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Fairy Tales
Millstone Market and Nursery in Germantown has discovered that children love fairies. So they host fairy parties for kids ages 5 and up. Those who still believe in magic go on a scavenger hunt to collect materials, and build their own fairy garden. Older children create a fairy garden container and learn all about plants and fairy lore.
Cost: $475 for up to 20 children. Party includes materials and activities. • millstonemarket
DYI: Fairy garden supplies can also be purchased at Urban Gardener ($50-$75), where they’re of particular interest for grandmother/granddaughter play. Hobby Lobby and Michaels sell fairy figurines and fairy costumes. Create a wonderland in your backyard.
Finger Paint
Many kids love to paint and several locations specialize in painting parties, including Parties with a Twist in Germantown and Pinot’s Palette in Memphis. Both tailor parties for creative types ages 8 and up. And guests returns home with their own masterpiece.
Cost: Paint with a Twist: $250/10 painters, $25/per additional child for 1.5 hrs. of painting time; 1 hr. of party time. • paintingwithatwist.com • Pinot’s Palette: $35/per person for three hrs.; 2 hrs. with instructor, 1 hr. to party. • pinotspalette/sanderlin
DYI: Make homemade Play-Doh and have the kids sculpt and paint their creations. Use washable paint with plenty of newspaper on the table to soak up spills.
Fizzy Fun
Tweens are oh-so-cool, which means finding something different is a challenge. That’s why we like Love Pop Soda Shop. This new store on South Main rocks a fun vibe, with milk crates that hold craft sodas and vintage games. Parties include soda taste tests from where kids swig flavors like Toxic Slime and Cookie Dough Bites. Later in May, create your own floats, with handmade ice cream from La Michoacana. Don’t forget to try Ty and Maddy’s Southern Treats and Sweets popcorn. Yum.
Cost: $150 for 10 kids, birthday child brings home with a six-pack of soda. • Find them on Facebook
Sprinkly Delicious
Let them eat cake takes on a whole new meaning at this Collierville bakery. The Donut-Hut rolls out the red carpet for young party-goers, providing two-hours of fun that includes donuts, drinks, pizza, and crazy big donut cake. Donut-Hut makes your job easy, by handling set-up, decorations, even cleanup. They’ll also keep kids entertained, though we expect the donut cake does the trick.
Cost: $195 for 2-10 participants, $265 for 11-15 participants • $295 for 16-20 participants • donuthutt.com
Ready, Set, Glow
Turn down the lights and turn up the fun. That’s what happens at glow parties when you play at Pump It Up. Have your guests dress in white or glow-in-the-dark colors and add to the excitement. Inflatables slides and bounce houses take on a cool new look when the lights come down.
Cost: $200+ for a 2-hour private party for 10. Includes pizza, ice cream, beverages, paper products, and entertainment.
DYI: Keep kids moving with a Field Day preschool party in your backyard. Create simple events young kids can do, like three-legged races, hula-hoop contests, jarts, fishing for prizes in a kiddie pool. End by smashing a colorful piñata filled with treats.
Ride In Style
When my son was 9, he became smitten with limos. So, for a special surprise, we rented one for his birthday. He was stunned when he opened the sleek black door to discover five of his besties lounging inside. They cruised over to the roller rink for an hour of skating and spent the second hour goofing off in style.
Cost: $150 hr.+. You provide the location; the limo company will ferry your party out and back. Specify this is a kids’ party, and ask plenty of questions about how they operate. Some will allow drivers to park for an hour so your tweens can hangout inside.
DYI: Skip the limo and host a skate party instead (roller rinks include East End and Cordova Skate among others). Skating is fun and great exercise. Most rinks offer a party package. • memphisskating.com
Move It, Move It
Some kids are always on the go, so Little Gym of Germantown gives them a great place to get the wiggles out. You receive a 90-minute party filled with bouncing, tumbling, active fun. Led by a birthday leader plus an assistant, these parties are perfect for the preschool set.
Cost: $235/members, $260/nonmembers. Includes party set-up and break down. • thelittlegym.com/germantown