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Birthday party ideas

Struggling to find ideas for a birthday party? Start with a few questions before deciding on places.

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  • Do you want to host a party at home or out of the house?

  • How many people would you like to invite? (Is this for friends or friends and family?)

  • What is your budget?

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Once you have the answers you can get planning. Remember there is no pressure to be the "Pinterest Mom", just have fun with your child! Scroll down for location ideas. 

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At home

Have fun at home. The possibilities are endless. Go with a theme and run with it.

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Top tip: If you are looking for themed decorations, check out local listings on places like Facebook and Mom groups. You can often find people selling barely used decorations or even giving them away.

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Here are a few ideas to get your birthday brain thinking.

  • Crafts party - gather crafts materials and let them create. If you have the space, fill water balloons with washable paint and create fun canvases. 

  • Having a summer party? Take it outside and have a sportsday with hotdogs, or a water fight to keep everyone cool. If you want to add something extra then check out an inflatable.

  • Create your own movie theatres (could be outdoors in the summer). Popcorn, nachos and their favourite movie. Make it a PJ party for extra comfort.

  • Dance the day away. Turn down the lights, add a light ball and turn up the music. Who doesn't love a dance party? Add in some classic games such as music chairs and freeze dance for extra fun.

  • Spa party. Pamper you little one on their special day. You can get mobile spa parties, or do it yourself (or ask some friends and family for help). Nails, face masks, tattoos - you can go on. Just be aware of any skin sensitivities. 

  • Hire a performer. If you child loves a certain character then hiring a performer is a great idea. They run the show for you and you can sit back and enjoy watching all the kids have a great time. Most companies have packages that vary in time and price so all you need to do is a little research.

  • Pizza party. They all want to eat pizza anyway so why not have them decorate their own!

Out of the house

If you are choosing to host a party outside of the house then there are some great choices around Ottawa. 

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Top tip: If you child loves an activity club that they go to, ask about birthday parties at their location. Consider budget. the prices can vary greatly for different activities,

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Here are a few ideas to keep the party out of the house.

  • Take it to a park. You may still be hosting but have them run outdoors at a park or a splash pad for a fun afternoon.

  • Have a fall baby? Consider a pumpkin patch, hayride or even a haunted house.

  • For spring, farms are great to see all the newborn animals. Check out places like The Log Farm and Valleyview Farm for birthday packages.

  • Go and see a movie. Movie theatres often have a party room and you can buy packages that include the room, snacks, movie and , in some cases arcade games too. Enquire at your local movie theatre. One thing to think about - the movie schedule is often only released one week in advance, so have people on stand by. 

  • High tea. There are great places to take a few friends for a special high tea. Lots of places offer a children's tea at a lower cost.

  • Gymnastics, cheer, trampoline. All of these activity places offer birthday party packages and are very popular with the younger crowd. Often it's one hour in a party room and one hour of activity lead my a coach.

  • Art parties. Places such as Art Haven and Colour Me Mine are great places for artistic kids. If you chose pottery, remember you will have to go back and collect the final products to hand out after the party. 
     

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