Chicago has 12 stand-out kids' birthday venues on this list. For the youngest, Purple Monkey Playroom is a private, award-winning playspace for ages 1-6 in Bucktown, Tots Land offers a similarly private toddler-focused play room on the Northwest Side, and the Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum runs parties for ages 2 to 7. Razzmatazz brings bowling, laser tag and arcade games together for a bigger group; The Kids Table, Lillstreet Art Center and Kids Science Labs make cooking, clay or slime the party itself; Kohl and DuPage children's museums cover the suburbs; Ultimate Ninjas and WhirlyBall suit older kids; and Portage Park is the free outdoor option.
None of these venues supply a costumed performer, and Chicago's search demand for hiring one outright is enormous — thousands of parents search for a "party entertainment company in Chicago" every month. Bring a Yombu Chicago entertainer to any of these venues or straight to your own backyard: vetted balloon artists run $175–245/hr, face painters $190–225/hr, magicians $265–390/show, and party characters $245–300/hr.
Do you know where you want to host your party?
No? Well, then you must be extremely glad that you’ve stumbled on our page of Kids Party Venues in Chicago. Hosting your kid’s party at a venue that does it all for you is such a load off. That’s why we’ve taken the time to compile this list, with all the necessary deets and website addresses so that you can make the best decision for you.
Still need the plates, balloons and party bags? Party Stores in Chicago: 4 Party Supply Shops (2026)
Chicago kids’ birthday party places at a glance
| Venue | Area | Ages | Price | Setting |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Purple Monkey Playroom | Bucktown | 1–6 | not listed | Indoor |
| Tots Land | Northwest Side | Toddlers | not listed | Indoor |
| Razzmatazz | Chicago | not listed | not listed | Indoor |
| The Kids Table | Chicago | not listed | not listed | Indoor |
| Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum | Lincoln Park | 2–7 | From $975 | Indoor |
| Lillstreet Art Center | Ravenswood | 5–10 | $425 for up to 12 kids | Indoor |
| Kids Science Labs | Roscoe Village | 4–12 | From $395 (20 kids) | Indoor |
| Ultimate Ninjas Chicago | Chicago | 5+ | $445 for up to 12 guests | Indoor |
| WhirlyBall | Chicago | not listed | From $30 per child | Indoor |
| Kohl Children's Museum | Glenview | not listed | $500 ($425 for members) | Indoor |
| DuPage Children's Museum | Naperville | not listed | $290 for up to 20 guests ($250 members) | Indoor |
| Portage Park | Portage Park | not listed | Free for under 50 guests (first come) | Outdoor |
Prices and ages as listed by each venue when we last checked — confirm with the venue before booking.
Best Chicago birthday party places by age
Purple Monkey Playroom
There are no purple monkeys in sight – except in their logo – but there is plenty of room to host your party. And a convenient online calendar so that you can check their availability. They have 4 party packages available – a basics package, two deluxe packages, with food and drinks, and a custom package where you can choose what you’d like to include.
- Ages
- 1–6
- Party size
- Up to 65 guests
- Setting
- Indoor
Tots Land
This private playground and party room is ideal for smaller kids and parents who wants hands on interaction during their children’s party. 2.5-3 hours of 100% private play on slides, tunnels and bounce houses, music (Disney or Pixar songs, or your own playlist), decor, disco lights, and tableware is supplied – you can bring your own cake, food and drinks and there is a fridge to keep everything cool.
- Ages
- Toddlers
- Length
- 2.5–3 hours
- Setting
- Indoor
Razzmatazz
This kids party heaven has bowling lanes, bounce houses, arcade games, laser tag and climbing walls. Party packages have amazing names like Out of This World, Galaxy or Universe so you know it’s going to be good. Get food and drinks and attractions included or as add-ons.
- Setting
- Indoor
The Kids Table
Don’t worry about food – let the kids make it for themselves in a kids cooking class. Included in their party packages is all food and drinks for kids, including cake, all necessary utensils and aprons and tableware, custom invitations and a gift certificate toward another lesson for the birthday child. Choose pizza, pasta or Mexican for a yummy time.
- Setting
- Indoor
Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum
Set beside North Pond in Lincoln Park, the Nature Museum's birthday package is designed for ages 2 to 7: two hours in a private party room with a live-animal Critter Connection (usually one of the turtles) and a caterpillar or turtle craft, 30 minutes in the indoor Nature's PlaySpace, and museum admission that includes the Judy Istock Butterfly Haven. Parties run on Saturdays and Sundays for up to 20 kids and 20 adults, starting at $975, and you bring your own food and treats. Gift bags are an extra $10 per child, and requests need to go in at least a month ahead.
- Ages
- 2–7
- Price
- From $975
- Party size
- 20 kids + 20 adults
- Length
- 2 hours
- Setting
- Indoor
Lillstreet Art Center
Ravenswood's art center runs clay parties for ages 5 to 10: a teacher and assistants lead a 90-minute hand-building session (coils, slabs, attached decorations, colorful glazes), followed by 30 minutes of celebration in a second private room. It's $425 for up to 12 children, and the list of projects is long, from unicorn sculptures and bobblehead animals to dinosaurs, Studio Ghibli characters and pinch-pot pumpkins in the fall. Lillstreet fires, glazes and wraps every piece, and each guest leaves with a goody bag of paint supplies and a ceramic ornament. Weekend afternoon slots are listed online, and some already show as closed.
- Ages
- 5–10
- Price
- $425 for up to 12 kids
- Party size
- Up to 12 kids
- Length
- 2 hours
- Setting
- Indoor
Kids Science Labs
A science-lab party for ages 4 to 12 in Roscoe Village: kids put on real lab coats and goggles and work through four to six hands-on experiments, such as color-changing reactions, fizzing volcanoes and custom slime, while staff handle setup and cleanup. The Mysteries of Science party is $395 for 20 kids, and the Super Slime Party ($595) adds a full slime bar where guests choose the color, scent and texture. Parties typically run 90 minutes to two hours, you bring the cake and snacks, and KSL recommends booking at least four weeks out. There's also a second lab in the South Loop.
- Ages
- 4–12
- Price
- From $395 (20 kids)
- Party size
- Up to 20 kids
- Length
- 90 minutes–2 hours
- Setting
- Indoor
Ultimate Ninjas Chicago
An indoor ninja-warrior gym that works for a wide age range: Ultimate Ninjas counts guests from 4 to 17 and recommends the birthday child be turning at least 5. The 110-minute party gives 80 minutes on the obstacle courses, climbing wall and curved walls, then 30 minutes in a decorated private room, with staff handling setup and cleanup. The Premier package is $445 for the first 12 guests, and the Ultimate package is $545 for 13 to 20. Main-course food has to be ordered through the gym (pizza is $28), but snacks and desserts can come from home. Parties run Friday through Sunday.
- Ages
- 5+
- Price
- $445 for up to 12 guests
- Party size
- Up to 12 guests
- Length
- 110 minutes
- Setting
- Indoor
WhirlyBall
A strong pick for tweens and teens who've aged out of bounce houses. WhirlyBall is a mash-up of bumper cars, lacrosse and hockey played with a wiffle ball, and the Webster Avenue venue adds laser tag, bowling and pop-up games. The kids' packages pair an hour of court or laser-tag time with 30 minutes in a party space, pizza, soft drinks and cupcakes, from $30 per child on WhirlyBall's latest package sheet, so confirm the current rate when you book. Players must be 54 inches tall for WhirlyBall (42 inches for laser tag), and the building is 21+ after 7 p.m. on Saturdays.
- Price
- From $30 per child
- Length
- 90 minutes
- Setting
- Indoor
Kohl Children's Museum
Glenview's children's museum keeps its Basic Party short and easy: a 90-minute party room plus general admission during and after, for 30 guests with parking included, at $500 ($425 for members). Food for Basic Parties is ordered from the on-site Bean Sprouts Café (outside food is allowed only for dietary needs), and extra guests are $19 each up to 60 in total. Want the museum quieter? The Parties Plus option ($850, or $750 for members) runs two and a half hours after regular hours with semi-private admission, takes 50 guests and lets you bring your own food.
- Price
- $500 ($425 for members)
- Party size
- 30 guests
- Length
- 90 minutes
- Setting
- Indoor
DuPage Children's Museum
The value pick for the western suburbs: $290 ($250 for members) buys a 90-minute private party room and unlimited museum time for up to 20 guests, adults and kids counted together (everyone age 1 and up). Bigger groups step up in tiers, to $420 for 21 to 30 guests. The birthday child gets a special shirt, and the room comes with table coverings and a toolbox of candles, a lighter and tape. Outside food is limited to cake, and the on-site café caters. Good news if you're booking an entertainer: approved characters and performers are welcome, as long as they aren't full-face-mask characters.
- Price
- $290 for up to 20 guests ($250 members)
- Party size
- Up to 20 guests
- Length
- 90 minutes
- Setting
- Indoor
Portage Park
The free option. Small gatherings in Chicago's parks don't need a permit, and Portage Park on the Northwest Side has room to spread out: an accessible playground, an Olympic-size summer pool with a water-play area, ball fields and two fieldhouses. Outdoor spots that nobody has rented are first come, first served, so arrive early to claim tables. Keep it under 50 people and skip the bounce house, pop-up tent and speakers, since each of those needs a Park District special event permit ($45 application fee plus rental fees). For a guaranteed room, call the fieldhouse about renting one.
- Price
- Free for under 50 guests (first come)
- Setting
- Outdoor
More Chicago party places from our indoor and outdoor guides
| Venue | Area | Ages | Price | Setting |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Urban Air Adventure Park | Lincoln Park | not listed | From $249.99 (5 guests) | Indoor |
| Chicago Children’s Museum | Navy Pier | not listed | not listed | Indoor |
| Altitude Trampoline Park | West Town | not listed | From $399 (reserved table) | Indoor |
| Oasis Water Park | Niles | not listed | not listed | Indoor & outdoor |
| Summer House | Chicago | not listed | not listed | Outdoor |
| Brookfield Zoo Chicago | Brookfield | 3–11 | not listed | Indoor & outdoor |
| Sonny Acres Farm | West Chicago | not listed | From $24.99 per child (weekdays) | Outdoor |
| Cosley Zoo | Wheaton | not listed | $575 for 2 hours (+$175 per extra hour) | Outdoor |
| Blackberry Farm | Aurora | not listed | not listed | Outdoor |
Prices and ages as listed by each venue when we last checked — confirm with the venue before booking.
Booking the entertainment too? We’ll check who’s free.
Venue sorted, cake ordered — now the wow. Tell us your date and we’ll confirm which vetted Chicago entertainers (face painters, balloon artists, magicians, characters) are actually available.
Free to ask · vetted & insured · money held until after the party
Or browse Balloon Artists & Twisters in Chicago, Face Painting in Chicago, Kids Magicians & Magic Shows in Chicago and Party Characters for Hire in Chicago.
For a deeper dive by weather, our companion guides to Indoor Birthday Party Venues in Chicago and Outdoor Birthday Party Venues in Chicago regroup the first four picks above (plus a few more) by whether you need four walls or open air.
Our Favorite Kids Birthday Party Places in Chicago — FAQs
Where can I have a toddler birthday party in Chicago?
Purple Monkey Playroom in Bucktown and Tots Land on the Northwest Side are both private play spaces built for the youngest kids. Purple Monkey takes ages 1 to 6 and up to 65 guests, and Tots Land gives you 2.5 to 3 hours of 100% private play on slides, tunnels and bounce houses, with decor, disco lights and tableware supplied and a fridge for your own food. The Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum’s package, for ages 2 to 7, adds a live-animal Critter Connection and time in its indoor Nature’s PlaySpace, from $975.
What are the best kids’ birthday venues in Chicago that include food and entertainment together?
The Kids Table and WhirlyBall include the food in the party. At The Kids Table the kids cook their own pizza, pasta or Mexican food as the activity, with all food and drinks, cake, aprons and tableware included. WhirlyBall’s kids’ packages pair an hour of court or laser-tag time with pizza, soft drinks and cupcakes, from $30 per child. Purple Monkey Playroom’s two deluxe packages bundle food and drinks with the play time, and Razzmatazz offers food, drinks and attractions included or as add-ons.
Which Chicago venues offer all-inclusive birthday packages?
The Kids Table, Lillstreet Art Center and DuPage Children’s Museum include the most in the price. The Kids Table covers food, drinks, cake, aprons, tableware, custom invitations and a gift certificate for the birthday child. Lillstreet’s $425 clay party for up to 12 kids includes a teacher and assistants, a second private room for the celebration, firing and wrapping of every piece, and a goody bag for each guest. DuPage’s $290 package covers a 90-minute private room, unlimited museum time for up to 20 guests, a birthday shirt and table coverings.
Which Chicago party venues can handle a large group?
Purple Monkey Playroom hosts up to 65 guests, and Kohl Children’s Museum’s Parties Plus option takes 50 after regular hours for $850 ($750 for members). Kohl’s Basic Party covers 30 guests for $500, with extra guests at $19 each up to 60. Razzmatazz suits a bigger group with bowling, bounce houses, laser tag and climbing walls, and Ultimate Ninjas’ Ultimate package covers 13 to 20 guests for $545. For a free option, Portage Park works for gatherings under 50 without a permit.
How much does a kids’ birthday party venue cost in Chicago?
Chicago venues that publish prices run from $290 at DuPage Children’s Museum to $975 at the Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum, and Portage Park is free for small gatherings. Kids Science Labs starts at $395 for 20 kids, Lillstreet Art Center is $425 for up to 12, Ultimate Ninjas $445 for the first 12 guests, and Kohl Children’s Museum $500 for 30 guests. WhirlyBall starts at $30 per child. Purple Monkey Playroom offers four tiered packages, while Tots Land, Razzmatazz and The Kids Table price by guest count and add-ons, so call for a current quote.
Where can I have a birthday party for a 10- or 12-year-old in Chicago?
WhirlyBall is built for this age: players need to be 54 inches tall, and kids’ packages pair an hour of WhirlyBall or laser tag with pizza and cupcakes. Ultimate Ninjas counts guests from 4 to 17 and gives them 80 minutes on its obstacle courses, climbing wall and curved walls, from $445 for 12 guests. Kids Science Labs runs lab parties for ages 4 to 12, and Razzmatazz adds bowling, laser tag and climbing walls for a bigger group.
Where can I have a free kids birthday party in Chicago?
Use a Chicago park: small gatherings don’t need a permit, and Portage Park on the Northwest Side has room to spread out. It has an accessible playground, an Olympic-size summer pool with a water-play area, ball fields and two fieldhouses, and unrented outdoor spots are first come, first served, so arrive early. Keep the group under 50 and leave out bounce houses, tents and speakers; any of those needs a Park District special event permit with a $45 application fee plus rental fees.
Where can I have a birthday party for a 5-year-old in Chicago?
Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum in Lincoln Park (ages 2–7, from $975) and Lillstreet Art Center in Ravenswood (ages 5–10, $425 for up to 12 kids) both suit 5-year-olds. Kids Science Labs in Roscoe Village (ages 4–12, from $395 for 20 kids) and Ultimate Ninjas Chicago (ages 5+, $445 for up to 12 guests) also fit that age. Before you compare prices, check how many kids each package covers and whether the birthday child counts toward it.
Where can I have a birthday party for an 8-year-old in Chicago?
Lillstreet Art Center in Ravenswood (ages 5–10, $425 for up to 12 kids) and Kids Science Labs in Roscoe Village (ages 4–12, from $395 for 20 kids) both suit 8-year-olds. Ultimate Ninjas Chicago (ages 5+, $445 for up to 12 guests) and Brookfield Zoo Chicago (ages 3–11) also fit that age. Prices are each venue’s listed starting rate, so confirm the guest count and what’s included before you book.
