When it comes to unforgettable kids’ parties in New York, there are plenty of exciting options to choose from. Whether you’re looking for unique venues, thrilling activities, or themed party ideas, the city has it all. Here’s your ultimate guide to throwing an unforgettable kids’ party in New York.
Venue Ideas
This will probably be the biggest decision you’ll need to make, next to choosing a theme. There are SO MANY places in New York to host an awesome kids party at any time of the year. There are TONS of parks (for our favorites, check out this post), museums, and kid-friendly venues that it can be a mission to pick one. Totally get input from your child – if they know what they want, then involving them will help a bucket load. Yombu has a variety of resources to guide you in the right direction in terms of party venues, but we can’t possibly list them all! So here are some extras we didn’t include in our Party Guides:
Restaurants:
Mom’s Kitchen & Bar
Sugar Factory
Max Brenner
Ellen’s Stardust Diner
Indoor playgrounds:
New York Ninja Academy
Ms. J’s Gymnastics & Dance
Urban Air
Kanga’s Indoor Playspace
Arcades:
Chinatown Fair
Dave & Buster’s
Bowlmor
Modern Pinball
Cake
Y’all, if there ain’t no cake, nobody will care about anything else on the table. Like anything else in New York, there are many, many choices in the realm of delicious, stunning kids’ birthday cakes, ranging from classic to downright insane. If this post is already making your indecision anxiety go through the roof, I apologize. There are too many awesome options out there! We began with a short and sweet guide a couple of months ago, but here are some more:
Clementine Bakery – organic and vegan treats.
Flour Shop – sprinkles, smiles and beautiful unicorn cakes.
Milk Bar – Funfetti like nobody’s business.
Sugar Monster Sweets – awesome superhero cakes.
There Should Always Be Cake – elegance!
Themes
We probably should have done this first, but nevertheless . . . there are so many themes out there. I feel like I’m saying ‘so many’ a lot. But it’s true. And we know all of them, right? Unicorn, Disney princess, superhero, safari, Baby Shark. Don’t you wish you had other options? How about a NY twist on some popular kids themes? Check out our post on our take on some of the best themes for kids.
Entertainment
Let’s have a hand for the classics. Some entertainment forms never go out of style:
- Magicians: Hire a professional magician to perform a captivating magic show that will leave the kids in awe.
- Face Painters: Bring in skilled face painters to turn the children into their favorite characters or animals.
- Balloon Artists: Have a balloon artist create intricate balloon sculptures or host a workshop where kids can learn to make their own balloon creations.
The great thing about professional entertainers is that they can come to any venue and they can adapt to any style of party. That’s why Yombu exists – to put you in touch with professional children’s entertainers who have crafted their skill to perfection in order to bring the best to your child’s party experience. Besides magicians, face painters and balloon twisters, we also have princess and superhero characters that can imitate your child’s favorite to a T. Hiring an entertainer for an hour or two (or longer) is a great way to ensure you don’t have to do the hoola to keep the kids busy.
Party Favors
Do you want favors with a difference? Then have a look at our favor-ite items in this post. Another cool idea is having a candy buffet spread that lets the children fill their own goody bags. Items can include gummy candy, lollipops, chocolate balls, Taffy, candy-coated chocolate gems, rock candy, gumballs and twisted marshmallows.
Activities and Games
There is an activity or game whether you’re having an indoor or outdoor party. Treasure hunts, arts and crafts and outdoor sports are some popular options. What you choose will depend on your theme and the crowd. You can have a pirate themed treasure hunt, for example, where the kids dress up as pirates and search for buried treasure using a treasure map. Provide them with pirate hats, eye patches, and plastic swords for added fun. Interactive challenges along the treasure hunt, include interactive challenges such as solving puzzles, decoding secret messages, or completing physical tasks to earn clues for the next location make it even more exciting. DIY slime making or cookie or cupcake decorating with a variety of frostings, sprinkles, and edible decorations lets the kids unleash their creative side. If your party is in one of New York’s many beautiful parks, water sports or a mini-Olympics with relay races, long jumps, mini-golf, and basketball shooting challenges can provide some fun – check your chosen park for the necessary amenities.
We hope that you feel inspired for your unforgettable party! Keep an eye out for more detailed information about a variety of themes and entertainment options for your next soireé.
Faqs:
How long should a kids’ party be?
It depends how much sugar they’ve had! Jokes. Sort of. Martha Stewart suggests scheduling parties for when children are at their best, i.e. not sleepy or hungry. Timing is especially important for toddlers and pre-schoolers (nap time). Then keep it to an hour and a half after they’ve had a snooze. When kids are in school, timing is less important and anywhere from 2 to 3 hours is good.
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