the kids active and moving around (which should be easy to do at a park but depending on how old they are, maybe you could also do something like red light green light or another active game like that)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Try a nature center. It’s usually one group there at a time and they tend to plan an outdoor activity like a hike if weather permits but the food part is inside.

Any suggestions? Most of the ones I have looked at have a 40 person limit total.

Well, no. If you need a place for that many people I guess you do need a park. Maybe rent a pavilion?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think winter park parties are great as long as it's in the 30s or above and sunny. Anything lower than that or w/ rain or an awful windchill, and I would not want to attend (or host) one. So I think you just kind of have to be flexible and plan it sort of last minute for a time that's predicted not to have terribly cold or rainy weather.

We've been to a few such parties and I have a February baby myself for whom I'll be planning a party. I think the main key to it is to a) plan it for a nice(r) day, b) plan it for mid-late afternoon when it is at its warmest, c) have hot drinks and foods that are easy to eat without having to remove gloves/mittens (cupcakes instead of a fork to eat a slice of cake, for example, pizza or a sandwich instead of any food you need utensils for), and come prepared w/ extra winter gear (blankets for adults to wear while sitting and watching the kids play? those little hand warmer packets?), and finally keep the kids active and moving around (which should be easy to do at a park but depending on how old they are, maybe you could also do something like red light green light or another active game like that)

If you have to do this much planning, it’s too darn cold. Just have an indoor party or hold it in the spring.