Need birthday party ideas for 10 y.o. girl

[Eeyore'sthebest]

Okay folks I need help!!! DD wanted her party at the local observatory. We both saw the paperwork when we were there last winter for a GS event. I called today to book it and was told that they only book for a group seating but then the party needs to move offsite because they don't have a party room. We don't want to move the party because we have a lot of parents that drop and run especially at this age.

I need ideas that won't break the bank. Our home is too small for a party at the house, besides I have a rescue dog that isn't fond of too many kids at one time. We used to use the town's rec center to rent a room but it burned down a few years ago and have been forced to find alternative places every year.

Here's what's out: Build-a-Bear (did that), bowling (way too expensive at our place), and the movies (don't know why but DH thinks this is lame).

So I'm begging my dear Dis friends, I need ideas for a now disgruntled young lady! Help!!! Any ideas are welcome! TIA.

 

[golfgal]

Do you have an indoor ice rink? We did an ice skating party for our twins one year and they had a blast. It was pretty inexpensive and they had skates to rent for kids that did not have them.

Do the hotels in your area let you use the pools for birthday parties? Those parties are fun too.

 

[Ohiodislover]

Mani-pedis They will do them without clippers at request.

Some salons actually contract w/ limo companies. It is not as much as you think it might be.

My 11 Y.O. went to one of these last year. It was the bomb. Everyone loved it!!

 

[AustinTink]

We've done a roller skating party for DS10 the last three years. He invites boys and girls and they all seem to have a great time. We serve cake and drinks only, so it doesn't break the bank.

 

[Eeyore'sthebest]

Do you have an indoor ice rink? We did an ice skating party for our twins one year and they had a blast. It was pretty inexpensive and they had skates to rent for kids that did not have them.

Do the hotels in your area let you use the pools for birthday parties? Those parties are fun too.

I should have mentioned that ice skating is out. We've been to plenty of parties and DD always ends up falling on her behind and in tears. We're not the most coordinated family when it comes to ice.

I do like the pool party idea! That might be a nice treat. Hmm, I think I'll call some hotels tomorrow. Her eyes just lit up at that thought!!

 

[Breezy_Carol]

We have a local beauty school that does birthday parties.

 

[Eeyore'sthebest]

Mani-pedis They will do them without clippers at request.

Some salons actually contract w/ limo companies. It is not as much as you think it might be.

My 11 Y.O. went to one of these last year. It was the bomb. Everyone loved it!!

She likes the mani-pedi idea too. I might call our salon and see if they do something. The owner is great!

We've done a roller skating party for DS10 the last three years. He invites boys and girls and they all seem to have a great time. We serve cake and drinks only, so it doesn't break the bank.

Unfortunately our nearest rink (that I know of) is about an hour away. This would also go along with the ice skating comment about us not being too coordinated. Thanks for the idea though. I love parties where we can bring our own stuff.

 

[RhondaL]

We rented our elementary school gym for $20. Then we brough balls and played games. We also brought a karoke machine (a portable one) and had "American Idol".

 

[Eeyore'sthebest]

And here is a note from the DD in question (she loves the smilies):

She`s right I do love the smiles. SEE DM told me what DD means so it`s DD here Please help. Thank you

 

[cntrygal]

I have a DD last year for her 8th birthday (january b-day) we took three of her friends and rented a hotel room, had chinese delivered to the hotel for dinner. The girls swam most of the night .Whole party with favors $125.

This year for her ninth birthday she decided she wanted to take her friends to the melting pot, so next friday night it will be fondue for us.

 

[aprilgail2]

I have a DD last year for her 8th birthday (january b-day) we took three of her friends and rented a hotel room, had chinese delivered to the hotel for dinner. The girls swam most of the night .Whole party with favors $125.

This year for her ninth birthday she decided she wanted to take her friends to the melting pot, so next friday night it will be fondue for us.

My daughter loved the party she went to at a hotel- they rented adjoining rooms and had about 8 kids there and a couple adults stayed. They swam until the pool closed and then watched movies all night and swam again in the morning (on about an hours sleep LOL). The favorite thing was the hot tub- the kids all wanted in that!
My daughter wants to take 3 friends to the Melting Pot for her birthday this year for dinner- she LOVES that place!

 

[kacaju]

how many kids does she want to invite? My dd just turned 10 and we did it at home. I know you said your home was too small, but depending on how many kids she wanted it could be doable
my dd had 7 friends and I bought wilton gingerbread houses and those girls had a lot of fun decorating them. it was a 2 hour party and they spent most of the time decorating!!

 

[FSUDisneyGirl]

One of my favorite b-day parties growing up was my friend's party at a hotel. We all stayed in 2 adjoining rooms, swam a lot, ate pizza and watched a movie and went to sleep (just a bit!). It was actually nice for my friend's mom and her friend...they went next door to the other room and kept the door cracked, we all stayed up and talked and at least they could hang out in relative quiet when it got late! Of course all 8 of us wanted to sleep in the same room...I think we had a few girls on each bed and some on the floor, etc. Lots of fun!

 

[kidzmom3]

do you have an all star cheer gym nearby? we run great parties through ours. tumbling (but fun tumbling) with some realy cool older girls.

also, gymnastics places do it too.

YMCA, pool rental also try YWCA and Boys and Girls clubs

paint your own ceramics place

Do you have a pump it up near you??

Hair salon, one up do or braid per girl and they painted their nails.

do you have any small ice cream places that make their own icecream? we did a tour one year and they let us make one flavor from scratch. Then they each had an icecream in the main parlor.

indoor mini golf (if you have one, try monster mini golf its a chain)

mall scavenger hunt (use a camera, don't have them try on clothes the stores get mad)
but you can do. Take a picture in front of the big apple (apple store) You can also have them purchase small things in stores, then divvy them up as favors. For example: go the store thats a girls name and buy something to hear with. answer: Claires, thing to buy, clip on cat ears.

 

[tiggspring]

Lasr year my dd10 had her party at the local independant movie theater. We could play the kids feature (if one was in) or bring any dvd we wanted. Each kid got popcorn and soda and there was a place to set up cake etc. Since it was an old theater with a stage they put colored lights up and the kids ran around and made shadows on stage. Best part is we could have as many as a hundred kids (yikes!) And it was much cheaper to rent whole place then pay per kid.

 

[paintnolish]

Does your park district offer anything? Ours does have themed parties, which many do not, but they also have plenty of places to cheaply rent out. then you could do your own themed party! I know my dd would love the mani/pedi and I'd definitely look into a beauty school to lower the price. Is she interested in dance? You could have a one time clinic at a dance studio or see if HS cheerleaders would do something. You could follow either one with a trip to a pizza place. We have done hotel bdays, too. We swim and have cake, then the dc gets a friend or two to sleepover at the hotel. This is always a huge hit. Good luck! There is always the option of doing something bigger with just a friend or two also. I have done this with dd-movies, dinner, sleepover, etc.

 

[Eeyore'sthebest]

Thank you so much for all your replies. DD wants me to look into the swim party at the hotel. Now I only have to pick which girls stay the night. Like that will be easy. Oh the drama!!

 

[Boo'sMom]

My DD turns 10 this month, we're going to a bead store, and they're making their own jewelry.

 

[golfgal]

Thank you so much for all your replies. DD wants me to look into the swim party at the hotel. Now I only have to pick which girls stay the night. Like that will be easy. Oh the drama!!

The hotels we used you didn't have to rent a room or stay overnight. They had time blocked off during the day for birthday parties. It was $35 to rent the pool for 2 1/2 hours.

 

[mjkacmom]

The hotels we used you didn't have to rent a room or stay overnight. They had time blocked off during the day for birthday parties. It was $35 to rent the pool for 2 1/2 hours.

Wow! Hotels here do the same, but it costs over $200 (for less time).