Birthday Party Resources in Ottawa
If birthday party planning just isn’t your thing (and that’s okay!) but you still need to put together a celebration for your child that they’ll love, we’ve put together this list of local Ottawa resources to help make your party planning easier.
Location, Location, Location
Deciding where to host the birthday party might be your first challenge. There are benefits to having a low-key function in your own home, but that usually means dealing with a lot of noise and a lot of mess (you’ll be on the hook for all of the cleanup) or you can consider heading to a birthday party venue, but that too comes with pluses and minuses.
Birthday Party Venues
Typically, when you host the party at a venue outside of your home, that venue takes care of the setup and the cleanup. All you’ll need to do is bring the cake (unless the venue provides that too) and sometimes the food, then just pack up your gifts and party décor when you head home.
If your home can’t hold a crowd of children running around (or maybe you just don’t want it to), outsource the party location and let them run off all of the sillies at an indoor play place or somewhere that burns a lot of energy. Here’s a list of birthday party venues the kids will love.
Resources for Parties at Home
However, you don’t have to leave your home to create a fun-filled party. By hosting at home, you don’t have to worry about packing up food and decorations to go to another location and, typically, your guests will be close by, so inclement weather won’t thwart your plans. You can create your own crafts and activities or let the kids have free play before feeding them pizza and cake, or you can hire an organization that actually will bring the party to you.
This might be the best of all worlds; someone else will lead the fun and keep the kids entertained, but you can benefit from having all of your supplies handy. Consider inviting an action hero or princess to swing by, create the ultimate sleepover, or learn about animals with Ray’s Reptiles – all in your own home!
You’ll Need Cake, of Course (or Something Else?)
Every birthday party needs a cake, or some dessert to end the celebrations. Artistic Cake Design can custom create the perfect birthday cake. For a nut-free cake that tastes great, you’ll want to browse the offerings at The Cake Shop on Wellington. If you need a vegan, gluten-free, nut-free, kosher selection, Strawberry Blonde Bakery has you covered. Or, mix it up with an ice cream cake made by The Merry Dairy! Of course, the birthday child may decide that cake isn’t for them and instead opt for cupcakes, cake pops or maybe even donuts. Maverick’s Donuts and Suzy Q’s doughnuts are always a hit at parties.
Where’s the Loot?
The question about what to include in loot bags (if you are opting to hand them out) may be causing you to stress, but there’s no need. With The Loot Bag Lady, you can order a pre-assembled loot bag perfect for tiny guests, or create a customized selection. If you want to put them together yourself but need a little help, local toy shops Tag Along Toys and Mrs. Tiggy Winkles have a wide selection of unique, useful and interesting loot bag options and they’ll help you craft the perfect thank you gift.
Pro Tip: Depending on the venue you choose, they may offer their own loot bag add-on to make it even easier for you!
No matter what you decide to do to celebrate, we have no doubt your birthday child will love every moment! Hopefully, these suggestions will make your next party even easier to plan.
