Birthday party /Event facility

[Mom of Twins]

Hi all! I would like to see if there is something in South Walton to have a kid birthday party. Our twins will be turning 5 in March and b/c they are twins, they have many kids to invite. Does anyone know of a facility to rent in South Walton?

Also, I'm looking to find a summer camp or program to put the kids in this summer. We are fairly new to the area and my husband and I both work full time. Are there any summer programs for kids in this area?

Thanks for any info.

[ameliaj]

I'm sorry, I couldn't tell you about a facility, but I've got a couple of birthday party ideas for you that were successful for my child.

1. We rented the big Dragon Moon Walk (not too expensive) and put 2 blowup wading pools in the yard with the Little Tykes slides going into them. We also set up 2 or 3 (memory fails me) sprinklers and we used the sandbox that we already had. I also got a couple of those giant $3 balls at walmart. Add some sidewalk chalk on the patio, and a bunch of nerf ball of various kinds and the kids were entertained for hours. The trick was that we had enough different stuff (no matter how trivial) that they didn't become bored with any one thing. Cake, ice cream, see y'a later.

2. Easter egg hunt: We got the "u-fill'em yourself eggs. We had enough eggs for each child to have ten eggs. We put the numbers in each egg up to 10. For the egg hunt, each child had to find 1 and only 1 egg with each number 1 - 10. Any duplicates had to be rehidden by a grown up.
It took them a good long while for a winners to be found. Of course, I had prizes for everyone. Cake, ice cream, see ya' later.
One note. My child is now 12. We still are finding eggs from that doggone party hidden in our yard.

Good luck,


p.s. those megamaze things are always a good idea.

[savvytangerine]

There aren't that many in Sowal. If you are open to some ideas in PCB let me know I will post those too!

Place for a party:
Fired Up in Seaside - they will let you bring anything in, and it is always funn.

Also, Watercolor and Seaside have summer camp activites, but I'm not sure how you would sign-up. I think there was a program like that in Sandestin/Baytowne too.

You gotta tell us how it goes!

[Beach Angel]

Hi all! I would like to see if there is something in South Walton to have a kid birthday party. Our twins will be turning 5 in March and b/c they are twins, they have many kids to invite. Does anyone know of a facility to rent in South Walton?

girls or boys? we had a great birthday party for our son when he was about that age - we made arrangements to have the kids tour the fire department, kids got to get up in the fire trucks, etc. everyone had a fire hat, etc etc. then we came back to our house for cake and presents - it was great. don't know if you could do it here, maybe in the station in watercolor? it was great - PAINLESS!!

and then there are always pirates. my great niece and nephew (6 and 3) are nuts about anything pirate, and just had a double pirate birthday party - and it is easy to find games, prizes, treats, etc with this theme. and you could have a treasure hunt.

i am obviously a frustrated non-grandmother!

[sunny456]

I attended a birthday party for a friends child at The Grand movie theatre in Pier Park. It was great. Huge room, the kids get coins to use the arcade game room and then they all got mini-popcorns and drinks and went to see a movie.
Easy as could be!

[ShallowsNole]

It's not in SoWal, but I've been to four birthday parties over the past two years at the Children's Park in Niceville. Gotta bring your own cake, decorations, et al. Hopefully we will get a similar facility here, but of course it wouldn't be in time for your party!

Other that that, I'll turn it over to the suggestions you've had thus far, or to folks who have younger kids. All the places we used 8 to 10 years ago are now closed.

[SGB]

Kids love the birthday parties at the gymnastics place on 98 near Smith's Antiques towards Destin. I can't think of the name of it, but I'm sure someone will.

[InletBchDweller]

on Panama City Beach =
~Rocket Lanes, you can bowl or skate
~Movies
~Check with Frank Brown Park on PCB. They have pavillions where you can have the party and a nice playground where the kids can unwind. THey also have a water park
~Some condos have heated pools. Little IBD had her party at Celedon last year, The kids enjoyed swimming in a heated pool in the winter months. They had a room where we had a pinata and cake, etc
~IN PC, long way away but PUmp it Up is a great place for lots of kids in a confined space

The best is on the beach, it is free!!!!

[savvytangerine]

My fave in PCB ....


FUNLAND!

It is an arcade, with a little diner in the front. That is were I went my last b'day...

[barefootguy]

U.S. Gold Gymnastics, just east of the light at S. Holiday & 98.
Great place for birthday parties. Parents and kids can both have a blast, work up a good sweat, and pull a few muscles. They've got a stereo, but bring your own cds.

Kids love the birthday parties at the gymnastics place on 98 near Smith's Antiques towards Destin. I can't think of the name of it, but I'm sure someone will.

[Jdarg]

I'm kinda "old fashioned" and have always preferred my kids to have smaller type parties- not always at home, but any more than 8 to 10 kids is more than I want or need to entertain, and chaos takes over for fun. Quality over quantity. These over the top birthday parties (like the limousines at age 8) are crazy. Blowups and arcade-type places are not our thing either. The whole birthday party thing seems like it all about outdoing the other kids - it really is out of control.

Kate's 6 th birthday was about 7 kids, and Nonie from Nonie's Ark brought her animals to our house and did her animal show- a bird, hissing cockroach, chinchilla, tarantula, cane toad, turtle, and some gigantic lizard. They sat in a circle on the living room floor and were able to learn and interact with the animals. Then we had cake and ice cream, then voila! Party over!

With Will, we always did a nice dinner and movies for 4 or 5 boys, and I am liking this idea for Kate starting next year. Japanese steakhouses are fun for kids.

For 5 year olds in March I like the Paint Pottery idea! What about a party at Eden State Park? There is a building that is usable year-round for parties. You could have a cool scavenger hunt, then have cake and ice cream in the building. Or, if the weather is bad, plan some indoor activities.

If the birthday is timed right, the beach is the best.

[Sea Sothebys]

Seaside and WaterColor have summer camp programs. Seaside Rep did a camp last summer that was focused on acting/theater for children. My daughter goes Soccer camp every summer... She also will go to the Spice program at Bay two days a week, as they go on field trips those days. They go to the zoo, to parks, to Gulf World, etc... And the lady that runs the program is a wonderful woman. I pack her summer with different camps and have no regrets. Much better summer than I ever had! She loves every minute of it. In terms of party venues, you made me realize this area doesn't have many. Maybe someone ought to jump on that opportunity. I think if the owners of Perpetual Imagination have any interest, that would be a lucrative endeavor...

[SWGB]

What about Zoo World or the Junior Museum in PC? There is also Gulf World, but that would probably be very pricey. Unfortunately they are also tearing Chuck E Chesses down.

[Perpetual Im.]

Perpetual Imagination does science theme birthday parties. We have a long list of theme/topic ideas including dinosaur digs, kaleidoscope building, insects, chemistry experiments, etc. Bring in your own food and cake. We have upstairs party space with a kitchen.

We also do hands-on science workshops after school and weekends and have plans for a great summer program.

You can call the store at 231-1400 for more information.