Hi all, my son has had a bowling party, a soccer party, a nature party. I'd love some new ideas. His birthday is near Thanksgiving so the lego store is out as they won't host parties then. I wondered about broomball? Any ideas would be great. We will have around 20 children so our preference is out of the house! : )
Fleetwood Roller Rink .. does B-day parties.. Most kids enjoy the ones I've seen.. why not give them a call at ###-###-####. They are located in Summit Il.On Archer Av. just 1 blockwest of Harlem Av. .. I've been there for several school skate parties as well.
Hope this helps.. and if you are not close to this local.. there's got to be another venue closer..
Broomball is a lot of fun, and the kids do not need to know how to skate...we did that for a party last year.
You may also consider a baseball party (Frozen ropes), or with that size of a group, a Chicago Wolves game--they do party/group outings (would need a couple drivers probably). Pump-it-up, .... Good luck!
Sometimes the local YMCA has a variety of options. Ours (Lattof in Mt. Prospect) offers indoor soccer, swimming, a climbing maze, etc. You don't have to be a member, but you'll get a discount if you are. Good luck!
For my son we just had a birthday party at Charlestown Mall movie Theatre - St. Charles. For invites I used little take out containers (Michaels). I filled them with noodle colored paper with malted milk balls (spaghetti and meatballs.) Then I cut out a big circle out of brown card stock. On both sides I did a smaller circle with paper that looked like spaghetti. Front side I cut out a clip art of the movie and on the back information - when, what, etc. I made cupcakes with frosting that was the color of noodles and piped it all over the top of the cupcakes. The recipe called for some type of big chocolate hazelnut ball - very expensive. I used round chocolate donut holes and rolled it in strawberry jelly (sugar free - has more color). Put on top of cupcakes. Then take a bar of white chocolate and grate flakes onto c.c. to look like cheese. Then for the favor I took popcorn boxes and filled with with some yellow paper string stuff. Then added a bunch of candy - movie related - crabby patties for hamburgers, skittles, gum, etc then a movie size box of candy.
They did a very good job in keeping the kids together and getting popcorn and drinks.
There is some place called Monkey something that is suppose to be very good.
Good luck.
J.
How about Laser Tag??
What is broomball??
My daughters had a chocolate party it was great! Each child leaves with a box filled with 1 1/2 pounds of chocolate that they molded including their own chocolate pizza that they made! It's 100% hands on and it was a lot of fun! My daughters are still wearing their 'Official Chocolate Dipper' shirts 2 1/2 years later!
http://www.morkeschocolates.com
Good Luck!
what about laser tag at whirlyball in vernon hills, pump it up or there is my jump p0lace in vernon hills
What about Glow Golf? Mini golf in the dark with neon paint and ultraviolet lights. My kids (8, 6, and 5) love it!
How about a gymnastics party? They don't have to know any gymnastics, it is basically a big obstacle course with chances to run, jump, climb and flip. And it really burns off that energy! I do these for a living, so I might be biased, but all of the moms that come rave about it, and we have lots of repeat customers! Plus, they are cheaper than places like Pump It Up, etc. I work at the Bloomingdale Park District, but if thats not close to you, I'm sure you can find a nearby park district that offers them. Stay away from the private gyms though, they cost $$$$. Let me know if you'd like more info- ~A.
What about a park district party? There is a group called Kid Rock that will provide entertainment, you just need a location.
Pump-It-Up is awesome. Wilmette Park District does gymnastic parties. Skokie Skatium does ice skating parties. Life Time Fitness Gym's do several different parties (rock climbing, swimming or gym games). Splash Landings does swimming parties. Many movie theaters do movie parties.
Our local gymnastics gym does parties. The boys usually spend a lot of time swinging from the rope to drop on the foam pits (which of course is filled with sharks or lava).
Pump-It-Up is always a hit no matter how many times we go, as is Chuck E Cheese (I know its not original, but the kids love it).
"Pump It Up" is always a blast!!!
We recently had my 5 year olds birthday at the All Aboard Diner in Woodridge or maybe it is Downers Grove. Anyway it was the cheapest and easiest party I have ever thrown. I didn't have to do anything. They provide a meal, ice cream, a cupcake, conductor hats, and rings for $12 a child. The train delivers the child's food right to them. They have an hour at the train table and an hour in the birthday room and there are a few games they can play or ride. I had eight kids and their parents and we spent a little less than $150. It was the best easiest party ever and they are a nut free establishment due to so many peanut allergies in kids now.
Bounce Town or Airtastic!
My son will be 7 right before Halloween, and LOVE to go to Bounce Town.
Hi, DB,
I see I am against the stream here, but the best parties I did for my boys were pirate and Native American themes. We had a storyteller for the Native party who kept some 20 6-yr-olds and younger entranced for an hour; found him through the American Indian Center, I think. Before stories, we painted faces and the kids made feather headdresses (materials from Constructive Playthings) and then ran around outdoors after storyteller and cake. For the pirate party (which I have done at least 3 times and this was before Pirates of the Caribbean), they walked the plank to come in and immediately got scoundrel face paint, bandanna and a pirate name w/tag. Then we played pin the eyepatch on the scoundrel, did a treasure hunt in the yard (loot from CP), trading of loot if they want to, then cake.
I know you are thinking, yikes! not in the house!!!!! But you can do these at a community center or other location from those below that will allow you to bring in your own stuff. Worth a try to do something different and more personal, if your little guy is into pirates or Native American culture -- his birthday is certainly at the right time of the year -- and my kids still remember these parties happily. I will not suggest the ancient Egyptians party as that was a little esoteric!
Enjoy,
Mama S.
We used to do movie parties - since the great movies come out at Thanksgiving - and that is the time of my son's bday.
We would do cake and presents at our home - get help driving the kids to the theatre - I pay for the tickets and lots of popcorn. Then I divide the tubs of popcorn into smaller individual bags and do drink boxes -
This will show my kid's age - but we did this with Toy Story and Bug's life.
M.
If it's not too big a group, take them to a movie! Maybe there will be a new release around then--they can meet at your house and you can take them to the theatre. I would definitely enlists dad's (or someone else's) help, to help drive them over if there are more than fit in your car or so they are not left alone during a popcorn or bathroom run.
Or, again if not too big a group and they are close friends, a sleepover is fun.
Good luck!
We have a great candy store nearby that does parties. The kids get pizza. They make several edible crafts and play candy themed games.
We had a great experience with a pool party for my son's sixth, so check your local YMCA or other indoor pool places. We have an athletic center that is perfect for that type of outing. Also, check to see if there are local children's museums nearby. We have one where you can rent an area to eat, etc and then play throughout the museum. We always have a blast there!
Also, look into chucky cheese - you can't go wrong there. Any place near you have an indoor soccer area/basketball, etc? You may want to be sure there are things for the girls to do too though! Dave and Busters nearby?
Best of luck!
Check out www.kidwinks.com; the Services section has over 100 birthday party places in throughout the Chicago area. If you become a member of kidwinks, which is free, you can sort those 100+ locations in order of distance from your house. Here's the direct link to the birthday party places: http://www.kidwinks.com/ForKids/KidsParty/PlacestoParty/
Many have reviews, too, so you can read about others' experiences.
Hope this helps,
J.
Maybe too girly but how about pottery painting? There is also a glass blowing place in Downer's grove that gives lessons and lets you observe and it is wayyyy cool.
We were at the Kohl Children's Museum and they host parties there too.
Skating?
Gymnastics?
Indoor pool or Coco Key?
Chuck E Cheese?
other restaurant?
Botanical gardens w/something like a scavenger hunt?
Park?
You may want to look through a Chicago Parent magazine- they have ads for all sorts of places in there where you can do local stuff- I bet a lot of them host parties :)
M.
