10 places in Winnipeg to host your next birthday party

The Manitoba Children’s Museum, a hands-on space designed just for kids, offers nine different birthday party packages to choose from, including one for kids as young as one. Each package is filled with engaging, interactive activities, whether it’s dressing up as royalty, making toy boats or creating strange potions. Parties cost $200 during regular hours and $300 after hours (museum members get a 10 percent discount). Partygoers have access to a private room to open presents and enjoy food, which parents can either purchase at the museum’s gift store or, if pizza is the food of choice, order at a special rate from Domino’s Pizza. Once the party is over, everyone is welcome to stay and explore the museum’s 12 permanent exhibits or travelling exhibits.

45 Forks Market Road, 204-924-4000 childrensmuseum.com

There’s so much high-flying fun at parties held at the Royal Aviation Museum of Western Canada. For $160, a party host takes up to 20 guests (children and adults) on a tour of the hangar, where they get to check out planes and helicopters. Then it’s off to the private party room, where a host leads kids through an activity, such as making paper planes or rockets. After serving food and cake (provided by the parents) and opening presents, it’s time for the host to take the kids to the Skyways Interactive Gallery, where they get to explore a four-seater plane with a cockpit, a wind tunnel and other fun flight-related props. After the 2 1/2-hour party is over, everyone is welcome to stay and take in the rest of the museum.

958 Ferry Road, 204-786-0730 wcam.mb.ca

Let your child and his friends get creative at an art party at Paradise Found Art School. Staff will plan an activity that suits the birthday child’s interests, whether it’s traditional painting or a craft. For $350, up to 10 children will be led through an art project for about 1 1/2 hours that they can take home. For the final 30 minutes, it’s time to enjoy food and open presents.

565 Academy Road, 204-488-5944 paradiseart.ca

Whether your child is a cat’s-meow person or a hot-diggity-dog fan, she will have so much fun at a birthday party at The Winnipeg Humane Society. Kids ages three and up will get to tour the shelter, learn all about how the animals are cared for and get a chance to interact with them, too. Parties cost $175 and include exclusive use of the party room. Parents are welcome to bring in any nut-free foods they’d like to serve to guests.

45 Hurst Way, 204-982-2046 winnipeghumanesociety.ca

Anyone can host a full-of-fun party for kids at one of the four YMCA-YWCA Winnipeg locations. As of September 5, there is new pricing and two options to choose from. A two-hour party with access to a private room, a staff member to help with setup, meet and greet and cleanup, use of the play structure (at locations that have this feature) or swimming pool and exclusive use of half the gym costs $150 for non-members for up to 10 kids. For the second option, which is also two hours long, you get a private party room, a staff member to help with the setup, greeting and cleanup, use of the swimming pool and one of three activities: a sports package filled with scooter games or soccer, a kids’ Zumba class or Sky’s the Limit (where the kids get to play on an inflatable bouncer, a mini-trampoline and jump-and-tumble equipment). The non-member cost is $225 for up to 15 kids.

ywinnipeg.ca

Three entertaining birthday options for kids are available at Assiniboine Park: a party at the Assiniboine Park Zoo’s engaging Tundra Grill & Polar Playground, which also includes admission to the rest of the zoo; a pirate or nature party at the Qualico Family Centre’s light-filled Acorn Activity Room; or a picnic site at Assiniboine Park for a birthday bash that the staff can cater, if you’d like. Prices range from $45 for rental of a picnic site to up to $275 for a private party room at the family centre.

55 Pavilion Crescent,
204-927-6060 assiniboinepark.ca

Celebrate your child’s birthday by letting him and his friends bounce away to their hearts’ content at this indoor trampoline park. All four birthday packages include one hour of jump time, followed by 40 minutes in a private party room to enjoy pizza and drinks, which are also part of the package. Other food options are available, too, for an extra fee. Parents can bring in cake, cupcakes or ice cream for their guests to enjoy, but no other outside food is allowed. Prices start at $189 for up to 10 jumpers and go as high as $559 for the Supreme Air Package, which lets 25 kids boing away in a private open jump or on a dodgeball court.

200–400 Fort Whyte Way, 204-888-5867 skyzone.com

Kid City is an indoor play centre that caters to kids who are toddler age and up. There is a separate area in the three-level play area exclusively for young ones that features a double mini-slide and a moonwalk climb, as well as tons of slides, a trolley glide and more for older kids. There’s a new laser maze at Kid City, too. Parents can choose from three party packages that start at $160 for unlimited play time for eight kids (including the birthday child). All of the options include a private room and a host. No outside food and drink is allowed, but pizza and pop are part of every package. For an extra fee, you can add a theme—Frozen, Disney Princess or Superheroes—to the party’s decor.

550 Archibald Street, 204-772-9000 801 Century Street, 204-772-9226 kidcitywinnipeg.ca

Wave slides, spiral slides and obstacle courses are all part of the multi-level climbing structure at Great Big Adventure. There is a special toddler area for younger birthday kids. And older birthday boys and girls can get a game of hockey going in the mini-sticks area with all their friends. This indoor playground has three party packages available, starting at $145 for pizza, pop, three hours of play and 45 minutes in a private party room for up to 10 kids. 

960 Lorimer Boulevard, 204-505-4935 greatbigadventure.ca

Kids ages three to 11 whose birthdays land in summer or fall can celebrate their birthdays at Deer Meadow Farms. Here, they can visit animals at the petting zoo (including BunnyVille, a little village made of bunny-size buildings), get lost in the corn maze (depending on the time of year) and enjoy a hot dog in the barn. The meal is included in the package price, which is available for $16 per child. Parents are allowed to bring in birthday cake, but no other outside food is permitted. Group rates are an option if you plan to invite more than 20 little ones. For $3 per child, you can add a pony ride for kids between ages two and six, 60 pounds and lighter. Note: The farm closes for the season at the end of October.

21 155 Springfield Rd, 204-224-2517 (call: 204-224-1824 in off-season) dearmeadowfarms.com

Read more: 3 best indoor playgrounds in Winnipeg> Birthday party ideas: 8 fun indoor themes for kids> Birthday party etiquette>