Park party for kids: Throw an epic celebration with these expert tips

(Image: Getty Images)

Hosting a park party for kids? Don’t forget to BYO toilet paper!

By Janine Mergler

A party in a park is a brilliant way to celebrate a child’s birthday without breaking the bank or getting into an awkward battle of one upmanship of pricey party venues, with other parents. And we all know that kids love going to the park, so it is an easy solution that suits all budgets and families.

Parks come packed with great facilities – BBQs, playgrounds, toilets, and plenty of space for kids to burn off all that party sugar. With ample parking and shady spots, they’re the ultimate family-friendly party venue.

However, before you commit to a party in your local park, here are our 10 tips for making sure you have everything in place to make your party pop!

Expert tips for throwing a park party for kids

Do you need to book your park?

Hosting a party at a council park? You may need to book in advance, as the best parks and prime spots fill up quickly. Check your local council’s website to reserve your space and avoid last-minute surprises.

No booking? No problem!

If your park doesn’t require booking and you’re heading to a popular spot on the weekend, send someone ahead to claim your ideal location. Send Grandad ahead of time to sit at the gazebo/ BBQ table/ picnic area reading the newspaper until the main party arrive. His job? To fend off any other party spot seekers!

Will your party have a theme?

Planning a themed party with dinosaurs, fairy princesses, or Bluey or something else? Get organised early! Gather decorations, pack party favours, and sort out the cake – whether you bake or buy.

Careful planning makes all the difference, so pack everything securely for easy transport to the park on party day.

Toddler wearing party hat ready for her party in the park — If the park allows reservations, look into booking a space ahead of time. *(Image: Getty Images)*

Facilities at the park

You might find that your chosen park perfectly matches your theme, or you may pick a theme and then find a park that fits. Many parks offer facilities that spark creativity – think dragons, castles, planes, and rocket ships!

Other fun park party themes include ‘adventures,’ ‘fairies,’ ‘water play,’ or ‘pirates.’ Before you commit, make sure your park has working BBQs (check them beforehand, and book if needed), water fountains, proper toilets (you might need to BYO toilet paper), seating, and shade.

Decorating a park party for kids

Once you’ve picked your theme, decorating becomes easier. You can find plenty of themed decorations online or in stores. Grab banners, signs, paper plates, cups, party favor bags, and a tablecloth to match.

Since you’re outdoors, wind could mess with your decorations. Think about what you can use to weigh things down and keep them in place. Pack a ‘toolbox’ with string, zip ties, tape, scissors, and other essentials for hanging up your decor. And don’t forget – anything you put up, you’ll need to take down later.

Lastly, make sure you bring rubbish bags to keep the park tidy!

Young girl in a park holding balloons, ready for a party — Remember, any decorations you put up, must be taken down again. *(Image: Getty Images)*

Catering for your park party

When it comes to park party food, convenience is key due to transportation. It’s best to either pre-make the food at home or opt for items that can be easily cooked on a BBQ. Cold finger foods like mini sandwiches, slices, cupcakes, savory muffins, and pikelets are perfect choices. For hot options, nothing beats BBQ sausages, chicken kebabs, and mini meat patties with sauce.

Additionally, consider assigning someone else to handle the BBQ. After all, it’s impossible to cook and entertain guests at the same time!

Entertainment and outdoor party games

There is no end to the kinds of games you can play with kids during the party in the park. Here are some of our favourites to keep the kids entertained:

We love these:

Three-legged races
Potato sack races
Limbo
Tug-o-war
Hide and seek
Tiggy

Or just let them loose to play in the playground and make up their own games!

Do a reconnaissance drive-by a week prior

Just like checking the BBQs before the party, it’s a good idea to do a drive-by and walk-through the park the week before, on the same day and time. This will give you a sense of how busy the park might be. Is there enough parking? Is there ample shade? Is the playground fenced or close to the road? Are there any other events happening that you should be aware of?

This check will help you decide if you need to bring, or ask your guests to bring, additional seating, picnic rugs, or maybe even a pop-up shade tent. It will also give you a heads-up on potential traffic issues to warn your guests about.

Kids park party: Group of children wearing party hats — Before hosting a park party for kids, scout the area to check if the facilities are working and how crowded it gets.. (Image: Getty Images)

Wet weather plan

If the worst happens and it rains on the day of your party, make sure you have a wet weather plan in place. You have two options: 1) call off the party and reschedule for another day, or 2) move the party to an indoor venue. It’s smart to include this backup plan on the invitation and have everyone’s mobile phone numbers saved in your phone, just in case.

Once you make a decision, notify everyone as soon as possible to minimize disruption and keep things running smoothly.

Our final top for hosting an epic park party for kids? Enjoy yourself

Hosting any party can be stressful, but with a solid plan, a bit of help from family and friends, and following our tips, you’ll find that a park party can be one of the most affordable and fun ways to celebrate your child’s birthday!