Planning a birthday party for your kiddo is a ton of fun, but with so many options out there, it can also be tough to know what to choose. We’ve narrowed down a few of our favourite ideas for great kids’ birthday party venues in Calgary.
Cooking Birthday Parties
Check out these parties made for aspiring chefs.
Crave Cupcakes
Cost: $280Ages: 6–16
Length of time: 1 hour
Number of guests: Up to 8 birthday party guests and 1 adult only
Without a doubt, this is one of the most delicious birthday party options out there! Crave Cupcakes hosts two different time slots for private cupcake decorating lessons on Saturdays (noon–1 pm or 2:30–3:30 pm) at their Kensington location! Guests will learn how to create the perfect cupcake (actually, six perfect cupcakes) using techniques such as colour mixing and the Crave swirl, and will use three different icing tips to decorate with a variety of toppings. Afterwards, head to a nearby park or back home for a birthday picnic—no cake required!
ATCO Blue Flame Kitchen
Cost: $40 per person, plus GSTAges: 9–14
Length of time: 2 hours
Number of guests: Minimum 10, maximum 16
ATCO Blue Flame Kitchen has a variety of hands-on cooking parties that every kid is sure to go crazy over. Whether your group is into pizza, pasta, high tea, Mexican food or my personal favourite—a magical Harry Potter meal—there’s a theme to make everyone’s mouth water. After the cooking extravaganza, guests will be treated to a cupcake to decorate and eat for dessert!
Art Birthday Parties
Parties for your Picasso-in-training!
Clay for Kids
Cost: $170 and up, depending on party themeAges: Kids to adults!
Length of time: 60–90 minutes, depending on party theme
Number of guests: Up to 10 guests with an additional cost for each extra guest
As a teacher, I find that Clay for Kids in-school field trips are always a huge hit with my class. I was so excited to learn that they also host 6 different birthday party options at different price points. There are clay building and glazing parties, a pottery wheel boot camp, a fused glass project and more. With countless project ideas available to choose from, the creative possibilities are endless! A pottery instructor will bring all of the supplies to your home, demonstrate how to create the project and let the guest of honour try out the mobile pottery wheel. After the clay projects are finished, they need to be taken to fire in the kiln and will be returned within 21 days. Other projects are ready to take home at the end of the party.
4 Cats Art Studio
Cost: $225–$285 for 10 kids, depending on party theme; $15 for each additional guestAges: 5 and up
Length of time: 1 hour 45 minutes
Number of guests: Up to 12 recommended
For the budding artist, 4 Cats Art Studio has a variety of different party themes to explore. Create adorable clay characters out of colourful polymer clay, make a pinch animal, cup or planter out of clay, paint a masterpiece, create a collage or pour some shiny non-toxic resin onto a wood painting at a pouring party! All packages include an hour of art instruction and 45 minutes afterward for snacks and cake (provided by you).
Animal Birthday Parties
Parties for the animal lover!
Calgary Humane Society
Cost: From $210Ages: Grades 1–6
Length of time: 2–3 hours (depending on package)
Number of guests: Up to 12
What could be better than spending your birthday with a bunch of adorable animals? Even if the answer to this question is “nothing”, a birthday at the Calgary Humane Society is so much more than just that! There are two birthday party packages available (Standard and Deluxe), both of which include a private party room, a tour of the facility, a craft, an interactive presentation, and a visit from a furry friend. Add-ons (like an extra animal guest visit, more pizza and souvenirs) are available for an extra cost. Parties can be booked on Saturday and Sunday mornings between 10 am–noon for the standard party package and 1–4 pm for the deluxe package.
Butterfield Acres
Cost: $269Ages: All ages!
Length of time: 1 hour
Number of guests: 10–12
Butterfield Acres offers different party packages depending on the kind of cozy critter you’d like to spend your day snuggling with. Whether your guest of honour loves goats, lambs, bunnies, ponies or even unicorns, Butterfield Acres has you covered. Parties can be booked year-round and set up anywhere from a garage to a deck or backyard—this is the perfect option if you want to bring the cuteness to you.
Active Birthday Parties
These parties are ideal for the kid on the move.
Southland Leisure Centre, Village Square Leisure Centre, and Killarney Aquatic and Fitness Centre
Cost: $166 and up, depending on party theme and locationAges: Varies depending on party theme, but there are themes to suit all ages!
Length of time: 2–3 hours
Number of guests: 10; additional guests can be added for an extra fee
These three popular City of Calgary facilities have a range of birthday party options available, including themes like Superheroes, Ninjas and Zombies, Pirates and Princesses, T-Shirt Making, Jewelry Making, a Surf’s Up Swim Party, and more. Each theme has its own special activity as well as a one-hour space rental for cake and gift opening. Food packages including items like pizza, hot dogs, chicken fingers and more can be added for a fee. For parties that don’t include swimming, pool time can also be added at an additional cost.
Dance With France
Cost: $195Ages: 4 to adult
Length of time: Typically 2 hours
Number of guests: Up to 14
If your kiddo likes to boogie, Dance With France has the perfect party option. For one hour, guests will take a dance class in the style of the birthday guest’s choice. Afterwards, take a break and eat some cake, open presents and play some great dance games! Suggested birthday themes include (but aren’t limited to) a Hip-Hop party, Ballerina party, Zumba/Salsa party, Disco fever party, or anything you and your birthday kid can dream up.
Battlefield Live
Cost: $29–$39 per person for Laser Tag (depending on party package); $45 per person for AirsoftAges: 8 years and up (8- to 12-year-olds require adult supervision)
Length of time: 1 hour for laser tag games; 2 hours for Airsoft
Number of guests: Any number for laser tag (groups smaller than 10 participants may have people outside of the party added to their playing time); minimum 10 guests for Airsoft
Battlefield Live has Laser Tag and Airsoft parties for thrill seekers 8 and up! Birthday guests will get to take part in different mission-based team adventures, including “Defend the Base”, “VIP Protection” and more. After playing, guests can enjoy the food they’ve either brought themselves or ordered in, in one of the party rooms. All birthday guests will receive their own dog tag to take home as a souvenir.
Calaway Park
Cost: $189 or $339 + GST (depending on package)Ages: All ages
Length of time: All day!
Number of guests: Minimum 8 for “Come As You Are” package, Minimum 10 for “Calaway’s Birthday Club House package
Who doesn’t love Calaway Park? With two different party packages to choose from, Calaway Park makes it easy to plan the perfect warm-weather party. The Come As You Are Package covers admission for 8 guests over 3 years of age (kids under 3 are free), a birthday button for the guest of honour and a birthday prize for all guests. The birthday kiddo will also receive discounts at certain concessions and shops in the park and a complimentary bag of cotton candy, as well as free entry into one of three select paid attractions. In this package, guests are invited to enjoy their party at one of the first-come, first-served pic-nic areas at the park.
For the Birthday Club House Package, admission for 10 guests is included, as well as two large pizzas and 10 cans of pop to enjoy at the Birthday Clubhouse for one hour (in addition to everything listed in the Come As You Are Package). Add-ons like extra admission, food, tokens, and treats can be purchased at an extra charge. If you’re looking for a full-day birthday party extravaganza, Calaway Park is your best bet.
Other Fun Birthday Parties
These video game, movie, and sleepover parties are great ideas for the kid who wants to chill.
Gamers Fun Truck
Cost: $340 plus GSTAges: All ages (adult supervision required for parties for kids under 6)
Length of time: 2 hours
Number of guests: Up to 16
If you’d like to host your kid’s party at your house but cringe to think of the mess that will be left to clean up afterwards, Gamers Fun Truck has the perfect solution. They’ll bring their 24-foot trailer complete with a huge comfy bench, 5 big screens, game consoles, controllers, and games (and their own Wifi) so the video game lover in your family can party in style. Along with truck rentals comes a 30% discount off of pizzas from Papa Johns!
Canyon Meadows Cinemas
Cost: $13.50 per child + $30 to book the party room for 1 hourAges: Movie lovers of all ages
Length of time: Approximately 3 hours
Number of guests: 6–12
Nothing beats an afternoon at the movies! At Canyon Meadows Cinemas, enjoy the best seats and treats in the house as your guests take in the silver screen from their reserved seats with a snack of popcorn, drink and a candy treat. After the show (or before, if you’d prefer), guests are invited to continue the celebration in a birthday party room, which has space for up to 12 guests and, of course, birthday cake. Each birthday party package includes free admission for two adults. Add-ons like extra snacks or movie passes for loot bags can be purchased for an extra fee.
A Little Campout
Cost: Starting at $38–$50 per tent, depending on how many are rented.Ages: Any age!
Length of time: All night long!
Number of guests: Up to 8 (Minimum 2)
Is the birthday girl or guy begging for a sleepover party? Make it extra special with these super cute sleepover tents provided by A Little Campout! Prices vary depending on the number of tents you order ($50 per tent for 2–4 tents, $42 per tent for 5–7 tents, and $38 per tent for 8 tents). Each package includes the tent itself, a matching quilt, fitted sheet, air mattress, breakfast tray, lantern and battery powered tea light, fairy lights, matching bunting and a wooden chalkboard name sign. For an extra charge, the company will also deliver, set up and dismantle the tents. Every party rental also receives a 10% discount at A Little Confetti (the company’s party boutique). You’ll definitely want to check out their adorable party décor.
Would your kid love one of the birthday parties listed above? Are there some great ones we missed? We’d love to hear about them in the comments!
This post originally appeared on SavvyMom.ca.
