All The Fun Without The Mess

In the eyes of a child, there is one important holiday every year. It isn’t Halloween or even Christmas. It is their own special day when Grandma and Grandpa and Aunt Barb and Uncle Bob call for them. The one day when there are more yellow and blue envelopes in the mail than bills. It is the day that they know they get to choose their favorite meal for dinner. It is, of course, their birthday.

What parents don’t want to give their child the best birthday party? Who doesn’t look forward to spoiling their children one day a year? How can you forget the look on her face when she tears open the balloon covered wrapping paper to see the Barbie doll she has been begging for?

Now imagine this. After weeks of indecision, your seven (“I’m almost eight!”) year old finally decided on a theme for his party. You have sent out dozens of invitations, spent hours decorating, special-ordered a cake, and now the day is here.

Around one o’clock, the doorbell rings. Birthday Boy runs to the door, and suddenly the floodgates are open. A herd of second graders tumbles in the front door and takes off through living room and into the basement. Over their little heads, you watch their parents climb back into their minivans and any sense of your sanity goes with them.

You follow the trail of muddy footprints across your new carpet, shaking your head at the pieces of your once-precious Tiffany lamp that are now scattered all over the floor. The streamers and balloons that were hung with care an hour ago now give the living room the look of a disaster area. You start to sweep up the glass, when suddenly, you feel a strange rumbling. The kids are back, and want to smash open the piñata.

It is now four o’clock, and the party guests are departing. Despite an argument that broke out over who got the piece of cake with the most frosting on it, the day went fairly smoothly. But then you realize that it might be easier to move than try to clean up the horrendous mess left by a candy and confetti-filled piñata, dozens of little hands covered in frosting, and the stain on the carpet from when a party guest tried to help pour the punch.

In the age of “Everyone else is doing it!” and “Johnny has one, why can’t I?” more and more parents are moving the timeless tradition of a child’s birthday party to a location outside of the home. Many establishments offer an alternative environment or party room. Countless local places not only provide a fun and educational location and take care of the clean up, but will also furnish tables and chairs and even gift bags for the guests.

Alternative party locations can provide a fun, as well as educational (just don’t tell the kids!) experience. Area museums, zoos, recreation centers and city and state parks have party rooms for your convenience.

The IMAX Theatre at the Minnesota Zoo brings together all of what a party out of the home should be. Most of the IMAX shows featured on the huge six-story screen in Apple Valley are educational, fun, and appeal to children of all ages. IMAX provides complimentary admission for the birthday child, a discount in the gift shop and a goody bag for all of the guests. All party goers receive advance priority seating, a pre-show birthday announcement, a private table and the IMAX staff will help plan and set up for the celebration. Best of all, they are also the ones left wiping the pink icing handprints off the wall afterwards.

Beginning in October, the IMAX theatre is featuring Horses: The Story of Equus. It tells the story of the lives of three different horses; the racer, the rascal and the runaway. Why not round up all the lilt cowboys and cowgirls and wrangle them down to the IMAX Theatre? For more information, visit www.imax.com/minnesota or call 952.997.9701to make reservations. The kids will have a blast, and you will have 365 days to figure out how you will top it next year.

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