Last year when my girls turned one we had their party at a park that was crowded, full of dog poop and the play equiptment was nowhere near the picnic tables. Our first choice of park was a small park, close to home and very clean. Once again, the good park is booked for a wedding that day (been booked for 8 mo.). The only other thing in our tiny town is a pizza parlor. I went ahead and booked it for lack of a better idea, but I really don't think it's age appropriate. Some of my family is actually coming in town this time from out of state, otherwise we could have it at MIL house. (Dont want to put her out with out of towm guests as she is caring for a dying husband -don't want to stress either of them) My house it way too tiny.
Anyway, I need a place that is not to far away for guests to travel(especially sick FIL), is age appropriate and can accomodate 20-30 people. (all family-both sides)
The next own over has bowling, many restraunts, the gross park,etc. Everything else is too far. Everything seems geared for older kids and I am really stuck trying to figure this out.
My Mom says that when we were little they didn't have parties for little ones, just maybe family dinner, cake and presents. I know she means Mom, Dad and kids, but we have LOTS of my husbands family that lives close by and we want to include all that can make it- none could last year except 6.
In case you are local to us, Parrottsville is the good park and where the pizza place is. Newport is the next closest town and is where my family will stay when they are here. The only other suggestion I have been given is the McDonalds in Newport. I don't know if they will accomadate that many, and some members of my family will not eat there.
Also, any themes or other party ideas would be welcome!
Thanks for all the great ideas! I checked with McDonalds- when they remodeled they took out more than half the seating so there is almost no room in there for a party let alone the regular customers. My church would be great but it is quite a way? They have a playground behind the school with a pavillion and two picnic tables. If I can figure out how to have more seating, cheaply then it should work!
Thanks again,
Beth
Do you go to church?
for my daughter's first bday we used our church reception hall because our house was too small and her bday being in december it needed to be inside.
Beth's idea for using the church is good. Many rent out a room and have a gym area you can use.
I would do something in Newport where the family is if possible. The bowling ally is a good place, but may be too smokey for the kids.
But the pizza parlor is a great idea too.
You can reserve a room or section of a restaurant. Decorate with some balloons and whatever theme you are doing. Then then kids can go play at a park afterward. Maybe if there is a golf course they usually have a club room you can rent out.
Maybe you can even call a party planner and just ask if there are any venues in the immediate area, they probably know of a few.
Also, is this mostly adults or lots of kids?
For theme ideas, what is she into? You can just do everything in her favorite colors without an actual theme, princesses, unicorns, little diva, superheros, pirates, peter pan and tinkerbell, dora, a favorite animal, mermaids, ice cream social... some great ideas here:
http://www.livinglocurto.com/party-ideas/
What about a restaurant that has a small party room/banquet room in it?
The church hall is a great suggestion!
McDonalds would probably accommodate 20-30 people and you might be able to bring in a large sandwich ring for the ones who won't eat Mickey D's food!
We have a small house but I have had every birthday party at our house....in the backyard.
We just had my daughter's 4th birthday and it was awesome. The parents kept saying over and over how much fun they had and the kids had a blast. It was a beach theme party so we passed out leis and kids came in bathing suits. I baked a cake in a 11 by 13 pan (I think) and did part of the cake with blue icing and the other part with crushed cinnamon toast crunch cereal. Then I stuck surfing barbie in the water (she came from a happy meal toy) and stuck a palm tree in the sand. Party favors were beach themed and came in sand buckets. Food was chips and dip, watermelon and all beef no nitrate or nitrite hotdogs. Drinks were water, apple juice and lemonade and all the kids had plastic monkey cups. Outside I had the sandbox, a table covered in shaving cream, trampoline and two tiny pools filled with water. Then I had beach balls outside and some really good Caribbean and oldies music playing. It was so much fun!!!!
