8 YO Birthday Party

If she's having a "friends" party - why are there boys and young cousins involved? A "friends" party should be just her friends and geared toward fun for an 8 year old girl.

A friend of my daughter's had her party at Sweet & Sassy - a pink limo picks the girls up and takes them to their salon where they get mani/pedis and their hair done, then they had a fashion show and then ate pizza. THAT is a 'friends' party for an 8 year old girl.

My daughter was big into slumber parties. So, that's what we did - it's not as much work as you'd think. You just throw blankets and pillow on the living room floor order pizza and they watch movies and eat popcorn.

What about an art studio? Lots of times they will do a birthday party. My daughter attended one at a make your own potter place and it was really cool and she got to keep her bowl that she painted. She still eats cereal out of it in the morning.

I still go back to.... what does your DAUGHTER like. The party is for her and her friends. Does SHE like gymnastics? Find what SHE likes and then figure out how to customize it for the people she HAS to invite.

Ask your daughter where she wants to have her party. This is largely her decision, subject to your veto power for distance/cost. If she hasn't had a party before now, I bet she has some ideas saved up.

We had my son's at a local high school pool They rent out a room and have open swimming for the public. SUPER easy. Put down a few little decorations on the tables and a colorful table cloth. All we had was cake and icecream. Thought about food, but then realized the kids were NOT going to want to stop swimming to eat anything besides cake! LOL

What about the bowling alley or skating rink? Local pool? Maybe even the movie theatres (some do parties while others do not).

bowling alleys are tons of fun. public pool. ice skate rink. laser tag. or movie theatre!

We have done bowling, mini-golf, go-carting, YMCA, movie theatre, rock climbing, laser tag and children's museum. Some of these venues supplied food and drinks, and for some I brought my own. When I do the bring your own I plan the party to be in between meals so I don't need to provide a meal, just a snack and cake (cupcakes).

Gotta agree with CoMo on this one - shouldn't you be asking HER where to do the party? And if it's for her "friends"...is she really "friends" with her young cousins?

An arts+crafts spot might be fun (make beaded jewelry, paint pottery, etc). Places like that seem to exist in just about every city.