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Indoor Birthday Party Places & Ideas

Fun options for having parties on location or in your home (and hosted by someone else)!

March 26, 2012

Do you have kids with winter birthdays? We do too! We have hit the age where it's sometimes easier to have someone else run the birthday, whether in our home or on location, other than ourselves!  Thinking about our own searches for what is available, we thought why not create a resource list for you to save you the time searching yourselves!  Below is the start of our list of places that offer parties either at their location or in your own home (or rented facility). It's mainly NE Columbus at this point, but we will grow it to include other places that are not far. Like we said, this is a work in progress, but as we grow this list if you see anything we missed be sure to let us know. We love getting your input!

A special thank you to Macaroni Kid subscriber and new local mom blogger Lara Kretler who helped us out with our list, by sharing with us her list of birthday party ideas (some we didn't include because they were more outdoor - so be sure to check out her list for those)!!

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That's So Sweet: Uptown Westerville (Parties come to you) – Three Candy Party Packages off-site (home, park, rented space, etc).  Parties include things like invitations, goody bags, craft, candy themed games, balloons and more.  Call 614-895-0100 or email at jen@thatssosweet.net.

Noah’s Art Workshop:  Comes to you.  A build-a-bear type party that comes to your home or party location.  Kids get to stuff their own animal, make a wish on a Rainbow Star, name their animal and get birth certificates, all lead by instructor.  Call Jennifer at 614-738-1161 or email jen@thatssosweet.net

Creative Minds Open Art Studio: Uptown Westerville (38 N. State St.) – All ages. Parties can be geared towards ages 2-6 or 7 and older. Each party has an art activity which all children get to take home. Games are also included if time allows. Call 614-890-8202 or email Programs@gallery202online.com.

Buckeye Party Zone:  Comes to you – Most ages.  Inflatables for rent, has an indoor fun house that fits in most garages and basement.  Rentals are by event, not hour.  Contact page.

SuperGames: Worthington (535B Lakeview Plaza Blvd) - All ages.  Inflatables, rock wall and arcade type games.  Two hour parties include host.  Call 614-846-8946. (We had our son's birthday party there in 2010 and everyone had a really GREAT time! Some of the inflatables were a little hard for my twins, who were three years old and are "me too'ers", but they did have a few that if they didn't have to do everything the older kids did would have been fine.)

Bricks4Kidz: Uptown Westerville (2 ½ N. State St.) – LEGO based parties that include a host, LEGO based activity games (not board games), a project, a mini-figure favor for each kid (they build they own) and a t-shirt for birthday child, as well as invitations, and thank you cards.  They also have Duplo Blocks.  Call 614-560-4032 or lbenton@bricks4kidz.com(We had a party here and the kids loved it! There is some free play and then fun games/challenges and a project. They ended with LEGO people ziplining and the kids LOVED it – as in we no one wanted to leave.)

Central Park Playland: Westerville (471 East College Ave.) – Inside play place at Westerville Christian Church. Though in the building, it is not a church activity, nor do you need to be members or affiliated.  Photo of the playroom is on their website. Rent room for 2.5 hours (which includes set-up and clean-up).  Friday and Saturday afternoons only.  Call 614-891-6842 x45.  (We had a party there last August and have also been to many there as well.  It is a wonderful, not-so-secret gem! It’s great for younger kids, 6 and under, but we had some older kids there as well and they were fine. They have free playtimes during the week and on Saturdays, if you want to check it out first.  They fill up at LEAST SIX months in advance (Especially now that it’s not so secret) – I cannot stress this enough – if you are interested in this place, BOOK IT EARLY! It’s definitely worth it – it’s a great party location.)

JoAnn: All locations – Craft based birthday party – your child can pick a craft from a list ahead of time, all materials will be provided, as will instruction.  You can also bring treats to decorate, JoAnns provides the frosting, sprinkles and the instructor will teach them how with special tools.  2 hours, invitations included.  Call or stop by your local store for more details, or fill out on-line form.  (When my stepdaughter was young, we had a couple parties for her there, as did some of her classmates. They were always fun and the kids always enjoyed them. It seems they’ve added even more since then.)

Michaels: All locations – Craft based birthday party – your child picks the craft from a list, all materials will be provided, as well as instruction.  Call or stop by your local store for more details.

Young Chefs Academy: Gahanna (425 Beecher Rd) Fun food based parties – party choices run from making something (like pizza), to tea parties, karaoke, PJ parties and more! They include invitations (and mail them), Apron or t-shirt for birthday child, recipe card and chef’s hat for each guest, drinks, paper good and instructors to lead.  1 ½ hours. Call 614-933-9700 or gahannaoh@youngchefsacademy.com.

Kingdom of Bounce: Columbus (2188 Citygate Dr. – south of Easton area)  A bouncing party on big inflatables.  Includes 75 minutes on inflatables, and remainder in a party room for food and gifts (food not included) – party host is included.  Invitations, table clothes, paper plates, napkins, utensils, candles, set up and clean up is all included.  Call 614-532-5238.  (We’ve been to a party there about  1 ½ years ago and the kids had fun, and it seemed well organized. Though, unless it’s changed, I would say this is better for the younger crowd – 7 and younger – but check it out first to make your own determination.)

Magic Mountain: Polaris and East locations.  All ages. Three leveled party packages including a minimum of pizza, drinks, kidsgym and tokens, along with host, plates, silverware, balloons and invitations.  Call 614-840-9600.

Sweet Tea Parties:  Comes to you. Ages 4-8.  There are three themed Tea Parties, along with a custom Tea Party option.  These parties include a variety of fun activities which might include story reading, games, dress up and more. Parties include decorated tables and chairs, tea sets, formal dresses, tea, baked goods and themed activities and games, and a hostess who sets up, runs the party and cleans up. Call 614-446-7474 or email elizabeth@sweetteapartiesllc.com

COSI: Downtown. Ages 3-11. There are several different party options for ages 3-5 and 6-11 which look like a lot of fun. Parties include tableware, COSI guide, liquid nitrogen ice cream, personalized cake and drinks. Call 614-228-2674 or email explorationprograms@mail.cosi.org.

Columbus Art Studio: Bexley (2831 E. Main St). There are three different art-themed parties available – collage crazy, party with the masters and garden art.  Parties are 1 ½ hours, supplies and instruction, set-up and clean-up and host.  Call 614-648-0063 or email art.anna@live.com.

The Works: Newark (55 South First St.). Choose a hands-on activities, which are also take homes for guests – sun catcher, clay bug, clay mug decorating, glass bead making, science show. Party includes invitations, tableware and balloons (eight themes of party ware available). Call 740-349-9277 x224 or email: tawnaengland@attheworks.org

Sweet & Sassy: Polaris Fashion Place. Salon and Spa type parties. They include products for guest to take home, and eight different themes, as well as party host. You can even get a limo!  Call 614-433-9999.

Buckeye Gymnastics: Westerville and Powell (7159 Northgate Way, Westerville and 10562 Sawmill Rd., Powell) Ages 3-12.  Several party options, which you pick any combination.  Inflatables, gymnastics/trampolines, games, etc, along with host who leads the party.  Parties also include tableware, invitations, goody bags and clean up. Call Westerville at 614-895-1611 or Powell at 614-793-1936 or email infowesterville@buckeyegymnastics.com
 Or infopowell@buckeyegymnastics.com

Gahanna Lanes: Gahanna (215 West Johnstown Rd.). Three birthday packages available which include your choice of mini-bowling, glow-in-the-dark indoor putt-putt, or regular bowling.  Also included is food and drinks, tableware host and pin for birthday child.  Call 614-470-1111.

Westerville Community Center Birthdays Parties: Westerville (350 N. Cleveland Ave). Ages 3 and older. Five themed parties – playground (indoor), squishy, squashy playdough party, games party, pool party, climbing wall.  Parties also include cake, ice cream, drinks, tableware, balloons and party specialist.  Other options: you can rent a room to use for a party that you run and create yourself (rather than having in your own home).  Parties are booked two months in advance.  Call 614-901-6500. (We've been to parties here - both the themed and host-led parties and also birthday's in the rented rooms where family brings in own themed parties.  We've been impressed with both, and all the kids had a great time.)

Locker Soccer Academy: Gahann and Powell (277 West Johnstown Rd, Gahanna and 300 West Case St., Powell)  Parties (1 ½ hour) are geared to age range of kids, with fun soccer games led by qualified instructor.  Call 614-760-5522 or email info@lockersoccer.com.

Build-A-Bear: Easton Town Center.  Just as it says, build your own stuffed animal, complete with favors (and animal) for guests, invitations and thank yous, and a host. Call 614-473-8888.

Gymboree Play & Music: Gahanna (1364 Cherry Bottom Rd) Ages 1-5. Variety of fun themes to chose from, see website for list.  Parties are 1 ½ hours and include Gymboree teacher (who leads activities based on theme chosen), party supplies, invitations, gift for birthday child and goody bags for guests.  Call 614-416-PLAY or email gahannaoh@gymboreeclasses.com