Ugh. Park parties are normally not very fun. Adults overestimate how long the kids can just play there (above age 3) and often the host has a few toys but not enough for everyone to use.

Do your research , don't just pick a park thats close.

Great parks for parties (off the top of my head)

Watkins Regional Park (MD)
Sandy Point State Park and Beach (MD)

Potomac Overlook Regional Park Nature Center (VA)
Upton Hill (VA)

Haines Point (DC)
DPR Parks and Rec Centers (Can be tricky with scheduling though) (DC)

Anonymous wrote:My DD's second birthday was at a park. We hired a bubble guy. Kids of all ages (literally 1 to 17) all played with bubbles.

Ooooh! Can you share your bubble guy details?!?

I think a park party for this age group is fine, but make sure there is a port-o-potty or bathroom at the location you choose. Reserve a pavilion, if possible. If the weather is bad (rainy, too cold, overcast and cold) you might get a lot of cancellations if there is no shelter. There are also plenty of parks that are free with small, first come first serve, pavilions, you could gamble on.

I would also shorten the time length of the party. Don't do a 2 hour party. Have the party last 90 minutes at the most. First 30-60 minutes the kids play, last 30 minutes you do the cake. People can always hang out afterwards if the weather is nice.

If it rains, more people will show up for quick cake and ice cream under a pavilion than if there is no shelter.

If wonderful weather, extra games could include a piñata, the limbo, soccer, races, or just hanging out (but I would say don't go more than an hour without serving the cake).

We’ve had great park parties. I had a mental list of games for the kids to play if they got bored. They never did. I also had a bunch of park toys for the kids to play with and take home at favors (bubbles, frisbees, small balls). Those were a hit as well.

Since when do 6 year olds not like the park? I like the idea if a bubble machine..

Anonymous wrote:To be honest I think this is hard to pull off at 6. At 3 or 4 you can get away with playground, cupcakes, and a few crafts. 6 is hard and I think a lot of kids would think it was babyish.

I did this for my six year old and it was great! Lots of attendees. There was a playground. I brought bubbles and balls.
Did not hire anyone else except have pizza delivered. I decorated the shelter. Lots of kids showed up

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here. Yes, for this year - thinking mid October. DC wanted a character come home but we don't have the space for it. Renting a room for 2 hours and adding a character would add to the cost, that's why I was thinking of the park.

You'd probably have to pay to reserve a space at a park as well.

Not usually, if you just reserse a pavilion.

Make sure to pick a park that has a bathroom or port a potties. We went to one in upper NW DC and there was no bathroom option. The host said to go behind a tree! That is pretty thoughtless. Yes, it is a cheap party option but when people have to stay for 2 hours, you need a bathroom and also shade - there was no shade at this park either.

You could do a game like kickball or rock paper scissors battle (divide the kids into teams and buy hoola hoops), do a scavenger hunt, then have food and cake and then just let the kids play.

The best parties i have attended are at playgrounds. Kids simply play and burn off energy. Go for it.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DS was invited to nerf gun fight at a park (the mom hired organizers who brought nerf guns, etc and organized game). That was a blast.

Dd was invited probably up to 2nd grade to birthdays at a park. No idea what they did their, my guess just played and ran around. They enjoyed it. Face painting would be a hit, a character would be ridiculed probably at their age.

I feel like in this area, a lot of parents would be outraged (either at the party or behind the host parents’ backs) because of the gun thing.

NP. I agree and it's so sad!! I'm as liberal as they go and support very tight gun control (and Canadian on top of that) but for goodness' sake, nerf guns are not guns. They are fun!

What's a non-"gun" equivalent? Water balloons? Would parents be ok with their kids getting wet (assuming this is in the summer)?

Balloons are environmentally unfriendly. I’d prefer the nerf guns.

Water ballons are a pain to pick up in small pieces. They do not fly in the air then land and strangle seat turtles though. Calm down.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DS was invited to nerf gun fight at a park (the mom hired organizers who brought nerf guns, etc and organized game). That was a blast.

Dd was invited probably up to 2nd grade to birthdays at a park. No idea what they did their, my guess just played and ran around. They enjoyed it. Face painting would be a hit, a character would be ridiculed probably at their age.

I feel like in this area, a lot of parents would be outraged (either at the party or behind the host parents’ backs) because of the gun thing.

NP. I agree and it's so sad!! I'm as liberal as they go and support very tight gun control (and Canadian on top of that) but for goodness' sake, nerf guns are not guns. They are fun!

What's a non-"gun" equivalent? Water balloons? Would parents be ok with their kids getting wet (assuming this is in the summer)?

Balloons are environmentally unfriendly. I’d prefer the nerf guns.

We had a party at the playground when my child was in Kindergarten. He wanted to invite 30 kids and 29 of them came. We had no games and the kids had a blast!

I would be totally fine sending my 7yo to a party at a park. As long as it has a pavilion and tables and a playground suitable for the ages of your kid they should be fine. Example, Cabin John Park or Wheaton regional could be cool, your neighborhood tot lot would not.

You could do a pinata and maybe have a craft if you wanted to, but you don't need to.

I don't know any kids in that age range that don't enjoy a playground with friends. Not sure what kinds of kids the other posters have.......