Hey, everyone. My son is going to be nine years old soon. What are some cool, interesting, unique places to have a birthday party? What are some cool activities (today, for instance, someone had a magician, balloons, and face painting)? The area would be the north suburbs, from Highland Park to the north, Evanston to the south, and as far west as Palatine. My son especially loves sports, but I'm open to all kinds of venues and ideas. Thanks for all your help-you are all so resourceful and creative!
A family trip to a pro sports event.
My son wanted to go to Kings Dominion so for his 10th birthday we surprised him with a trip for the family to KD. It was just the four of us but that made it special because we let him decide what to ride, where to eat and when we left.
I'm not familiar with your area, but what I can tell you is think outside the box.
Today we had a 3rd birthday party at a local Children Museum, filled with all sorts of hands-on displays for kids. You can set up a party with the museum and pay, or do as I did and have lunch and cake out on the picnic tables on the side, then go into the museum. Everyone loved it, the kids all had a blast, we got great pictures of the kids on a real bus, wearing different costumes, performing on-stage, and lots more.
Look into different events scheduled in your area, too, ask your son what he would like to do, you may find something fun he'd love. Maybe some sort of sports event? My cousin is tying her son's birthday in with the railway celebration her town has every year, meeting the kids and their parents there, touring the trains and exhibits, then enjoying the huge barbecue set up for everyone and having cake there. Some of her party favors are wooden train whistles, and bandanna scarves, blue for the boys, pink for the girls.
A park w/batting cages maybe, baseball diamond & basket ball hoops?
Mini golf
Maybe have a "sports" party. Everyone can wear their favorite sports uniform (soccer, baseball, basketball), have lots of equipment, serve sporting event food fare (hot dogs, chips, sodas, nachos etc).
Take the kids to a game?
A pizza parlour that has several big screen TVs so the kids can watch a sport? (They might lose interest though.)
I was going to try to create my own "fair" complete w/booths and games, cotton candy, corndogs, sodas etc. (My little one is too little for that just yet for now.)
There is the Khol's Chilren's Musem in Glenview.
Legoland by Woodfield Mall.
Nature Center by the Des Plaines River off of Milwaukie Ave and River Road.
Great America is always a favorite!!!
Riding the bike trails at the forest preserve off of Golf Road near 53 is tons of fun and they have picnic selters for a party.
Your park district should have a few things too!
I don't know everything that's available in your area either, but we had my son's 9th birthday at a laser tag place and it was a blast. My husband and I both participated too, and my 7 year old daughter too, and it was fun for everyone.
Our son just turned 8 and we took him camping for his birthday. We drove to the Grand Canyon. Is there any state park or beautiful place near you where you can take him camping? We hiked and our son road his bike with other kids at the campsite and we had an awesome day. He got to pick out a couple things in the park gift shop - they had all kinds of science and outdoorsy things kids love. We had a cake with candles back at the campsite. He said it was his best birthday EVER. I don't know if you like doing that sort of thing but if so you could invite another family to join you...more kids equals more fun!!!
Not familiar with your area but we did a party at a horse rescue once and it was a lot of fun. The kids all got to ride as much as they wanted! It wasnt expensive either - just a donation.
That Extreme Trampoline place in Buffalo Grove looks cool. http://buffalogrove.xtremetrampolines.com/birthdays
We recently went to a birthday party at Lifetime Fitness and the kids went rock climbing and swimming. I think the YMCA also has a rock climbing wall.
We went to a "Mad Science" birthday party where the kids did a bunch of cool experiments. They come to your house or wherever you want to host the party and run all the experiments. http://www.madscience.org/locations/locationInfo.aspx?zip...
Check out your park district. We had our daughters 6th birthday at Water Works in Schaumburg and it was terrific!!! It's an indoor water park just like Wisconsin Dells. It had slides for the little ones and other ones for the adults. Everyone had a blast.
Good luck and happy birthday to your son. :)
