Venue for birthday party for a 5yr old boy archived

So I was in Cupcake Corral the other morning and someone mentioned it would be an ideal venue for a party and I have to agree. You could have a magician or clown or something and have cupcakes?

Just an idea. God knows I've been to enough Funplex parties to know how torturous they are.

ETA: I know Parteaz does tea parties but it's very pink and girly.

We did build-a-bear when Mrs. J.B. was pregnant and we couldn't deal with it all in our house. The Livingston Mall has a pizza place where we ate and it was OK.

There is a Build-a-bear at the Livingston mall.

The Turtleback Zoo. We had our daughter's party there when she was 5. We had pizza delivered, they reserve space inside for the party. We even had a keeper bring in reptiles and do a presentation (with touching allowed). Cake and then your guests can spend the rest of the day in the zoo. It was really lovely.

Please note: we were not allowed to light the candles on the cake because of the zoo's safety policies. I don't know if this is still the case but you would want to warn the birthday boy/girl.

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Monster Mini Golf www.monsterminigolf.com. The course is indoors so no need to worry about the weather.

Sergents Elite in Garwood. It's a gym. My kids LOVE the parties there. You have the whole gym to yourself. Reasonably priced. It's only a 20 minute drive which is no longer than getting to Rt. 10.

We've been to a bowling party, a Messy Artist Party, a yoga party (at South Mountain yoga), a roller skating party, an ice skating party, and a paint-your-own-pottery party in the past year for my now 6-year-old. OH! and the discovery place in ... East Orange? Orange? that was fun - and they gave out books as the kids walked out.

We've done or been to:
Imagine That & the similar one in Keniworth (don't remember the name)
Karate party at Can Do
Sports party at the South Mountain and Summit Y's and the Connection in Summit
Gymnastics parties (GREAT to get the energy out) at Sunburst, Diamond (a fave), Little Gym and a place in Westfield
Swimming parties at NYSC and the Connection (preferred NYSC)
Cooking parties at Kings (though he's a bit young) and Chef it up in East Hanover (yesterday!)
Rented out Orchard Park (not the whole park and not exclusively)
That's all I can think of that wasn't mentioned above...

Hi,
I'm an avid bowler and former worker in bowling center. I would normally suggest bowling party, but not quite for this age group. Better for 7 and up.

Reeves Reed Arboretum in Summit - we did several birthdays in a row around that age there. Calm, beautiful surroundings and great themes (animals, plants etc).

We've done games in the gym at the JCC, and a party at the community center in Maplewood, where the guests were led through a costumed drama. And Turtleback -- that was great. How about the miniature golf there?

The Y used to do kid birthday parties, with someone to lead them in games and activities. You get to choose ahead of time what you'd like them to do and you bring in the cake yourself.

Would they like an art party? Does Gerylynn's do that? I thought I've seen parties in there, but it could have been with the former owner.

We did Turtleback one year for out son, but that was when it wasn't as much of a "destination" as it is now, so it wasn't as crowded as it might be now.

Imaginarium in Livingston? (on the road that runs between Columbia Turnpike and road that parallels Rt. 10 and runs behind Toys R Us and Panevino) - it's not exactly a games arcade, they have lots of different activities for the kids and they provide party helpers to lead the activities.

Bowling at Eagle Rock Lanes is fine for that age. They install the bumpers so the balls hit the pins. They have a party room and serve lousy, but adequate pizza.

They Y parties are great if they still have them.

The New York Sports Club in Springfield has great kids parties with a gym theme. The kids get to run and jump around. The parents just stand around and chat and get the cake ready.

The new mini-golf place in West Orange might be worth checking out too.

did a coed bowling party for a boy's 5th birthday years ago when I was pregnant and looking for easy. Agree with Apollo that I would not recommend for that age. Girls especially and smaller boys had trouble lifting even the lightest bowling ball!

Is JAZZBERRIES still around? They are nice to deal with and the parties fun.

Another playmate had a party at the yoga place on Springfield.

ZOO is also great - we've had three b'day parties there, but no one ever told us we couldn't light candles, so I don't think that's an issue any more.

Codey Arena - ice skating party is fun.

Yes, check out Jazzberries on Spingfield Ave. You can set up a music or art (or both) party in a great space. 973-762-6575.

I second (or was it third?) Jazzberries. We are probably going to have a party for our 4 year old boy there.

chuck e cheeze. I HATE that place but 5 yos love it and it gives other parents a reason to go there with kids if there is a party. I don't mind going there if it is for someone else's party. it' so inexpensive to compared to the little gym type of place.

Diamond Gymnastics on Route 10 in East Hanover. We had our son's 5th birthday there and everyone had fun.

Wow - thank you all for your plentiful ideas. Decisions decisions. Once we had our party I will share the experience. Thanks again!

Dairy Queen on Morris Ave in Union used to do an incredible party where each kid decorated and took home his own ice cream cake, and it included a meal, soda, cake etc. Not sure if they still do it, this was 5 years ago.

Just my own 2 cents, but having been to several build-a-bear parties they are literally the most boring birthday party in the entire world. An entire hour is somehow spent on giving 2 minutes of time to each child to pour stuffing into his/her stuffed animal. That's it - maybe some circle games if the leader is good. Each time we've gone my kids have complained how bored they were. Some party places we have enjoyed are diamond gym, sunburst gym, messy artist, parteaz; stories in motion; movie theatre parties; parteaz (for girls); cooking (at Kings); swimming (for older kids - at least turning 7). The zoo does a nice party, but I find that for most of the party the kids are not with one another (they tend to wander the zoo in different groups) except for when they are in the party room. Bowling parties are also nice (I would say 6 and up) because they get 2 hours to play and eat as you see fit, and don't have to follow the structure of 1 hour of play, 30 minutes of food.

We had our son's 5th birthday party at the toy store in South Orange. They built a volcano and the kids (pardon the pun) had a blast!

My son had his 4th birthday at Diamond Gymnastics...by far the best option for a party taken care of not in your house, IMO. All the kids had a great time, and even the parents complimented the party. They book out way ahead though...

My little guy has decided he needs to have his party at a maze...(he was enchanted by a corn maze we went to a month or so ago).

Any thoughts on places that aren't far that have anything resembling a maze? Imagine That in Florham Park seems to have a temporary one for October, so I may need to check that out, but was wondering if I'm forgetting anything.

(edited to add that we are talking 4 and 5 year olds, so arent' looking for a scary laser tag or halloween horror maze!)

Williams Nursery in Westfield has a small maze through Halloween.