Indoor Birthday Party Ideas
By Marci Lutsky
I have a December birthday and growing up, I always had summer birthday envy. I would have loved a pool or beach birthday party but that just wasn’t happening in December. My twins have a November birthday, which means basically the same for them. Each year, I try to come up with a fun birthday party idea. The Jersey Shore has a lot to offer when it is time to celebrate your child’s special day. Here are some ideas if you are planning a winter birthday party.
Gymnastics. Bright Stars is a perfect spot for a birthday party. We had the twins second birthday party there and it was perfect for kids that young. Kids can do a fun obstacle course, play in the foam pit and go on the zip line. All you have to do is invite friends, order food and show up. They will take care of the rest. I’ve also heard great things about Blake’s Gymnastics in Northfield.
Skating. If your kids love roller skating – this was my favorite when I was young – check out Young’s Skating Center in Mays Landing. If they prefer ice skating, Flyer’s Skate Zone in Atlantic City offers great birthday party packages.
Art. Kids love art parties. Our favorite for pottery painting is Glazed Over in Ocean City. They have a beautiful space with tons of choices for kids. My kids’ rooms are lined with Glazed Over pottery. We attended a really fun canvas painting party last year at Paint Happy in Somers Point. If you want the pottery painting to come to you, check out Clay Station on the Go.
Swim. Kids love swim parties and there are several options for a fun one. We had a great swim party at Bright Stars several years ago. Other indoor pool options are the JCC in Margate as well as the Ocean City Aquatic & Fitness Center.
Adventure. If your kids love adventure like my kids, you may want to take them to Plaay Fitness and Yoga in Ocean City. Kids can climb on an indoor climbing wall and have fun on an obstacle course. The newest local option for indoor adventure is Get Air in Mays Landing which opened earlier this month. This indoor trampoline park is huge with plenty of options for jumping, bouncing and climbing. Another favorite with the younger crowd is Dance and Fitness in Egg Harbor Township. Between bounce houses and video games, kids will never want to leave.
Cooking. Do you have a little chef who loves to cook? Let Happy Heart Corner teach your little cook and his or her friends to cook. Simply Sweet Cupcakes in Egg Harbor City offers cupcake decorating parties.
Characters. Do your kids love Disney characters? Let’s Party Events in Corbin City is perfect if they do. Kids can get their face painted and do a craft while interacting with their favorite character. We had a birthday party for my twins there two years ago and Batman and Elsa were big hits with the five-year-old crowd. Do you want the princesses to come to you? Little Angels Princess Events can take care of that!
Two other great options to mention are the Play House and Café in Smithville and Atlantic City Aquarium, both are very fun spots for young kids. No matter the age of your kids, you will be sure to find something fun on this list. I would love to hear about your favorite birthday party venues.
Marci Lutsky is a local mom of six-year-old twins and can be reached at veggingattheshore@gmail.com.
