It’s not always easy to nail the right vibe for your kid’s birthday party. Maybe you’ve already started party planning when suddenly your kid informs you that the only thing they want is to meet a unicorn, or to walk through a giant bubble. (Believe it or not, we’ve got you covered!) So whether you have a budding chef, an outdoorsy bug-lover, a messy artist, or a kid who prefers quiet, read on to find the perfect local party spot for you.
Quiet/Sensory-Friendly
Children’s Healing Art Project
Children’s Healing Art Project (or CHAP) offers inclusive, healing art programming for children with medical challenges. But their birthday parties are open to everyone! Just pick a theme and/or any two art projects. Parents bring the food, cake, and drinks, and CHAP provides the venue, art supplies, and staff/volunteer support. Best of all? They clean up afterward! Parties are also offered virtually. $300 for 2 hours for 15 art makers, which includes 30 minutes for setup. Additional $15 per art maker. There’s a limit of 20 art makers total. Visit chappdx.org.
Multnomah County Library
If your kid loves reading, consider a library-themed party with Multnomah County Library. In the summer, they offer outdoor storytime at various parks around Portland. Join for the free storytime then celebrate with cake at the park afterward. Other libraries offer similar programming, like Tualatin’s Stories in the Park, or Gladstone’s StoryWalk. Visit multcolib.org or your local library.
Ponies + Unicorns
Spend your birthday gently brushing a pony at Wish Upon a Pony! For $250 an hour, they’ll bring a pony to your location. Pro tip: You don’t even need a big yard! Kids will enjoy the peace and fun of riding, brushing and feeding a pony. Visit wishuponapony.com. If your child prefers unicorns, check out Pyxis the Unicorn, who is therapy-certified and available for birthday parties for $350. Visit pyxistheunicorn.com.
Spectra Gymnastics
Spectra Gymnastics in Tigard offers inclusive preschool for neurodiverse kids, but did you know you also can rent out their gym for private events? Birthday rentals include a 600-square-foot room for party setup, food and drinks, plus one Spectra staff member available for support and guidance. Rentals are Saturdays only, and a 1-hour rental is $240. Visit spectrapdx.com/private-gym-rental.
Active
Portland Rock Gym
For active kids ages 9 and up, Portland Rock Gym brings new heights to your celebration. Party packages are $399 and include climbing, games, and an optional private party room. Weekends only. Visit portlandrockgym.com/birthday.
The Wiggle Room
If you have a younger kid bursting with birthday energy, check out The Wiggle Room, which features an incredible indoor play structure and optional add-ons for parties, including a Bounce House or Unlimited Train Ride package. Space rental starts at $350 for 2 hours. Visit thewiggleroom.com/party-room-rental.
The Gresham Pool
Who doesn’t love a pool party? The Gresham Pool is a great location for a birthday full of swimming fun. Pool rentals for groups of 25 or less are $85 per hour. The cost even includes lifeguards! Visit gresham.k12.or.us/domain/1161.
Tumble Bus
Flexible about your location? Tumble Bus can come to you! Younger kids will love climbing on a real school bus only to discover it’s full of gymnastics equipment, including a trampoline, monkey bars and more! Limit 12 kids at a time, ages 2 to 6. Parties are $300 for 1 hour. Visit tumblebuspdx.com.
Messy
Owl and Bee Clay Company
For artistic kids who also love getting their hands messy, check out Owl and Bee Clay Company, where you can make and glaze your creative clay masterpieces. Parties include instruction, materials, and table space for any snacks or cake you want to bring. Fees start at $200, plus $15 per person for an event in their studio. Visit owlandbeeclaycompany.com/parties.
PDX Parties Giant Bubble
Step inside a giant bubble with PDX Parties Giant Bubble! Kids will love watching the incredible bubble shows. Of course, they’ll also get the chance to run around and get messy, popping all the bubbles they wish! They also offer themes, including Paw Patrol, Encanto, unicorns, dragons and more! Party rates are $249.99 for the first hour. Visit pdxparties.com/rentals/giant-bubbles.
Splat Action
For older kids, Splat Action in Molalla is a great place to get messy with paintball. Rates start at $415 for the birthday package. Pro tip: For younger kids, ages 4 to 10, Splat Action also offers gel orbee ball (small “gellets” made of natural, non-toxic super absorbent polymer) parties. A little less messy — and less painful! — but just as much fun. Fees are $35 per person. Visit splataction.com.
Creative
Creative Culture
Attention DIY crafters! Creative Culture offers a variety of fun, hands-on parties, including DIY wreath, plant and pot parties, and so much more. Celebrate with their milkshakes, which are their own delicious and unforgettable works of art. Parties start around $330, not including the $50 base rental fee Visit creativeculturediy.com.
PILEA Play
At PILEA Play, kids can explore all types of dramatic play and expression, including dress-up, art projects, building and movement. The basic birthday package is $275 for 90 minutes, and there are optional add-ons, including extra time or guests. They love working with parents to customize parties! They also work with vendors to add extra fun services, like face painting, balloon twisting, storytime and more. Visit pileaplay.com/our-space.
Art World School
Celebrate at Art World School, where they offer a combination of art classes and free play time. Activities include arts and crafts, acrylic painting, and clay. All parties are led by at least two professional art teachers. Price varies based on the activity. Parties start at $359. Visit artworldschool.com/birthday-parties-at-art-world-school.
Red Yarn
Musically inclined kids will love rocking out to their very own birthday concert. Local children’s performer, Red Yarn, (and repeat PDX Parent Reader Favorites winner for best kindie musician!) puts on incredible shows that are fun for kids and parents alike. You’ll be dancing and singing along while your kid has an unforgettable birthday. Cost is generally $300-400 for a 45-minute, solo birthday show, dependent on gear required. Visit redyarnproductions.com/booking.
Foodie
Kate’s Ice Cream
For kids who love food, but have dietary restrictions, there’s no better place for a birthday than Kate’s Ice Cream. Kids can make their own ice-cream flavor, play “pin the cherry on the ice-cream cone,” and listen to their favorite music on the speakers. They accommodate celiac and nut allergies, and all food brought on the premises must be gluten-free. Parties start at $385 for 1 hour and 30 minutes. Visit katesicecream.com/kidsbirthdayparties.
The Merry Kitchen
The Merry Kitchen is the place for young chefs excited to make and eat their very own birthday meals! Just select a theme from their website, such as Summer BBQ or Sloppy Joes, or suggest your own theme with your kid’s favorite food. Parties are around 2 hours long and are $40 per child with four to five participating kids, and $35 per child for six or more kids. For an extra $15, you can also make a birthday cake. Pro tip: They also offer a convenient Zoom class option! Visit themerrykitchen.com/birthday_parties.
Cake Hoopla
Why settle for store-bought cake? At Cake Hoopla, kids will be thrilled to decorate their own cakes with as much frosting as their heart desires. Cake Hoopla’s new studio in Tigard has a dedicated party room that can seat up to 18 cake decorators. They also offer a mobile service, where they’ll bring the cakes (or cupcakes!) to you. Prices start at $15 per person for cupcakes and $30 per person for cake parties, both with free delivery on orders over $150 for mobile parties, and a minimum of 10 people booked for studio parties. Add-on live instruction by party hosts for an extra $50. Visit cakehoopla.com.
Outdoorsy
Frog Pond Farm
Hoping for an outdoor party, but fear the unpredictable PNW rain? At Frog Pond Farm, you can reserve a covered area, explore their 5 acres of farm, say hello to the animals, scramble up their play structure, and so much more! Just pay the $12 general admission fee per person ages 2 and up. A great deal especially for smaller parties. Visit thefrogpondfarm.com/private-events.
Portland Parks & Recreation
Don’t overlook all the amazing parks and playgrounds offered by Portland Parks & Recreation, like Multnomah neighborhood’s Spring Garden Park, where you can rent a covered space right next to the creative, nature-inspired playground.
Tryon Life Community Farm
Tryon Life Community Farm is a beautiful community near Tryon Creek State Park. Parties are primarily held in an outdoor space called the Village Green. Kids can explore the large, outdoor kitchen, play games in the meadow, visit the goats, or play in the 30-foot yurt. They also offer farm tours and garden work parties, where they teach about sustainability. They work with families on accessible pricing; they encourage reciprocity, but no one is turned away for lack of funds. Visit tryonfarm.org.
PDX Insectarium
Calling all bug-lovers! PDX Insectarium is the perfect rainy day birthday venue for your outdoorsy kid with a fall/winter birthday. For $200 for the first hour and $50 for each subsequent hour, bug lovers can have their party in the Insectarium. Pro tip: You bring the food and drinks, and they’ll provide tables, seating, tablecloths, activities and all the bugs you wish. Visit pdxinsectarium.org.
For more party venue ideas, check out our Birthday Directory.
- Find Just-the-Right Birthday Vibe in Portland, OR - September 11, 2023
