My son turns 7 in a couple of months, and we are looking for a low-cost way of having a party. Any recommendations besides Chuck E Cheese? I was sort of thinking about bowling, but it looks like some of them require you to buy a package deal and rent a minimum of 2 lanes for $65 or $75 a lane. We were hoping to find a place (near Plymouth or northwest metro) where you could go do something (such as bowling) with maybe 5 or 6 boys, and bring in your own cake. We don't need all the frills that seem to push the price of the parties so high.
I was told that Cabella's does cool boys parties. I don't remember it being a super expensive amt either.
Best Wishes,
J.
Hi Ann
Try the Bowling alley at 486 Osceola Ave in St. Paul right off West 7th St. It is reasonable.
A.
I don't see why you couldn't just go bowling and bring your own cake, call around and ask if you can bring a cake? If not I'd still go bowling and just buy a pizza and pop and skip the cake for at home with family.
You can bring your own cake to Chuckie Cheese too most just think you have to buy their birthday packages just a fyi
You could look into a party at Edinborough Indoor Park
How about get a hotel room with a pool and have his friends come over for a few hours for the party and when they leave your immediate family can stay the night and enjoy the rest of the evening.
I know what you mean about spendy party's these days and they suck you into it totally
A puppet theater in Mpls (HOBT) has a nice pkg on Saturdays: you sign up for its 2 Saturday activities and rent the classroom for cake & presents. First a cute puppet show, then a short craft workshop making puppets. Everyone else leaves and you bring out yr cake and milk etc. The shows & crafts are not too 'girly', all the kids really liked the craft, in fact, and mine came home wanting to make more, which was great!
Pioneer Press ran an article on this theater recently. I was surprised at how inexpensive this package was, something like $8 per kid.
Davanni's has great birthday parties at some of their locations. You get to go into the kitchen for a tour, then make your own pizzas. You can bring your own cake and many have "private" areas that you can reserve free of charge. My nephew's party was there last year and the kids had a blast!
Maybe go bowling, but don't say its for a birthday? Then, you could get just one lane, get pizza or whatever there and bring in your own cake? Unless the bowling alley doesnt allow outside food brought in? But that would help you avoid the "party minimums". I think kids birthdays are like weddings nowadays- as soon as they hear that word, "birthday" things just get more and more expensive!
I am the mother of 6 - 3 boys and 3 girls. I could give you several ideas for "at home" parties, but if you're looking for someplace easy and inexpensive to go with young boys, I would check out your local YMCA. We live on the east side of the metro and use the Hudson, WI YMCA. We've been to several b-day parties there and the kids have a blast. They get gym time and swim time. You get the use of a party room and can bring your own treats...very little work and no clean up on the parents' part! :)
The YMCA offers birthday parties and I like that they are "active." They have different packages depending on what you want--time in the gym, pool and/or party room. My son didn't want to swim so we designed our own package--time in the gym and then time in the "teen center" for games and cake. We brought our own cake and didn't serve lunch, making it cheaper. Local community centers often offer similar birthday parties. I have no idea what it costs, but the Maze in Maple Grove looks like fun.
You can bring a cake and do your own thing at Chuck E. Cheese. Last year, when my son turned 7, we got a couple tables on the side, not in the party area, and used coupons to buy pizza and tokens. It was alot cheaper and we could stay as long as we wanted. We are probably going to have my other son's party there this year.
For my sons 6th birthday last year we took them to Grand Slam in Eagan. There is another location, but I don't recall where it is. They have a website. It was very reasonable and with your package you get some time in a room to do your cake (which I brought). There is mini-golf, bumper cars, an arcade, laser tag and batting cages. We didn't do the laser tag because he seemed a litte too young, but we are going to do this again this year and I think the laser tag would be fun. The package also includes pizza and pop. We had a great time!
Check out a movie theater. Muller Family Theater in White Bear has a party room. Or skip the party room and just take a few buddies to a movie.
I had my 3 year old's bday party at the fire station community room- FREE.
I'm not sure where you live, but the Medina Entertainment Center on Hwy 55 offers relatively cheap bowling and lunch. You can also bring your own cake. We did a party there for about 6 boys and had a blast. They timed the lunch after bowling and supplied everything to serve the cake. They even had balloons. It is also a pretty clean place. Highly recommended.
Mom of 3, ages 5,4,2
Do you have any community nature centers in your area? They usually offer birthday party packages that are inexpensive plus the kids are learning something!
Hi Ann
you said your sons birthday is in a couple months. Is it possible to have a party at a local park let the boys play and maybe plan a scavenger hunt. We did this for my sons party and the boys loved looking for diffrent animal prints and such. Good luck T.
Hi Ann.
I don't know if the boys would be interested in doing a craft project, if so, I have an idea for you. I work at Michael's craft store in Woodbury Lakes shopping center. We have a deal where you can pick from a number of projects the kids can do and you can bring your own cake. If you're interested call and get more info. Better yet, stop in so you can see the examples of what they can do and get an idea on the cost. We even supply the invitations. Our phone number there is ###-###-####. The parties are held in our classroom. When they do a project, they have something to take home with them and the kids seem to have a good time. I hope you give us a call.
B.(arts and crafts dept. mgr.)
Andover Lanes has a very reasonable birthday party package. Another idea in the Andover area is the Promiseland Activity Park. It is in the Praire Oak Community Church. It is very well run, very clean and reasonable! You bring in the cake and they run the party. Another thing we have done with my son is McDonalds play places. They are very reasonable. I also just checked into the Space Aliens restaurant in Blaine. They provide all the food/cake, but I thought it was pretty reasonable and I think it is cleaner than Chuckie Cheese. Have fun!
For my 8yr.old sons b-day this past yr. we went to Space Aliens in Blaine - pizza, cupcakes, games... less than Chuck E. Cheese and everyone had a blast, and everyone went home with a cool toy that they earned with their game tickets.
for my 6yr.old son- we've done the bowling thing - we went to Super Bowl in Ramsey, it was very reasonable and we were able to bring in our own cake. in the bday package, included bowling, shoes, pizza and pop.
also, maybe a sledding/boarding or skating party, since we're getting some fresh snow at this very moment. Provide hot chocolate - go with a Snow or Winter Fun ideas.
How 'bout a winter hike at one of the regional parks.
Cheap Skate in Coon Rapids (roller skating).
When my son turned 5 - we did a party at home - and had the kids play games and make their own pizzas. they really had fun putting on their own ingredients.
Maybe they could decorate their own cupcakes or something.
and I do really agree with you... what happened to the days of just having a handful of friends over, play a few games, and sharing cake, ice cream and a few laughs.
I just heard recently about one of our friends that threw a b-day party for their 2 year old and rented a ski chalet, had it catered and much more- Whoa - that is a bit much... keep that up and can you imagine what she will be expecting for her sweet 16?
anyway, all that matters is that your son and his friends have fun together; they don't need ice sculptures, and a whole petting zoo in the backyard to have a blast.
think simple. think about what things boys most love to do. or most important, what are some of your sons favorite things to do - and play off of that.
Adventure Park in Ham Lake is awesome. They have a website. Just google them and it will bring you to their site.
Hello. My son is turning 5 and we are having his party at Space Aliens Grill & Bar in Albertville. They have good food and a play room like Chuck E Cheese, but on a smaller scale. They have a big Alien that walks around and shakes hands. Hope this helps. I guess I should have read the resonses first.
J.
