Seeing Party Location

South Park is an easy place to host a large party, and most pavilions have playgrounds next to them. However, you might have trouble booking because it's a holiday weekend. It could be worth looking into, though!

I agree with some others...A park pavillion is always nice. We use Core Creek Park...You can grill or bring food...

Good luck!

There are tons of great parks with pavilions and playgrounds...there's one near Oaks, I believe...Memorial day weekend is a great time for a picnic/party!!

Hi T.. How about having it at a park with a pavilion? This gives the kids lots to do and there is a lot of room for everyone. Not sure where you live but Everybody's playground in horsham is a nice park that also has a pavilion. Tyler park has a lot of areas to eat and play also. Good luck.

My daughters birthday is that same weekend. We have already booked a pavilion at a local park. The kids have so much fun. It is also perfect for a cookout, and has a built in patriotic theme. Cranberry park is fun has a great playground. I am not sure where you are from.

Hi T. -

A the fun first bday party...enjoy planning it!

How about a public park (Mt. Leb, South Park, etc...). Not sure where you live but you can do Simmons Farm or another farm. You can also do a McDonald's with a playground, sometimes mall's have bday parties in their foodcourt. There is always Little Gym, Gymboree or even the Musuems - Childrens, the Zoo or Aquarium - those may get a little pricey though.

For my recent 1 yr old's party we had a kite making party in our basement. I bought kites and the kids decorated them w/ markers. The plan was to go outside and fly them but the kids never got around to that. You can do something like that at the local park.

Good luck and have fun.

Hi T.,
My son has the same b/day weekend and we held one of his b/day parties at a local park. It was free, had a pavillion w/ picnic tables, had a huge playground for the kids and even a little water area where water shoots up from the pavement. We had kids bring their swim suits for that part. It worked out great and all we had to do was bring whatever food we wanted. Hope this helps!

If you are in Pittsburgh, you could see if the Toy Lending Library (http://www.pghtoys.com/) is available.

I'm totally butting in here, so feel free to ignore me, but one is pretty young for a birthday party and 40 people is WAY to many people for a first birthday party. You don't want her spending her birthday overwhelmed and upset. I would hold off until she was 3 or 4 for the big party. Just my 2 cents...

I am not sure where you live, but how about a local community park? You can usually rent a pavillion for a minimal fee, and you would be under shelter if need be too. Also, there would be plenty of space to run around, and most likely there would be a playground for the kids. Serve some picnic food, get a cake and you are all set! My son's first birthday (he's 15 now!) was at our local community park and it was great! Good luck!

Call around and see if you can rent a church social hall. or maybe a picnic pavilion if you feel brave. You didn't mention your location, that might be helpful if you are looking for more specific ideas.

T.,
Where do you live so I could possibly help you on a party place.
Thanks, T.

Not sure where you are at around Pittsburgh, but have you thought of trying to rent a pavilion at one of the local parks? I know you can rent them from North park and some pavilions have playgrounds near by so the kids can play. Since it is memorial day weekend they proabaly book fast and you never know what the weather will be like.

Wow...with that many people and on that particular weekend, I'd go for the local park. Reserve a pavilion, bring hotdogs to grill, chips & snacks.

Some bottles of bubbles, frisbees, soft balls to kick, and the playground will be fun for all!

We're having my daughter's party at our church which is free! If you have an option like that, I'd check into it. Or maybe someone in your family has a local church that you can use.

An outdoor location that has a Covered Pavillion would be a good choice. Memorial Day kicks off the "Picnic Season" You can have it Catered if you are not into cooking for a large group. You can locate a Child entertainer, clown, face painter etc. As a Kindermusik Educator I know that some KM Teacher's do birthday parties of different levels. Check online at www.kindermusik.com and put in your zip code for an Educator near you. Otherwise your yellow pages for other options. Good Luck & God Bless.
M.

HI! I had almost the same problem when my son turned a year. We lived on a small road with NO room to park. But anyway, we reserved a pavillion at our local park. It was $100 + $50 deposit. I don't know where you live, so your community park may charge a diff price. Hope this helps, good luck!!

Do you have a public park around. I've had parties for my older daughter a our local park. I paid $12 to rent 1/4 of a pavalion and it was next to a playground. The kids loved it. It was nice.

T.,

I have some ideas, but it depends on where do you live--general location is fine... Thanks!

T.,

There are lots of places available, many restaurants have rooms or will reserve space, many churches have halls or firehalls at reasonable rates. We actually didn't hold a first birthday for our little girl as we have a tiny house and couldn't fit everyone. We're planning to move so we'll do something once we're in the new place. it's not like she missed it anyway at this stage of the game.

The cutest suggestion that I've seen in a while - and had I thought of it, I probably would have done it for our little girl - a breastfeeding mama friend thought it would be hysterical to have her son's first birthday at Hooters. But it depends on whether or not that's your cup of tea.

S.

If a park doesn't work, check to see if there is a fairgrounds near you. It is less likely to have a memorial day crunch. Other options are state park, local pool, a ball field (where the big kids can play, too) or even a family member's back yard . . . just make sure everyone knows the plan in case of bad weather.

We celebrated in early May and it downpoured. No one seemed to mind being crammed in a house that was too small for the crowd, and the kids won't remember anyway :)

Have you tried your local fire halls? Not sure where you live, But Humane Fire House in Royersford is not expansive and the hall is a nice size.

What about Atomic Bounce? Or renting out a room somewhere? And putting together games and everything else for the kids to do?

Go for a drive . . . and see where the local parks are. If they have eating pavilions, you will be safe even if it rains. But parks often have play areas, and run around space as well as space for the adults to gather and gab.

We did our daughter's 1st birthday at a local park. We decorated the pavilion with pink lanterns and balloons, and put table cloths on all the tables. There were grills for making the food as well. It was great because all the kids could play at the playground. It might not be what you're looking for, but it is totally free!

...now I'm noticing that everyone is suggesting this! :)

I'm not sure where you're located but there is a local place called Atomic Bounce and they host parties there. I believe 25 children are included in the price and the cost for additional pizza is only$6 a pizza. here is their website. http://www.myspace.com/321bounce

I know of a great location. It is called St. Anthony's in the Hills. Off Rt. 7 on the left, just before you get to the Rt. 41 overpass. It has a place called the Peacock Pavilion which has a very nice, large covered pavilion that includes bathrooms and right beside it is a large playground, great for the under 10 crowd. On the premesis is also a swimming pool, and you can even rent the pavilion adjacent to the swimming pool if you'd want to host a swimming party. There is also miniature golf and soccer fields and ponds, etc. Its a nice place. I am getting married there this summer, and my fiance and I attended another wedding there last summer. And they will let you decorate to your hearts desire as well.

Hope that helps,
L.

BTW I was assuming you live in the Pike Creek/Newark DE area. If you don't then, look for a local park with pavilion. I've done it for scads of BD's, but make sure to book now. Memorial Day weekend will be a hot one and other's will want it, too.