'Reasonably' Priced Birthday Party Location Ideas

[Anonymous]

I don't know if I'm being cheap - just want to check in to see if the norm is for people to spend $400-600 or so on a child's b'day party (for a young child - not for a big 16th or something which I guess could really be expensive). I've done Chuck E Cheese and that seemed reasonable to me. However, I have been investigating and many of the venues really add up: entertainment, location, cake, decorations, party favors...I have an entertainer (expensive enough with just this) and am searching for a location that provides some other activity to keep the kids busy since the entertainer won't last the whole time and would rather not have it at my house. Any ideas out there that won't break the bank? Need a reality check. Appreciate it!

[Anonymous]

I never thought I would do it, but I spent right around $500 for my son's 9th b-day party all together. When I got the bill, my sister-in-law saw it and said how reasonable the price was.

[Anonymous]

After 3 kids and many years of birthday parties, I've learned the most expensive parties are the ones you have at home. And they are the most work too! My kids have liked Build a Bear (young set), bowling (naval bethesda, white oaks bowling center for duck pins), silver stars gymnastics. We have rented various pavilions in parks and that worked ok but still alot of work (but special too). Depending on # of kids, those parties cost 250-300$. Make cupcakes instead of fancy bakery cake. Skip lunch (have party at 2pm) etc if you are on a budget. Skip the fancy goody bags - simple is better - parents will appreciate that. good luck!

[Anonymous]

I'm not sure if this is possible in your area, but does the local/county rec. center allow or provide birthday parties? If you have a rec. center or a YMCA with an indoor pool then I think that would be really cool.

Also, where I used to live some of the kids' museums had slumber parties with a learning theme - there was one birthday package that provided cake, icecream, balloons, 2 hours of activities (it was an outer space theme), then bedtime (had to bring sleeping bags), and then there was an astronom/star gazing "lesson". This museum also had another package to chose from involving a twilight trip to the pond to explore wildlife. It was really neat. Not sure if there is something around here or in DC, but you may want to search the web for something similar (assuming that is something of interest).

[maria]

Depending on how many kids you'd want to invite, you might want to check out Sport Rock - rockclimbing place in Alexandria. They also have a location in Sterling.
http://www.sportrock.com

It was my son's 6th birthday and kids had a blast climbing. Price is $25 per kid. You bring your own food and cake and they provide gear. Kids get to climb for about hour and a half. There is one instructor per 3-4 kids.

[Anonymous]

I don't think you are being cheap - in fact, I personally think $400-$600 is pretty expensive for a child's party. I'm from Ohio and I sense more of a "keep up with the Jones'" mentality in the DC area - and it's hard to avoid the pressure, especially when it comes to our children.

Some good suggestions have already been made (especially concerning timing and not needing to serve a meal). One other idea is to not feel compelled to invite the entire class - it can be overwhelming for young children anyhow. A good rule is to invite the same number as your child's age.

All that having been said, my child's 7th b-day is coming up. We have never actually had a party for her - we've had relatives over or a friend from next door or whatnot, but never invited more than one or two kids. My daughter has been begging me, and this year I decided to give in.

We're having the party at a pottery painting place where the cost can be as cheap as about $12/child (depending on the cost of the pottery piece) plus the cost of cake. One thing I really like is that the pottery piece replaces the need for a goody bag and entertainment (the kids entertain themselves!). I plan on spending about $300 (which I think is too much, by the way). I explained to my daughter that the party was her gift from us and that her friends will probably bring gifts. (We'll probably get her one or two small things, but she has enough "stuff" already anyhow). The cost of the party here can be equivalent to one at Chuck-e-Cheese, Bowling, a swimming party at the recreation center, or some of the other ideas mentioned here, depending on how many children are invited.

Good luck!

[zumbamama]

Bowl America has some reasonable party packages. I limited the kid guest list to 5-7, to keep costs and craziness down. I've been to birthday parties at the golf course, in spring of course. And my colleagues offer kid's Zumba parties. I have also seen martial arts parties at various dojos.

[Anonymous]

White Oak Bowling Lanes (White Oak Shopping center on New Hampshire Ave. in Montgomery County) is reasonable. For $12 per kid (max 20 kids) you get 1 hour of bowling, bowling shoes, and 1 hour for your "party". They provide 2 pieces of pizza (or hot dogs) per kid, as well as pitchers of soda. You bring your own cake. You can do this part in their party room (better for little ones since they're contained in one space) or use their big tables behind the bowling lanes. We found that you don't really need the full hour after the hour of bowling. If you skip the pizza/hot dogs/sodas, you pay $9 per kid. We had my daughter's 8th B-Day party here not too long ago, and everyone had a blast! (Quite a few kids asked if they were allowed to keep the shoes! For whatever reason, they found the shoes to be quite "cool")

[Anonymous]

We don't spend anything like that much. Never have.

Last year we rented a room in a community center and a gym teacher to run the kids ragged. They loved it. We loved it.

This year we limited the guest list and are going to a college basketball game.

[Anonymous]

When I was little, I remember my birthday as being one of the most special days of the year.

I had a party just for me, I had balloons, and got to invite my friends (usu. 5-10 kids), I had a cake with candles, and I got a couple of presents from my parents, and presents from my friends. That's it. We all had a fabulous time. I never felt I was missing out or deprived.

What about bringing some simplicity back? I have no desire to keep up with the Jones' -- all I care about is DD having a special day and her friends having a good time at the party. Honestly, the kids would enjoy it just as much even if only a little money is spent.

My DD has a summer birthday -- we are having DD's party at a park - we will spend $20 on a grocery store cake, a few dollars on balloons and streamers, and some money on a small treat for each kid (maybe candy or something), and a present for DD. The kids will eat cake, and then run around in the water park/playground for an hour. Total should be far less than $100.
For winter birthdays, obviously that would not work -- but you could easly have a similar party at a casual pizza restaurant during an off time (like 2 or 3 pm), and maybe ask to clear an area so the kids can play games or something after eating cake.

[Anonymous]

You can have birthday parties at the fire station in Mont County. It can't be that expensive there.