New York party guide
Our Favourite Outdoor Party Venues in New York
Soak up the sunshine.
6 hand-picked New York spots

Get out from behind your screens and out into the fresh air with all the city has to offer in terms of amazing Outdoor Party Venues. Take in the natural beauty and create an awesome party vibe against the blue skies, with some vital vitamin D to increase the party mood. Check out our favorite Outdoor Party Venues in New York below.
We hope that you find this party guide useful and if you like it enough,… Consider hiring Yombu’s amazing entertainment to make your party just a little bit extra special.
Book the entertainment
The list is sorted — now book the entertainer
Balloon artists, face painters, magicians and party characters in New York, with honest upfront pricing and real availability for your date.
- Vetted & insured
- Money held until after the party
- Free to ask

6 spots below, hand-picked for New York.

Hippo Playground
W. 91st St &, Riverside Dr, New York, NY 10025
Yes, there are hippos! The children can climb over them and run around on the sports fields, playing tennis and volleyball, doing cartwheels on the grass areas and kayaking on the water. Hire the playhouse for special events or just opt for a DIY picnic.

Pier i Cafe
Riverside Park, 500 W 70th St On the Hudson River at in, New York, NY 10023
Get the seasonal yum at this Hudson River outdoor cafe, with spectacular views. Their fare is casual and it’s simple counter pick up and al fresco dining. Our favorite drink for a warm summer’s birthday? Their in-house blueberry lemonade!

Bryant Park
42nd streets, New York 10018
This expansive public park has spots to read under the stars, games rooms, carousels, ping pong and putting greens, with the American-style patio dining at the Bryant Grill and Café. They also have monthly events, so check out their calendar.

Central Park
East 64th Street, New York, NY 10021
You can’t talk about parks without mentioning Central Park, with its ballfields, zoo and carousel. Their Loeb Boathouse offers gondola rides and winter time allows for some whimsical ice skating, so nobody has to stay cooped up indoors.

Fantasy Forest Amusement Park
5351 111th St, Queens, NY 11368
The classic amusement park is a must! Go larger than life on thrilling rollercoasters, buggies, trains and twirling tea cups – just try to hold on to your lunch. You can book a private party here, with unlimited access to rides and great goodie bags.

Runaway Rapids Water Park
275 Beachway Ave, Keansburg, NJ 07734
Counter the heat with an impressive array of splash spots at Runaway Rapids. And they don’t just do slides and splash pads and lazy rivers. They also have go karts and amusement rides, with some great street food. Book a party package that includes food and drinks, rides, ice cream and a birthday gift for the guest of honor.
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 New Yorkentertainers (face painters, balloon artists, magicians, characters) are actually available.
Free to ask · vetted & insured · money held until after the party
Would you rather do it yourself in a public park?
Everything above is a venue you book: somebody else supplies the space, the staff and the clean-up, and you get a slot and a bill. Doing it yourself in a free public park is a genuinely different plan, and a much cheaper one — but it comes with rules. NYC Parks requires a Special Event Permit once twenty or more people are present, birthday parties included, applications have to be in at least 21 days ahead, and only a handful of parks let you barbecue at all.
We cover that route separately in our blog guide The 5 Best Parks in New York for Kids Parties, which picks one park per borough, says where the playgrounds, restrooms and designated barbecue areas actually are, and walks through the permit paperwork.
Traveling to New York anytime soon and looking for things to do? Check out Kayak’s travel guide in New York for everything you should know about visiting New York.
Looking specifically for a kids’ birthday party instead of a general outdoor gathering? Our newer Outdoor Birthday Party Venues in New York guide is built around birthday packages, ages and pricing — including two picks from the list above, plus a few more from across the boroughs and beyond.
Plan the rest of the party
Games worth playing, a theme worth picking, supplies worth buying, and what it's all likely to cost.

Classic party games
Rules, ages and the setup that stops a game falling apart halfway through.

Party themes
Games, food, decor and a printable invite for every theme kids ask for.

Party supplies
Where to buy plates, balloons and piñatas now that the chain stores have gone.

Party cost calculator
See a live cost range for venue, entertainment, food and favors before you book anything.

Free party invitations
A printable invitation for every theme — drop an email and it's yours.
Keep planning
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Ready when you are
Now book the person who runs the afternoon
Real availability from vetted, insured New York entertainers — balloon artists, face painters, magicians and characters, with the price on the page before you ask.
- Vetted & insured
- Money held until after the party
- Free to ask
