Now that virtual birthday parties are (almost) a thing of the past, it’s time to rethink and plan your kid’s next birthday bash. If you want to throw the best birthday party in Los Angeles for kids (and make up for last year’s), look no further than some of your favorite hang spots—from museums and play spaces to farms, beaches and beyond, get ready to RSVP to a post-COVID birthday party that’s made for the memory books.
Imaginology Kids
At this creative, STEAM-filled lab space, pick from four different themes (earth, wind, water or light labs) where kids get to explore one-of-a-kind materials and think creatively (picture light sculptures, bubble making, ramps and gravity). Bonus points: Parents can relax thanks to a dedicated staff that ensures the kids are having a great time. The results? An unforgettable birthday experience.
Ages: All ages
Cost: $820 & up
2501 West Sunset Blvd.
Los Angeles
Online: imaginologykids.com
Wallis Annenberg PetSpace
When your Doc McStuffins is having a birthday, there's no better place to celebrate than surrounded by felines, feathered friends and other curious critters. At the Wallis Annenberg PetSpace, a birthday party includes a guided tour of the facility, a craft, games to play, and of course, a pet encounter. All guests receive a goody bag.
Ages: 4-10
Cost: $350
12005 Bluff Creek Dr.
Playa Vista
Online: annenbergpetspace.org/birthday-parties
CampSurf
Take your little sand crab and their closest friends to the beach and give them a surf-themed birthday party that will have everyone stoked to catch a wave or two. CampSurf can accommodate up to 15 surfers for 2 hours and provides the surfboards, wetsuits (if needed), a shade tent and table, plus land-based activities like volleyball for those non-surfers.
Ages: 7 & Up
Cost: $650
38th St. & The Strand
Manhattan Beach
Online: campsurf.com
Aquarium of the Pacific
If your animal lover prefers fish over felines, then head south to the Aquarium of the Pacific where you have your choice of throwing your birthday celebration either on the rooftop Veranda or on the Front Plaza. The rooftop Veranda holds up to 50 (seated) guests and has the bonus of offering breathtaking views of both the harbor and Aquatic Park Lighthouse. Another reason to love this location? All seafood served at the Aquarium is sustainably sourced.
Ages: All ages
Cost: $350 site fee plus $49 per person for the birthday package on the Veranda
100 Aquarium Way
Long Beach
Online: aquariumofpacific.org/
RELATED: How to Spend 48 Hours of Fun in Long Beach with Kids
Wild Child Gym
With three party options and optional add-ons, your party at Wild Child gym is bound to be as unique as your little mover and shaker. The basic package includes up to 15 kids, 2 hours of exclusive playtime, use of the gym and two instructors that are bound to keep your kid's attention on the fun and games.
Ages: 0-7
Cost: The Aloha package starts at $695
9715 Washington Blvd.
Culver City
Online: wildchildgym.com
Cayton Children's Museum
A birthday party at this dreamy kid's museum will keep everyone entertained for hours thanks to their 21,000 square-foot playground with 35 discovery-based exhibits. When it's time for the actual party, there's a private room along with a dedicated Cayton representative to make sure everything goes off without a hitch. The best part? Choose from any of the restaurants in Santa Monica Place to cater your lunch for a meal even the parents will happily eat.
Ages: 0-10
Cost: Packages start at $1050 up to 40 kids
395 Santa Monica Pl #374
Santa Monica
Online: caytonmuseum.org/cayton-party
Underwood Family Farms
Take your city mouse to the country and help them live out their Old MacDonald dreams! Birthday parties at Underwood Farm's Moorpark location include a private wagon ride around the farm (for all your guests), a shaded picnic table area with iconic red and white checkered table cloths, a bucket of feed and a group photo—plus unlimited pony rides, electric train rides, moon-bounces, trike trails, and cow train rides. Party guests can also visit the petting corral and mingle as long as they'd like with the goats, sheep, and bunnies.
Good to Know: Parties are held Mar. through Dec.
Ages: 2 & up
Cost: Standard party is $390 & up (for 2 1/2 hours and up to 15 children)
3370 Sunset Valley Rd.
Moorpark
Online: underwoodfamilyfarms.com
Sender City
Kids who love to climb all things climbable will never want their time here to end. Sender City—the kid nook inside the massive Sender One climbing gym near LAX—makes it easy for kids to reach the ceiling safely. The room is outfitted with a colorful assortment of challenges, including stair-stepping "skyscrapers" (featured above), a timed rock wall that lets climbers compete with friends, and a firefighting-themed wall that challenges kids to put out fires (by hitting buttons) as they climb ladders to the top. And don't worry: Climbers are hooked into an auto-belay system while climbing, so the ropes quickly catch them and whisk them gently to the ground every time they jump or fall.
Birthday party packages include 30-minutes of activities and instruction; one hour of climbing time inside Sender City (plus all the gear needed to climb); one hour in the party space; free climbing for the birthday kid's parents (trust us, you'll want to join in on the fun!); plus a party attendant to make sure everything goes smoothly.
Good to Know: Climbers must weigh 35 pounds to use the auto-belay system.
Cost: Starts at $549
Ages: 5 & up
11220 Hindry Ave.
Los Angeles
Online: senderoneclimbing.com/lax
Trapeze School New York/Los Angeles
If you've got a budding daredevil, a party at the Trapeze School New York (in LA) is the perfect high-flying adventure. Birthday parties on the Santa Monica pier include a 2-hour flying trapeze class to help get all those little fliers airborne. For an additional fee, you can get a photographer (because #FlyingTrapeze) plus other a mix of other aerial and ground activities to keep everyone entertained.
Ages: 6 & up
Cost: For a group of ten, parties start at $700 on the weekends
Santa Monica Pier
Santa Monica
Online: losangeles.trapezeschool.com
Escape Parties
Exit Game LA: Inland escape artists may want to try the popular Exit Game LA, which calls itself the most high-tech of LA's escape rooms. It's got tunnels to crawl through, laser fields to thwart, and conjuring spells to master. For kids under 10, staff there recommends "A.I" room (evil computers!), "Lab 51," (aliens!) or "School of Sorcery" (wizardry!) for the theme.
Ages: Adult supervision for kids under 12 is required
Cost: $35 per person
111 N. Atlantic Blvd. #148
Monterey Park
Online: theexitgame.com
The MagIQ Room: Escape rooms are all the rage for big kids; why not get the younger escape artists in on the action? While most venues will let little kids give it a try, the MagIQ Room in Beverly Hills is the only spot that caters exclusively to the smaller set (it calls its rooms "Adventure Rooms" instead of "escape rooms"). Each 2-hour party includes a 1-hour adventure room experience, costumes to match the theme, party games, framed birthday pictures (sent via e-mail), snacks and drinks.
Cost: $80 per person. Escape rooms have a 10-person maximum; multiple rooms can be booked to accommodate larger parties
Ages: 6 & up (kids should able to read to play)
1446 S Robertson Blvd.
Los Angeles
Online: magiqescaperoom.com
Outside the Box
This kid class/resource center for parents can also be used as a birthday party venue whose flexibility and affordability are two of our favorite selling points. We adore the ala carte menu—you can DIY the party yourself and bring in your own entertainment or add OTB's entertainment, crafts, and specialties like the Light Sensory Room as your setting—even adding post-party clean-up. OTB families receive a special discount on items.
Ages: All ages
Cost: Venue rental starts at $450 ($350 for OTB families)
2550 Foothill Blvd.
La Crescenta-Montrose
Online: otblc.com/birthday-parties/
featured photo: istock
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