Whether they are 6 or 16, nothing is quite as anticipated in the eyes of your child as their next birthday. For most, it’s synonymous with one other word, PARTY!
As parents, how do you manage these precious events? As their caretakers, we have a lot of decisions when it comes to planning the perfect birthday party, but one of the first ones that must be made is where will the event happen? If you are like a lot of us, you are choosing to have your party at a location other than your home. You value your time, your space, and you want to leave it to the experts! (Yes, this author uses professionals too)
The Coachella Valley has a ton of places that all host children’s parties, but we know of a few that solely specialize in just that arena. One of the best, is My Gym. Located in Palm Desert since 1986, My Gym is the “longest running kids-based business that has succeeded in the valley” owner Nancy Scott tells us. If you don’t know Nancy, you will want to reach out and meet her! Her birthday parties put her and the gym in the spotlight!
Nancy explains, “A party at My Gym is likely the easiest party to host. We reserve the day and time; the package and details are confirmed 4-5 days in advance. This makes it really easy to prepare; we know exactly whom to expect. It also saves the family a lot of money. You have private use of the entire gym facility and our parties are held one at a time. Meaning, there are not five other parties going on at the same time…kids at your table, eating your pizza and cake, who are not your guests.”
Each My Gym party is custom planned with a fully trained “A-Team” staff who are background checked, and CPR Certified and work really hard to create a custom one-of-a-kind event. Many parents choose My Gym over and over again, for ease of planning, cleanup and overall satisfaction. A My Gym party is surprisingly affordable at about $25 per child that attends. Nancy and her staff can be reached at 760-346-6307.
There are a multitude of other places that can and do host kids birthday parties. All the large movie theaters host birthday party packages, where you can choose a movie, use their “party room” and have the help of an attendant to get you to the right spot, at the right time. Unless you do a theater buyout, there are some natural limitations to this choice; a kids movie has to be showing and at a time that fits your schedule. These parties start at an average of $15 per child attending and some include the cost of the ticket, others do not. You bring your own decorations, cake and treats. Some of the places have contacts for vendors, and some do not! The two largest of these venues are the Mary Pickford Theater in Cathedral City which can be reached at 760-328-7100 and Century Theaters in La Quinta which can be reached at 760-771-5682.
If you are planning on going all out on the location and you want to include some extra special, custom touches, did you know that we have a children’s party planning business located right here in the Coachella Valley? Desert Dream Parties has been in business for over ten years and they do birthday parties like no one else. From characters to candy bar buffets, owner Casey Ging has seen it all and can help with it all. She definitely has seen the trends changing over the years. She recounts, “Over the past ten years I think the one thing that has changed is the parties are becoming more and more elaborate. Parents want to make their child’s birthday a super special and memorable day. So that can mean anything from elaborate favor bags to personalized everything!”
When we asked Casey to list the things that her service offers, she told us, “We are a children’s party and entertainment company. We provide characters and other activities such as face painting and balloon twisting for birthday parties and any other children’s events.” Prices for these birthday party must-haves are surprisingly reasonable. A character rental starts at $210 for an hour, but that character is a true party host – they play bubbles, sing, dance, face-paint, play games, and so much more. Adding a character to a party is an easy way to spice it up and make it really memorable for all who attend.
If your child is slightly older, think the 9-14 range, you might try Boomers in Cathedral City. They have a host of birthday packages ranging from $15-$25 per child, and the guest of honor is always free. The more you want included, the higher the price, but overall it saves you money. You can include extras like miniature golf, attractions, unlimited video games, and tickets for the birthday child along with extra tokens for the attendees! Pizza and drinks are included and so is the help of a birthday attendant. Boomers can be contacted at 760-770-7522.
Another new trend is the active party approach. Places like Desert Recreation Club in Indio, Get Air in Palm Desert and Laser Oasis in La Quinta offer gymnastics, rope climbing, jumping, laser-tag and a host of other activities that can be customized for your kiddo’s big day! The prices start at $100 and go up from there, depending on what you add on and how much you want them to do for you! These events are considered the “New Kid” on the party block and can be very popular. You might want to book early, as we all know the newest trend is often the busiest!
Yet another fun approach is the Children’s Museum of the Desert. Starting at just $200 and including free admission for the 10 guests, you get exclusive access to “an exciting hands-on activity, an event coordinator, all the disposable items you need for your party, and so much more.” If you want to spend another $150 you can add on cake, decorations and table covers – and there are also options to add on goody bags, tee shirts, and so much more. If you haven’t done a birthday party at The Children’s Museum, you must!
If you are looking for outdoor fun, there is always The Living Desert. Located in the heart of Palm Desert this zoo is amazing for littles and bigs! They offer individual and family tickets, and picnic locations throughout the park. This is the perfect option if you want to meet up with some other friends and celebrate a birthday with some live animal friends. They do offer planned birthday parties, and Zoo Sleepovers in the summer months which are great choices as well.
There are so many more resources and places that offer birthday parties for your kids! There is the Palm Springs Aerial Tram, Chuck E. Cheese, a host of parks, splash pads, and restaurants that will spoil and delight your little one.
No matter where you choose to have your party, there are many wonderful options right here, that have the people, the expertise, and the patience to help you host the perfect birthday party, year after year!
