Planning a kid’s birthday party can be a stressful and chaotic time, but don’t worry!
No matter your theme, budget, or location, we’re here to help with a huge list of all the best kids’ birthday party ideas in the Twin Cities.
So relax, because you’re sure to have a hit of a party with any of these 51 awesome birthday party ideas.
P.S. – Don’t miss our guide to birthday freebies around the Twin Cities, either!
Host a climbing expedition.
If your kids are already climbing the walls all winter long, consider hosting an indoor climbing birthday party at one of the Twin Cities best indoor rock climbing gyms and walls.
The REI Store in Bloomington hosts free rock climbing hours, and Vertical Endeavors (locations in Bloomington, Minneapolis, and two in St. Paul) hosts 2-hour birthday party events for groups of up to 10.
Have an Adventure in Cardboard.
Don’t let the party store merchandise persuade you. All kids really need for a birthday party is a maze of cardboard boxes and a little imagination. Long-time summer camp favorite Adventures in Cardboard sends artists to your home or local park to help kids create their own fantastic swords and shields and then host an all-out game of Capture the Flag among a maze or castle of cardboard.
Make Memories at the Museum.
Most of the Twin Cities museums have plans to host kid birthday parties, from bare-bones party rooms for rent to elaborately-themed packages complete with a party coordinator. Start by considering your kids’ ages and your budget, then check out some of these birthday party options:
- The Bakken Museum – Inspire your kids’ creativity by exploring one of the Twin Cities’ most famous inventors in a STEM-themed party.
- Bell Museum – When the Bell Museum re-opened in its new location on the St. Paul Campus of the U of M, it launched with a new planetarium and a fresh set of birthday party themes, including “Animal Superpowers” and “Astronaut Challenge.”
- Minnesota Children’s Museum – Book private playtime for up to 30 guests before the museum opens.
- Science Museum of Minnesota -This downtown St. Paul favorite has been hosting kids and families for more than 100 years. Plan an impromptu visit with family and friends or a more formal affair in one of their meeting room spaces.
- Twin Cities Model Railroad Museum – Make the birthday party dreams of your train-loving kid come true with a railroad-themed birthday and afternoon museum tour.
- The Works Museum – For the kids who prefer a ‘hands-on’ experience, the Works in Bloomington offers an interactive museum experience, allowing kids to experience science, physics, and engineering first hand.
Let Out Your Inner Animal.
Does your kiddo love to spend time with furry friends? Have dreams of becoming a zookeeper? Or just really looking for an excuse to buy leopard print birthday decorations? Then why not try one of the birthday party packages at Como Zoo and Conservatory in St. Paul or the Minnesota Zoo in Apple Valley.
If sea urchins and stingrays are more your kids’ style, SEA LIFE at Mall of America has birthday party packages and discount tickets for groups.
And if you’re willing to drop a bit of cash, $1,200 gets you the ultra-fun “Sleep with the Sharks” sleepover birthday at SeaQuest in Roseville.
Declare an all-day Gamer-fest.
Love the idea of helping your video gamer enjoy an afternoon tournament with friends but don’t want to shell out for a lot of extra equipment?
GameTruck Party pulls up curbside to your home with everything you need for a state-of-the-art video game birthday party. They provide all the tech, access to games, and five flat screened TVs in a mobile truck.
Power Up Truck in Hastings is another option for mobile video game parties.
Create a Masterpiece.
The Twin Cities is home to dozens of options for art-themed kid birthday party ideas. From a visit to MIA or the Minneapolis Sculpture Garden to create-your-own art labs like Articulture and ARTrageous Adventures, there is no shortage of ways you and your kids can enjoy a few hours of creating birthday memories.
Some of our favorite art options:
- Blazing Balloons – Think paint-your-own party, only with balloon sculptures.
- Color Me Mine – paint-your-own ceramics and glaze pottery.
- Crayola Experience – Mall of America attraction with a variety of party packages for kids.
- Upstairs Circus – DIY project spot for teens and older kids in Minneapolis.
- Kiddywampus – One part toy store, one part arts and crafts, and one part birthday party destination. Locations in Chanhassen and Hopkins.
- Snapology – For some of us, Legos are an art form. Snapology offers brick-building and robotics birthday parties for all ages.
Sink a hole-in-one birthday with a round of mini-golf.
The Twin Cities is home to some unique mini-golf courses, all ready to take on the birthday kid and a couple of friends. Check out our complete list of the 17 Best Mini Golf Courses in the Twin Cities, or stick to these three top courses we love for kids:
- Can Can Wonderland – St. Paul
- Moose Mountain Adventure Golf – Mall of America – Bloomington
- Big Stone Mini Golf – Minnetrista
If your kids appreciate some time on the natural greens, check out the Centennial Lakes Putting Course in Edina or Top Golf in Brooklyn Center for other golf-themed birthday options.
Party at the Indoor Playground.
Sometimes the best birthday parties just involve cake, presents, and turning the kids loose at the playground.
The Twin Cities has many indoor playground and trampoline park options scattered throughout Minneapolis, St. Paul, and the suburbs. Most come equipped with party rooms for rent and discounts for groups of 5 or more.
Check out these kid-approved favorites:
- Eagles Nest Indoor Playground – New Brighton
- Edinborough Indoor Playground – Edina
- Good Times Park – Eagan
- Inner Active – Mounds View
- Lookout Ridge – Woodbury
- Pump it Up – Eden Prairie
- The Bounce Around – Bloomington
- Rockin’ Jump – Eagan
- Sky Zone – Oakdale & Blaine
- Urban Air – Coon Rapids & Plymouth
Parties with Sports Galore
Make all those hours spent hauling your kids to practice and games a little more fun with a sports-themed birthday party.
A few options around the Twin Cities include:
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- Gopher Spot – U of M Bowling alley with Goldy Gopher mascot birthday packages.
- Grand Slam – Batting cages, bumper cars, mini-golf, and arcade. Grand Slam has a little bit of everything birthday.
- Ninjas United – Let your kids’ inner ninja shine at a ninja warrior birthday party.
- Bubble Soccer – Crawl in these inflatable bubbles and bounce your kids through a birthday game of soccer.
- iFLY – Let your kids soar by celebrating birthdays at an indoor skydiving park.
- Buck Hill Tubing – Enjoy some winter outdoor fun after cake and presents by flying down Buck Hill’s slopes in an inflatable tube.
- Twin Cities Trapeze – Fly through the air like a circus acrobat at the Twin Cities’ only trapeze center.
Get outdoors.
Consider one of the Twin Cities nature centers for a lower-cost kid’s birthday party idea. Many offer private party rooms or public picnic grounds for families to use. Others have guided hikes and nature-themed activities as add-ons to your kiddo’s party plan.
Check out these nature-themed birthday locations:
- Battle Creek Waterworks – St. Paul
- Dodge Nature Center – West St. Paul
- Springbrook Nature Center – Fridley
- Tamarack Nature Center – White Bear
- Westwood Hills Nature Center – St. Louis Park
- Wood Lake Nature Center – Richfield
