This year so far I have thrown three birthday parties and attended one other one for children. Throughout the years I have done my fair share of both throwing and attending various children’s birthday parties which makes me somewhat of an expert on them by now. I have hosted and attended parties that were thrown in the home and at outside venues. There are pros and cons to both. The most significant pro about hosting in the home is that you generally save money but the most significant negative aspect is that you have a bunch of children running around your home making a mess that you are responsible for cleaning up. Only you can decide on what you prefer but to help you out with the decision making process I have compiled my version of Houston children’s birthday party venue options:
Bowling
Recently I helped throw a birthday party for my step daughter who was turning five. We chose the Copperfield Bowling Center. There were approximately 10 young children there. We chose the pizza package which was $13.50 per child. The package included an hour of bowling which was perfect for one full game for everyone, shoe rental, bowling balls, soft drink, one slice of pizza, a free bowling pass for a future visit, T-shirt for the birthday child, a table that was fully decorated with plates and cups, souvenir bowling pin for autographs, party attendant and invitations.
What we liked about it was how much it was enjoyed by both the adults and kids. Lighter than normal bowling balls were provided for the little ones who bowled with the bumpers up. Alcohol was available and beer was reasonably priced. The pizza was actually pretty good too. But there were a lot of negatives and frankly, I won’t be back for another go-round. The venue is not non smoking though it is on the weekends. Although I did not notice it, people who have an acute sensitivity to smoke may react to the lingering affects of weekday smoking. We never got invitations as we were promised but since we did most inviting via the Internet it was not that big a deal.
The party attendant was worthless. Her idea of helping us cut the cake was providing a tiny plastic knife. We continually had to request additional plates and flatware because she was not paying attention and the pizza came out extremely late even though it was ordered at the beginning of the party. She was “managing” multiple parties and we did not get the attention we would have liked. In addition, although the price seemed reasonable on the surface, they nickeled and dimed us on additions and I am still not entirely sure we got charged correctly. We paid for 10 children and 2 additional pizzas for the adults. The total we paid for the party was $180. If it was $135 total for the 10 children at the advertised price those were two of the most expensive extra pizzas I’ve ever heard of.
Although I can not recommend that particular venue the bowling idea is a lot of fun. Check a bowling center near you for the details.
Roller and Ice Skating
Last year the same step daughter had her birthday party at Bear Creek Roller Rink. The prices were a bit different last year but currently it is $200 minimum for up to 20 people. The party includes invitations, admissions for all attendees, skates, an all beef hot dog or a Slice of Pizza, a small drink, 1 free pitcher for refills, ice cream, all paper goods, table covering, birthday card, 2 helium balloons and one free skating pass for the birthday person.
It should be noted that included in the price is a dedicated party hostess who only handles one party at a time. She helped collect shoes, gifts and made sure that everything was completely setup for the party. The kids got there and started skating immediately and the party planner made sure to have all the kids to the table for their food, drink and cake at the right time. The pizza was decent and the price was very fair. We bought a couple extra for seconds and for the adults because of this. The hostess also assisted with cutting and serving the cake as well as opening the gifts and keeping track of who gave the birthday girl what so we could send out thank you cards. After the party, the kids could stay and skate until the shift from day to evening skate, adding more value to the party, especially for kids who really enjoy skating.
The only negative of choosing a skating rink as a birthday party venue is you really have to assess whether most of the people attending can skate. We ended up having to pay for a number of adult skaters because the children wanted so badly to skate but never had so the parents had to dust off some very rusty skating skills of their own to allow their kids to get out there. Had the kids been a bit older or more experienced, the party would have been an excellent overall experience. Even with this, it was still a very good party.
I highly recommend this venue for your skating party. There are also several other skating rinks available throughout Houston for children’s birthday parties:
Aerodrome Ice Skating
Memorial City Ice Rink
Polar Ice Galleria
Dairy Ashford Roller Rink
Rides, Games and Activities
I had my youngest son’s birthday party at Itz’s this year. The party package we chose was the Supreme for $229.90. It included a private, decorated room for over an hour, dedicated party host, gift for the birthday child, full buffet with beverages, unlimited use of bounce houses, 60 minutes of unlimited play on the rides, invitations, 2 free adults and 10 party guests. The party coordinator was great and made the process extremely easy.
The rides and games were a big hit with everyone, children and adults. This was one of the more entertaining venues for birthday parties I have been to but there were two drawbacks. First, the rides had some height restrictions that disappointed a few of the younger children who wanted to ride. Second, the venue was expensive. Once we added in $22.90 per person for additional people the total cost was really expensive. In my opinion the basic package was a great value because you really did get a lot for your money but unless you have the budget for it, if you have a lot of people in your party you may want to look elsewhere.
We liked the venue so much, though, that we are planning another party but a bit differently. Instead of getting the party package for a large group we are going to have the next party by purchasing individual buffets and game cards for just the family and then we will have the big party at home.
Dave and Buster’s has been a favorite birthday party venue for my oldest son for several years now. It is perfect for children of all ages but is one of the better venues for teenagers and adults. Granted, the parties we have held for him have been smaller with his close friends and family only. We chose the Teen Eat and Play package for $17.99 per person which included an entrée, drink and $10 power card to play games. The teens and adults like the video games the most and the kids like the carnival games quite a bit where they can cash in their won tickets for prizes. Alcohol is available with a full bar for the adults.
The upside to D & B is that the food is really good and they have superior games with a wide selection. Everyone enjoys it. The downside is that it can get pretty expensive if you choose one of the premium party packages or have a large group that you are paying for. We avoid this by allowing only family and a couple close friends. My son enjoys it and so does everyone else. I highly recommend it for the older kids. For younger children there are less expensive options and you can always go there some other time when you aren’t having a party.
No parent can go very long without having to endure a jaunt at Chuck E Cheese. Prices for packages start at approximately $12 per child and go up to nearly $20 per person. Prices vary by location, though, so check with your local venue. I feel compelled to add Chuck E Cheese to the list because I have been to so many parties here. I even threw one or two a long time ago for my own children when they were younger. Perhaps it is because I have simply been to too many parties here but I try to avoid it as much as possible. Since they stopped serving beer at their locations my tolerance for it has waned considerably.
I think they have a pretty good value for the money. You get ample play time plus food relatively inexpensively. The children have a good time. The cons as I see it are that the venue is really only enjoyable for the smaller children. It is also one of the busier venues available which means a lot of screaming, crying young children running amok often unsupervised or undisciplined by the accompanying adults. While you may get that everywhere, because this venue is so popular you get it in droves which can grate on your nerves. The food is also not very good.
My middle son went to Track 21 for a birthday party once but I have not personally thrown one there. From everything I saw, though, it was a good time and well organized. There are games available and the food was decent though not great. The big hit was the laser tag. In looking at the party packages available, there are several and they seem to be quite reasonably priced. I have been there without a party for karting and that was a lot of fun. The only disadvantage as I saw it was that only those 8 and over can go karting and 7 and over for laser tag. So, the venue is not appropriate for younger children or families who have them with the birthday child.
Some additional choices for rides, games and activities include:
The Downtown Aquarium
Zuma Fun Centers
Fun Plex
Pitch, Putt and Play
LaserQuest
Bouncing, Climbing and Physical Activity
One of the best parties I have been to and on of the most economical occurred at Stone Moves indoor rock climbing facility. They have a great venue that is a lot of fun for all ages, though I do not recommend it for the very young. Each party package is all inclusive with two hours of climbing, harness rental, and safety instruction. Also included is pizza, cake, punch and decorations. Rates are between $15 and $17 per person depending on the number of people in the party.
I have never thrown a party at Cypress Academy but have attended more than one. Both boys and girls had a great time here and from looking at their package pricing it all seems reasonable. Packages start at $160 and the type of activity is determined by the age and interest of the child. The times I have gone there have been guided gymnastics, bouncing and tumbling. Everyone had a great time.
Pump it Up is a venue I used a couple years ago for a party. It was a lot of fun and great for the younger children. It has been awhile since I booked it so prices are different now than they were when I used them. There are a few different party packages available and the prices vary by location so it is best to contact them for accurate pricing. The only problem I saw with the venue was that it was very expensive for what you got. It was a lot of fun but I thought it was a bit overpriced.
Additional bouncing, climbing and physical activity venues include:
Texas Rock Gym
Jump Extreme Fun Zone
Bounce House
Bounce U
Jumpin’ Jak’s
Gymboree
The Little Gym
Inflatable Zone
Stretch and Grow
Parks
I have only been to one party at the Houston Zoo but it was a ton of fun and appropriate for all ages. In looking at the prices it seems a decent value for your money but it is not cheap. With the price of $255 (outdoor pavilion) or $305 (indoor pavilion) you get the pavilion for 2 hours, table coverings and 30 zoo admissions. There is also the ability to add things such as an Animal Experience, a face painter, air brush tattoo artist, carousel tickets, goody bags and more. If you want an organized experience this seems like a fun thing to do but at $7 per ticket for admission regularly, you may want to consider just having a day at the zoo and nix the pavilion.
Bear Creek Park Pavilions are available for your party needs. You will need to supply all your accessories but you can typically get everything for your party relatively inexpensively. The pavilion rentals are free but you do need to reserve them in advance.
Houston Astro’s Party at the Park has seven different party packages starting from $500. The Double-A, $500 package allows you to enjoy an Astro’s game, cake, party games, trivia, tour and cake for 20 people. Additional amenities are included in the other packages and they rage up to $1400.
Houston Dynamo Soccer parties start at $272 and include a block of seats, autographed Dynamo soccer ball, souvenir photo that will be sent to all participants, phone call from a Dynamo player, 1 food and drink voucher for one hot dog, bag of chips and a soft drink, Dynamo t-shirt, gift pack and a birthday announcement on the Robertson Stadium video board.
There are many public parks in Houston with various amenities and rental options. Check your area park for rules and rental opportunities.
Fast Food
Fast food restaurants are a favorite among children. They are typically an inexpensive option to hold a party. Contact your closest location for specific details and pricing:
McDonald’s
Burger King
Chick-Fil-A
James Coney Island
Museums
The Houston Museum of Natural Science has party packages available starting at $300 and includes the theme of choice. Additional benefits include admission for all guests up to 20, party room for 2 hours, hands on activities and crafts, live animals, exhibit tour and party coordinator. You can also add on additional exhibits or goody bags. The museum McDonald’s will cater the event for a separate charge.
The Children’s Museum of Houston has a birthday package for $250 for up to 20 people. Included is a guided birthday tour, invitations, free unlimited adults, private party room, balloon bouquet and T-shirt.
Space Center Houston has customized event available. Contact them at 281-244-2143 for details and pricing.
The Houston Fire Museum is a great place to educate and have fun. It includes 1.5 hours in the Junior Firehouse area, miniature bunker coats, fire helmets, mock-up fire Engine cab with working emergency lights, authentic fire station slide pole with gym mats around base, pump panel with working light indicator and interactive hose connections. Call 713-524-2526 for details and pricing.
Arts, Crafts and Science
Kindermusic Celebrations start at $200 for in studio parties that include guided music, your choice of song, props and musical instruments and a lot of fun.
Build a Bear Workshop has customizable parties available starting at $10 per person for a minimum of 6 people per party. Each child gets to take home a bear they pick out themselves and dress.
Glazed Over Ceramics has 12 and under and 13 and over packages. The 12 and under package is for a minimum of 8 painters and includes 1.5 hours of craft time, sodas, juices and bottled water, bring your own food, paint, brushes, stencils, sponges, stamps, idea books, and fun. Venue will glaze and fire, finished product can be picked up after 7 days. All pottery is non-toxic, dishwasher and microwave safe.
Marla’s Art Studio has party packages available for $250 plus art supply fees. Each child can create a craft project. You can choose from several. Cake and snacks can be brought into the studio but must be supplied by you.
Just for Girls
The Storybook Cottage is a wonderful place to hold a tea party. There are four packages available starting at $195 per ten children. This is perfect for little girls. Packages may include dress up clothes, make up, pictures, games, spa fun and more.
Diva Dreamz has several packages you can choose from starting from $250 per 6 girls. Themes are tailored to girls’ imaginations and diva fun.
Unique Ideas
Houston Scuba Academy has birthday party packages available that include 1½ hours in the pool for up to 15 kids, use of masks and snorkels, 2 HSA supervisors, underwater photos, 30 minutes in the classroom for your cake, snacks, drinks and presents. Package is $150 and additional kids are $5 each.
Young Chef’s Academy provides interactive parties where kids can cook and learn while having fun. Packages are all inclusive and customizable. Call for details and pricing at 281-759-CHEF.
Studio Movie Grill has event rentals perfect for birthday parties. Contact 866-766-8187, ext 244 for details.
Movie Tavern can accommodate your next birthday party. Call 866-448-0278 for details and pricing.
Oogles N Googles has themed birthday parties for children aged 3 to 10. Parties are developed for the age of the birthday child. Call for details and to book your party at 281-795-4046.
