To keep the party cost reasonable you can't invite the whole class.

If the trend is to invite the whole class I would have parties at non meal times and express this on the invitation. Heavy appetizers or cake and punch only so parents know.

I keep cost low for parties by doing food myself. Summer kids parties are easy as hot dogs and a grill, chips and fruit usually work. You can do that at a local park or your own yard. Have 1 or 2 activities, no goodie bags, express no gifts ans just let the kids have fun.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Please do more home and playground parties! We enjoy them just as much. Do some organized games. With that many kids you could have teams even!

As I said, just the taco truck we had at our backyard party was $1,000. When we had a playground party the permit was $120, $400 for the bubble man, over $2,000 for the crepe truck (entitling each party guest to one savory and one sweet crepe), etc.

Why do you need a taco truck or crepe truck…why not just order tacos and crepes?

Because who’s going to assemble them for the kids? Because when you pay for a service they bring all the supplies, do all the set up and do the breakdown. It’s better quality food. To me, it’s worth it.

LOL to the person who thinks food trucks are better quality food.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Please do more home and playground parties! We enjoy them just as much. Do some organized games. With that many kids you could have teams even!

As I said, just the taco truck we had at our backyard party was $1,000. When we had a playground party the permit was $120, $400 for the bubble man, over $2,000 for the crepe truck (entitling each party guest to one savory and one sweet crepe), etc.

Why do you need a taco truck or crepe truck…why not just order tacos and crepes?

Because who’s going to assemble them for the kids? Because when you pay for a service they bring all the supplies, do all the set up and do the breakdown. It’s better quality food. To me, it’s worth it.

My kids don’t really like tacos. If the child is not old enough to make his own taco, it seems like a bad kid party food.

I only normally go to food trucks for school events and they are painfully slow. For kid parties, I like food that is out and ready to eat immediately.

You don’t need a truck. You can get caterers and servers. I love home parties with good food the best.

Anonymous wrote:Just do cupcakes at the playground. 1:30-3:30. No meal provided. If you want to take it to the next level, add some chips and juice boxes.

I did a party like this and I had parents thanking me afterwards for blazing a trail to simplicity.

+1

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Please do more home and playground parties! We enjoy them just as much. Do some organized games. With that many kids you could have teams even!

As I said, just the taco truck we had at our backyard party was $1,000. When we had a playground party the permit was $120, $400 for the bubble man, over $2,000 for the crepe truck (entitling each party guest to one savory and one sweet crepe), etc.

Why do you need a taco truck or crepe truck…why not just order tacos and crepes?

Because who’s going to assemble them for the kids? Because when you pay for a service they bring all the supplies, do all the set up and do the breakdown. It’s better quality food. To me, it’s worth it.

Wow these prices are crazy! I thought I was spending a lot but we spend between $300-$500 for a party. Not $1000, that’s so expensive!

Some cheap parties we have attended that were fun:

Lego racing party - parents bought Lego wheels and kids built Lego cars
Water balloons
Water guns
Karaoke

I had a gem mining party that was a huge hit.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Please do more home and playground parties! We enjoy them just as much. Do some organized games. With that many kids you could have teams even!

As I said, just the taco truck we had at our backyard party was $1,000. When we had a playground party the permit was $120, $400 for the bubble man, over $2,000 for the crepe truck (entitling each party guest to one savory and one sweet crepe), etc.

Why do you need a taco truck or crepe truck…why not just order tacos and crepes?

I think the pp is really proud of her taco and crepe truck. I have seen that person post about it multiple times.

I have been to many elaborate parties with beautiful decorations. I have been to a few parties with taco stations. My kids don’t care if it is chipotle or some better Mexican catering.

To answer the OP, $1k is pretty standard for a venue party. I have thrown two parties so far this year and each place cost me about $1k plus food, cake and favors. I did bare minimum not fancy parties.

Last year, the same kids had parties that cost me $2-3k.

I think my kids have fun wherever their friends are. Some of the best parties we have been to are home parties with people we like. No structured activities planned. Good food. Good company. You don’t have to spend a lot to have a good party.

I’d say average of $3k and frankly they don’t end up even feeling that luxe.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Please do more home and playground parties! We enjoy them just as much. Do some organized games. With that many kids you could have teams even!

As I said, just the taco truck we had at our backyard party was $1,000. When we had a playground party the permit was $120, $400 for the bubble man, over $2,000 for the crepe truck (entitling each party guest to one savory and one sweet crepe), etc.

Why do you need a taco truck or crepe truck…why not just order tacos and crepes?

I spend $350 max and always do home parties. Usually pizza and fruit, some sort of treat, and one item as a party favor. I have a box of decorations I reuse. A few expenses for games etc.

Anonymous wrote:OP here.

ClimbZone out in Laurel is $36 per kid, so if you have 20+ kids, thats easily close to $1k without food.

Almost every other place I've called is about that much and I'm just flabbergasted. We haven't had a birthday party with 20+ kids ever, and we had such few birthday parties during the pandemic and I think I'm just so surprised.

Are you in a wealthy neighborhood?

Climbzone was our most expensive party per kid. It would be cheaper at bounce u or dynamite gymnastics.

If you can do it at home, Tims Gems is wonderful and very reasonable for what you get. You can control costs by going to costco for food/drinks and ordering Dominos.

Anonymous wrote:I go all out on my birthday parties, but they're DIY. Intricate games, scavenger hunts, crafts. They typically run me $250-400. I hold them in my huge, open basement, bake my own cakes and have tons of food that I make. I actually think it's a better party room than any place I've ever been to (those bounce house places I mean). I have hired babysitters to help me run different stations.

It takes me a while to cook and set up, but I enjoy that stuff a lot, so it doesn't bother me.

My kids have enjoyed attending birthday parties at home or parks a lot. I disagree that you don't need activities though. I think you should always have at least 3 organized activities with a party (musical chairs, pinata, pin the tail on the donkey, craft, relay race). It gives a bit more structure to the whole event while still leaving time for free play.

You must be paying the babysitters shit, huh? Two babysitters for let's say ... two hours each, at $20 each is $80 without tipping them. So you're spending $170 on all the food, decor, crafts, and supplies and that's enough? How many kids are your kids having at these parties, three?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Please do more home and playground parties! We enjoy them just as much. Do some organized games. With that many kids you could have teams even!

As I said, just the taco truck we had at our backyard party was $1,000. When we had a playground party the permit was $120, $400 for the bubble man, over $2,000 for the crepe truck (entitling each party guest to one savory and one sweet crepe), etc.

Guys I think this person is joking

I'm not joking. We invite the entire class (1st grader and 3 yr old) for all parties so far. If we did a trampoline party there's only one place to do it in our city - it's $500 for 90 minutes for 10 kids and $50 for each additional kid. In January we did a gymnastics party for the 3 yr old and it's $375 for 20 kids (we snuck in extra kids) and while they provide some decor, they don't provide any food. So between the rest of the decor, food, drink, and goody bags it was around $1,000. I imagine costs will go down as parties become drop off and we're not feeding parents/siblings. But hey, our goal is not to create the cheapest party possible. We like hosting nice parties. Sure we could put out Doritos and Pepsi and call it a day, but we don't want to do that.