9 great birthday party places in Ottawa

Many kids love creatures, and if your child is among that group, then one of the three birthday-party packages at Little Ray’s will thrill her to bits. The first two packages, which are for 15 guests, offer a 45-minute tour of the zoo to see such reptiles as alligators and snakes as well as watch a feeding demonstration. Then, it’s time for refreshments and cake in the private party room. Parents who book the first package for $175 can bring in any nut-free food they like. The second package, which costs $350, includes pizza, drinks, cake, supplies, and other extras like a take-home gift for the kids. Both parties end with a hands-on animal presentation. Little Ray’s also offers a flashlight tour option for $450, which includes 30 minutes to see zoo creatures, then refreshments and cake in the party room (food is provided), followed by a presentation on nocturnal animals by your zookeeper. The whole thing is capped off by a tour in the dark with flashlights and a special finale where party guests get to see the American alligators being fed.

5305 Bank St., 613-822-8924 raysreptiles.com

Ahoy, it’s party time! If you want to make a big splash for your child’s next birthday, then Pirate Adventures Mooney’s Bay has four fantastic options for you. All parties include 75 minutes of sailing on a pirate ship—complete with singing, dancing, fighting Pirate Pete and hunting for treasure—one-hour use of a decorated party tent after the trip, face painting, pirate costumes for dress-up and a gift for the birthday child. Packages start at $429 for 20 guests with food provided by you, and go up to $949 for exclusive use of the boat for up to 40 guests, drinks, a visit with Captain Terrible, loot bags, themed table settings and cake. Pirate Adventures sails daily from May 23 until Labour Day, then on weekends in September and sometimes, depending on the weather, the first weekend in October.

Ship docked at: Mooney’s Bay, 588 Hog’s Back Rd., 613-859-5199 pirateadventuresottawa.com

Little flyers aged three to 12 can celebrate their special day at the Canadian Aviation and Space Museum. There are four themes to choose from, including Airmail Delivery, where kids aged three to five can check out the museum’s aircraft collection and pick which plane would be best to deliver the mail, and the Mission: Space Party, where kids ages seven to 10 get to wear space gear, try space food and try their hand at the Spacewalk Obstacle Course. The cost ranges from $239 to $259 and is for up to 12 children. This price includes the activities, cake, juice and balloons.

11 Aviation Parkway, 613-991-3044 ingeniumcanada.org

All seven Ottawa-area Tiny Hoppers locations offer two birthday party packages set in their colourful and engaging play centres, which are filled with soft climbers and tons of fun gym equipment for little kids. Both parties are 90 minutes long, and offer tunnel-play time, activities led by an instructor, refreshments provided by the parents and then playtime in the gym. The first option is a movement-and-music party for kids ages one to four based on a theme chosen by you. The second is a custom party where parents and children choose the games from a pre-selected list. This version is a favourite of kids age four and up. You can contact the centre closest to you for pricing.

tinyhoppers.ca

For $250, up to 20 children get to learn karate kicks and punches, play games and activities, enjoy pizza and drinks and the birthday cake gets cut with a sword! Pro-Style parties also include a host and introductory-course gift certificates for the guests. If you have something extra-special in mind, a custom party is also an option.

101 Schneider Rd., Kanata., 613-599-5959 prostylekarate.com

Exploring the multi-level jungle-gym, clambering up the climbing wall and racing through the Lazer Frenzy game are just some of the options for kids celebrating a birthday at Funhaven. Three party packages are offered. FunHaven offers plenty of all-day play for $300. The other options are the Ultimate and Premium packages, which include access to attractions, as well as fresh-baked pizza, drinks, a build-your-own frozen-yogurt sundae and a host for $500 or $400. If you have younger children who want to be part of the fun too, kids aged zero to three get to play for free in the jungle-gym and the special toddler area. All of the packages can be adjusted to accommodate larger or smaller groups, and parents are allowed to bring their own cake as long as it’s nut-free.

1050 Baxter Rd., Ottawa, 613-828-4386 funhaven.com

Kids age one and up can celebrate a birthday at this City of Ottawa recreation centre, and there are a ton of choices. Toddlers can get their groove on with a dance party, children aged seven and older can team up with their buddies to compete in games in the Extreme Survivor party, and there are pirate, princess and superhero-themed parties, a special preschool party, sports parties and more. Each celebration includes a host, a room that’s been decorated and all supplies for crafts and games. Parents provide refreshments and cake, cutlery, plates and napkins. Parties are not offered in July and August. Prices vary, depending on the type of party, but range from $118 for a toddler party for 10 guests to $329 for a speciality party for 20 guests.

1701 Woodroffe Ave., 613-580-2424 ext. 21236 ottawa.ca

Your little gymnast will flip over a birthday at one of three Starr Gymnastics locations. Each party includes one hour of fun at five gymnastics stations led by a Starr instructor, a group photo and a T-shirt for the birthday kid. You can also choose a package that includes access to a party room for refreshments and cake, which are supplied by the parents (as are the decorations). For 10 guests it’s $175; for 20 guests it’s $250.

1140 Morrison Dr., Nepean 2766 Lancaster Rd., Ottawa 520 Lacolle Way, Orléans 613-721-4868 starrgymnastics.com

There are three options for parties at the Canadian Children’s Museum at the Canadian Museum of History. your little explorer (age four to seven) can learn about how cultures across the globe celebrate special occasions with the Around the World! party, which includes lessons in Nigerian drumming, Japanese origami and a traditional Mexican folk dance. In the Scene-Stealers party, kids aged three to eight can find out all about the theatre by dressing up in costumes, trying out theatrical make-up and then playing theatre games. Guests will also get a tour of the museum’s theatre and be shown how the lighting and sound systems work. Both of these parties also include one hour in a private party room to enjoy refreshments and open gifts. (These options cost $190 for 10 kids and two adults.) Lastly, there is the DIY party option, where guests get admission to the museum and one hour in the party room. (For 10 children and two adults, this costs $100.) Parents can bring in food and drink or order off of the museum’s catering menu.

100 Laurier St., Gatineau, Que., 819-776-7014 historymuseum.ca

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