Remember when going to birthday parties meant running around a friend’s backyard? This kind of party is easy if you have a spring, summer or fall birthday. I have two kids with February birthdays. In other words: I’m screwed. Because I don’t want to have 10-15 children and their parents crammed into my small house on a wintry day, we must go rental.
Disclaimer: The basic criteria for this article is: a.) the venue must be locally owned and operated and b.) it needs to adhere to as close to a $125 budget as possible. There are many fine local organizations and businesses that offer birthday party packages and rentals, but not many could match the $125 cap.
Ages 2-5
Let’s start with affordable, local venues for the toddler set.
Louisville Nature Center
3745 Illinois Avenue (502) 458-1328
My daughter had a great party at the Nature Center several years ago. For $125 ($100 for members) your child and up to 15 of his or her friends can enjoy the party room for 2 hours. A docent will present live animals such as a turtle or rabbit to observe and pet. Afterwards, the group heads outside for a nature hike. Despite the cold weather, the kids loved this part of the party and it was just long enough outside to appreciate coming back in for cake.
Gheens Science Hall & Rauch Planetarium
106 West Brandeis Avenue (502) 852-6664
I’m looking forward to my son’s 5th birthday at the Rauch Planetarium. For $125 we will be able to see a show with 10 friends. Any extra children and parents will only cost $5 more a piece. After the show, we will head to the party room for cake and presents. As part of the party package, my son’s name will appear in laser lights on the planetarium dome. For $50 more you can have planetarium staff lead an activity. Or, for $50 more you can have the planetarium provide goodie bags. Personally, I want to stick to my $125 budget.
Ages 6-11
This is a great age for instructor-led parties, whether you do the instructing or you hire.
Shine
727 East Jefferson Street (502) 442-2843
Last year, my daughter had her birthday party at Shine. Owner Maria Whitley was extremely flexible with the programming so we opted to have a yoga/craft party. Shine offers three party packages, depending on your budget and needs. Each party can have up to 15 guests.
For $100 you can rent the space. If you want a DIY party but just don’t want to have it in your house, this is a perfect option.
For $175 – slightly above our budget – you can enjoy the studio for 1½ hours. This option includes 40 minutes of instructor-led programming such as movement, yoga, music, drumming, or dance.
For $220 – you can have the second package plus a yummy cake from Cake Flour.
Discounts are available for families enrolled in Shine’s Music Together classes.
Kentucky Gymnastics Association (KGA)
1920 Stanley Gault Parkway #103 (502) 254-1010
Who doesn’t want their kids to work off some of that restless winter energy? A birthday party at Middletown’s KGA offers 10 kids an hour of running, jumping, climbing and bouncing with a certified coach followed by 30 minutes in the party room. The price for all of this is $135, which also includes some open gym time, goody bags, drinks and tableware. For toddlers, ages 1-4, you can schedule an open gym party for $5/child and $25 for the party room.
Kentucky Humane Society
Main Campus 241 Steedly Drive (502) 366-3355
We enjoyed a great birthday party at the Main Campus last summer, which included a tour of the facility, baking dog treats, interaction with an animal, and time for cake and gifts. All of this was facilitated by a trained staff member and cost $150 for up to 15 kids. Both the Main and East Campuses are available for parties and the kids will have a blast.
Each month this column will cover a topic of interest for Louisville families, offering budget-friendly options for entertainment. Often quirky, always local. If you have a suggestion for Mama Likes, please contact the writer at: holler@thelouisvillepaper.com
–Amy Miller
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