Berkeley Parents Network: Places for Kids' Indoor Birthday Parties

Berkeley Parents Network

Places for Kids' Indoor Birthday Parties

Berkeley Parents Network > Reviews > Places to Go > Places for Kids' Indoor Birthday Parties

Location for Mom's Group First Birthday Party

Sept 2005

The babies in my mom's group are going on 12 months, and we would like to do a group party with partners, which makes about 20 adults and 10 little monkeys. Where have other people had their group birthday parties? It will probably be early November, so we are thinking indoors. Whitney

PRAM has a wonderful spot to hold birthday parties. Located in Point Richmond, just off of the 580 freeway, is the Washington Elementary School. Located near this is the PRAM fieldhouse, which is a building designed for kids. It is full of kids' toys, books, riding vehicles, etc. It has a long, low table with children's chairs where the kids can eat cake, do art projects and many other things. If the weather is nice, the kids can go outside and play on the many play structures and swings, ride the cars, play ball games (equipment is there to use) and more. And the cost to rent the fieldhouse is very inexpensive. The charge is just $50 for 4 hours (9-1 or 1-5) or $75 for the whole day. contact at pram.net

East Bay

I am looking for recommendations for indoor places to have a birthday party for a one-year-old in the winter. My son turns one in February. Whitney (Nov 2001)

I literally just got home from a birthday party for a one year old at WEE PLAY on Solano Avenue in Albany. It was great fun and very appropriate for one year olds. It's a clean, friendly environment with fun play equipment. They have a small table in the back of the room for food. I was impressed. I'd advise checking it out to see if it is big enough for your group. I believe there were 24 people at the party today and it didn't seem too crowded. I also have no idea how much it costs. Good luck! Shoshana (Nov 2001)

I have attended parties at the Clubhouse at Arlington Park in El Cerrito. It's a reasonable sized space, perfect for 30 people. The versatile feature is that it's comfortable enough to house your party if the weather is cold and wet. But if the weather turns out nice (it's so unpredictable in March), you can open up the doors and have access to Arlington Park, which has wide open grassy areas, playground structures and even a pond. I think you would need to call the city of El Cerrito for reservation information.

The Albany YMCA can accomodate parties, too. They have regular baby gym programs for 9 to 18 month olds and can set up a gym party appropriate for one year olds.

Habitot in downtown Berkeley might be another bet. It's the right speed for one year olds. You would need to check if they can accomodate 30 guests. Liz (Nov 2001)

Try Habitot in Berkeley, and inquire about the after hours party rental. We did that for my daughters first birthday and it was a huge success. We were able to get the whole place after 7 pm for about $150 (I had booked kinda of late so I had to take a Sunday night) and we could invite as many people as we wanted ( I beleive the limit is like 60-75 people). We ordered some pizza to be delivered and brought a cake in. It was great! Give them a call, you have plenty of time to book a great evening. William (Nov 2001)

Have you tried Habitot Children's Museum in downtown Berkeley? It is a hands-on museum -- water play, play store, art, etc. -- for children up to age 7 and does offer birthday parties. For details visit ttp://www.habitot.org/habitot/Home.htm. Betty (1999)

We have been to three indoor 4 y/o bday parties recently at the following places:

Ruby's Tumbling in Alameda (Ruby is good with the kids though the cake part of the party was held in a cramped little "break" room)

Kids in Motion on Piedmont Ave. in Oakland (the teacher, Paul, was incredible with the kids- really kept their attention and sweet in addition to being VERY conscientious about safety issues. Remarkably, he remembered ALL their names! The lunch/cake area was on a platform in the very spacious gym. Highly recommended)

Museum of CHildren's Art- nr. Jack London Square (pretty cold, damp and dingy place with a really rough bathroom; the assigned staff member was next to nonexistent at the two parties we went to there. She does a bit of face painting and sets up an art project - the clay project was markedly better than the collage project. There is a table for cake and then the kids inevitably spill out into the museum or (quel horror) the store which requires major parental supervision. This makes for a better party in theory than practice, IMO) Gemma (Feb 1999)

We have given parties and attended parties in a number of "not at home" locations over the past 12 years. (I did not attempt a party involving other children until they were three.) The Lawrence Hall of Science does an activity for the party, you have a choice of themes, and provides a party room. You can order their food or bring your own. The Berkeley Y was great and the Oakland Y may also do parties. Bowling alleys are popular with the older elementary crowd. We went to a party at one in Alameda at the bottom of Park St. that provided a party room and put inflatable barriers in the gutters so the kids' balls didn't end up in the gutter every time. Montclair Park has a baseball diamond within walking distance to several pizza places, so it works for older kids also. For the younger set, a Kindergym party is perfect; my references are very out of date, but they were at the Jewish Community Center. We used City Rock for my very athletic son, but some of the other parents were hesitant when they read the waiver they had to sign concerning injury. We consider the place very safe but that waiver is frightening, so feel out the other parents first. We always looked for a place that would provide something for the kids to do that would keep their interest for at least an hour since bored kids are difficult to work with. For a one-year old, I'd use a tot playground that is enclosed, keep the party very short and the food very simple snacks and cupcakes, and then just enjoy watching the kids with no attempt to plan anything. Eleanor (9/98)

In case you haven't heard from others already, the downtown Berkeley YMCA has birthday parties there (splash pool parties or you can rent one of the conference rooms and they include balloons and cake I think). It's about $100. Contact Eden Brenner-O'Brien at 848-9622 X38, Early Childhood Programs

Habitot Children's Museum also has a birthday party room for rent. You can also rent the whole facility at night. Contact them at 647-1111.

The Albany Community Center rents out rooms too. Not sure about the price. I don't have the number handy. Denise (9/98)

San Francisco

From: Gloria (9/98)

I'm not sure if this is something for 4 year olds, but Mission Cliffs in the Mission ( I think at Harrison and 19th) has a room for parties and teaches children how to rock climb. They also have a facility in Emeryville called City Rock.

From: Corliss (9/98)

I have a file on parties (!) but even with all this info, I'm still
looking for a place to have a 4 year old's party that's convenient to the
southern part of San Francisco (we live in Glen Park) and indoors
(November!). Here's what I know of:

information as of Fall '97, via phone calls (haven't tried most of these
myself):

**SF Recreation Dept.:  various community centers around the city.  Phone
Charles Holmes 415-831-2797.  They can send you a list of centers.  last
year it was $45-$55 for 2 hours plus $30 for staff salary if the facility 
is not usually open that day (such as Sundays). Facilities
vary.  for small kids, Upper Noe is great because there are lots of toys
and play structures they allow you to use.  Book as far ahead as you can.


**The Jungle (555 9th Street) $11.95 - $17.95 per child, 10 kids minimum.
415-552-4FUN.

**SF Zoo (outdoors); $12/participant (INCLUDING adults; $5 if adult is a
zoo member, kids under 1 free; includes cake, ice cream, juice,
plates/utensils, favors, hats, zoo key, carousel ride, admission to main
zoo (but not children's zoo?)  415-753-7114


**Purple Crayon, 4th Avenue at California  $150 up to 10 kids, $10 each
additional kid; 2 hour use of studio, teacher and art supplies; or $225
for 10 kids including refreshments?  (an art center so it's an art party)
831-0693

**Fort Mason - just a space, tables & chairs; a 1500 square foot space big
enough for 50 people $14/hour, plus $35 cleanup, plus security deposit, no
kitchen facilities.  an even bigger space for 90 people, $17/hour, $35
cleanup fee.  call 441-5706

**Gymboree (small kids only, ages 1-4) $150 for 1 1/2 hours rental up to
15 kids includes teacher.  776-2111


the various free parenting newspapers have ads for other places but not so
many in San Francisco.I'd love to hear about others to add to my file!

Marin County

From: Denise (9/98)

Bay Area Discovery Museum in Sausalito also has a birthday party room and I believe their rental includes admission to the museum for guests.

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