Do you remember the days of simple yet fun birthday parties? Where you could host a group of kids, have cake and ice cream and have a blast without dropping more than $500? Well, those days aren’t completely gone. We’ve rounded up our favorite places to host your kid's next birthday party that won’t break the bank.
Check out your local recreation center
Our local recreation centers offer such value to local families, and that includes birthday party spaces as well. Lynnwood, Mountlake Terrace, Shoreline, Seattle and many other nearby cities have several rooms available for rent (including their swimming pools) and offer special birthday party packages. Parents have been known to time their community room rental so it coincides with a local indoor tot gym or playroom as an added entertainment bonus. Depending on the location and size of your party, you can spend as little as $80 to rent a space.
Reserve a room at your favorite bar or restaurant
Believe it or not, many local bars and otherwise non-kid-friendly restaurants are open for kids’ parties. Redhook Brewlab, Stoup Brewing, Rooftop Brew Co. and many other local breweries are open for private parties for kids. Prices depend on location and party size. You can even host a party at a nightclub like Supernova.
If bars or clubs aren’t your speed, a great alternative is a board game cafe. Mox Boarding House offers private rooms for parties under 20 people at $30 an hour during non-peak times at all three locations.
Rent a picnic shelter
If you’ve got a summer birthday kid, renting a picnic shelter or a group of picnic tables at your favorite park is a great way to host a party on a budget. For the average Seattle park, reserving a picnic shelter and/or a group of picnic tables will cost around $125. Bonus: You can be a lot more flexible on the number of guests as you’ll have more space.
Rent a visitor center or camp
This affordable indoor party option is also thanks to local park districts. Renting a visitor center, such as the one at Lewis Creek or Mercer Slough, is a definite win for families. You get the benefit of the nature center amenities combined with exciting trails where kids can explore (with an adult, of course). Camp Long in West Seattle offers a similar option. Its Main Hall rents for about $55 an hour and has plenty of space for party guests to play games and set up decorations.
Reserve a studio
Studios such as Youngstown Cultural Arts Center in West Seattle’s Delridge neighborhood rent space to area residents and nonprofits during non-peak days or seasons. This particular center offers spaces starting as little as $65 an hour.
Book a bowling or roller skating party package
While many kids birthday party venues can be pricey, inexpensive options do exist. Bowling alleys are a great choice, as many offer special birthday packages and have pricing that starts around $115 (and that includes shoe rental). West Seattle Bowl and Roxbury Lanes are two of our local favorites.
Another old-school party option is to take the kids roller skating. While a party package at a local rink will cost upwards of $350, many area families opt to rent the party room at the Bitter Lake Community Center Annex on a Friday night, from 6:30–8:15 p.m. during their weekly open skate. It’s $118 to rent the space, plus 50 percent off skate rentals ($3 per person).
Reserve a day at your apartment complex
Many apartment or townhouse complexes have a community room that’s available to residents. These often include a full kitchen and bathroom and often don’t have an additional cost attached to them.
