If the thought of another Chuck E. Cheese or Bounce U party has you less excited than doing a load of laundry, look no further because we’ve put on our party hats thinking caps to pull together 10 unique kids birthday party ideas in New Jersey for you. From a surf’s up beach party and fitness fun bus to a chill yoga spa party and a mini-pirate’s day at sea, this will be an epic kids birthday for the books – and you’ll go down in history as one of the cool moms, we guarantee it.
Here are some of our fave unique kids birthday party ideas in NJ
1. Tumble on a bus during their birthday bash
Party peeps, holla! Hop aboard the Fun Bus for a unique kids birthday party full of fitness fun – on wheels! Bring the tumbling right outside your home (or any place that can accommodate at least four parking spaces) for your next birthday – test your child’s agility with an obstacle course around the Fun Bus that includes climbing, swinging, and jumping on a mini trampoline. Special “George of the Jungle” hanging rope games and an exit door slide will surely have all the kids acting like wild little monkeys! Fun Bus birthday parties are one hour long and are for ages 2 to 8.
Fun Bus
Serving Old Bridge, Matawan, Marlboro, Morganville, Hazlet, Aberdeen & Monroe. For other locations, go here.
732-441-0232
2. Hit the waves for a birthday to remember
Hang ten! Girls just wanna have fun and what better way to celebrate the bond of sisterhood than a surf-themed birthday party with Pink Pineapple Surf in Manasquan. This all-girls surf camp run by girls for girls brings the aloha spirit to New Jersey by providing a place where girls can learn to surf together – and their Pink Pineapple Birthday Parties are the hit of the summer. These unique sunset beach parties are only for girls, though, so be sure to gather up all your daughter’s best gal pals for a chill time. Kick back and relax because Pink Pineapple Surf will provide everything you need for an amazing surf party – soft top surfboards, rash guards, a 10×10 tent filled with Hawaiian party flags, pink beach chairs, and pineapple sarongs. No beach party is complete without beach rock music and life-size pineapple and unicorn tubes for fun photo opps. Shell jewelry making or painting your very own surf art are also part of the beach fun.
Pink Pineapple Surf
Beach location (GPS): 368 1st Ave., Manasquan, NJ 08376
3. Take your birthday dessert to next-level epicness
Move aside, birthday sheet cakes, and make room for next-level dessert epicness. If milkshakes with huge poufs of cotton candy, marshmallows, gummies, chocolate, and sprinkles are your thing, then what better way to celebrate another year than with Coney Waffle’s fully customizable sweets options? The Coney Waffle mobile team can travel to you and sweeten up the day – try the famous Side Show Shake station, Waffles and Ice Cream bar, or Candy and Chocolate favor table; any of these are sure to make the birthday child’s wildest dessert dreams come true!
Coney Waffle
Multiple store locations: Pier Village, Asbury Park, Red Bank
4. Party like a wacky scientist
If E = mc2, then Liberty Science Center in Jersey City has the perfect secret formula guaranteed to turn your child’s birthday into a wacky science blast. When you throw a Wacky Scientist Birthday Party at Liberty Science Center, you won’t have to lift a finger to decorate because they will deck out the party room like a mad scientist’s laboratory. Geek out over fun science activities, including your choice of creating fossilized dinosaur eggs to bring home to hatch, creating straw rockets, make your own slime, and more! Snacks, games, and cake are included, and you can choose to add extra special touches like themed goody bags and a live planetarium show. Of course, once you hang up your mad scientist lab coat, you have free admission to explore Liberty Science Center.
Liberty State Park – Liberty Science Center
222 Jersey City Blvd., Jersey City, NJ 07305
5. Cook up the tastiest birthday party ever
Masterchef Junior wannabes will want to spice things up with a children’s cooking birthday party at Taste and Technique Cooking Studio in Fair Haven. Taste and Technique Kid’s Party Package includes a 2-hour hands-on cooking class, a delicious full meal (including birthday dessert!), all ingredients and drink and recipe cards to take home. Let your taste buds do the talking and choose from a variety of exciting birthday themes, each with its own unique menu: Want to go South of the border and have a Mexican Fiesta? Maybe your child is the black-tie type – try the Fancy Dinner Party complete with Caesar salad and shrimp scampi. Or if you prefer breakfast for dinner, egg strata and blueberry muffins will fuel the menu. The tasty possibilities are endless! Themed party favors like food recipe baskets and apron/chef hat sets are extra (but we think so worth it) to dish out a five-star fine birthday experience!
Taste and Technique Cooking Studio
597 River Rd., Fair Haven, NJ 07704
6. Set sail on the high seas and search for sunken birthday treasure
Ahoy, me hearties! If Captain Hook and Blackbeard are in your child’s wheelhouse, head to the high seas for a pirate themed kids birthday party with Jersey Shore Pirates in Brick. Before setting sail aboard the famed Sea Gypsy II on an exciting swashbuckling adventure at sea, your mini crew will get their faces painted, dressed up in pirate vests and sashes, and learn to talk just like a real pirate. Before you know it, your mini-mate will be “Arrr-ing” and “Aye-ing” like the best of ‘em. Watch them battle the enemy Pirate Pete, man a water cannon, raise the battle flag and hoist sunken treasure from the high seas.
Jersey Shore Pirates
Pier 281 Marina, 281 Princeton Avenue, Brick, NJ 08724
7. Build a Barnyard Birthday Friend
It’s like Build-A-Bear, but barnyard themed! Let your imagination mooooo at Abma’s Farm in Wyckoff when you have a unique Build a Barnyard Friend kids birthday party. Children will get to choose a stuffed farm animal to create (cows, pigs, and horses, oh my!), which will be brought to life by a magical stuffing machine. Of course, your new friend needs an outfit – choose from princess, baseball player, police officer, fairy, and more. Birthday party keepsake includes a birth certificate. After the birthday festivities, head outdoors to the petting zoo and feed the real farm animals and watch them play!
Abma’s Farm and Petting Zoo
700 Lawlins Road, Wyckoff, NJ 07481
8. Adventure underwater for an aquatic birthday party
Have a one-of-a-kind aquatic adventure party at Adventure Aquarium in Camden with over 8,500 species throughout two million gallons of water. Birthday child and friends will be surrounded by sharks, hippos, and penguins – all guaranteed to pique the little ones’ curiosity about the deep blue! Go along with the aquatic vibes and select from party themes like mermaid, pirates, penguins or Jaws. Everyone gets free admission into the Aquarium and also a special behind-the-scenes sneak peek of the Ocean Realm exhibit, where you will come face-to-face with over 400 animals like stingrays, hammerhead sharks, silky sharks, and more! Is there anything cooler than this?
Adventure Aquarium
1 Riverside Dr., Camden, NJ 08103
9. Get your zen on because you’re another year older, another year wiser
Gather up your little yogis and have a unique kids yoga birthday party at Firefly Yogis at their studio dedicated to kids and families in Rumson. Firefly Yogis teaches yoga, mindfulness, and meditation to kids in a playful, age-appropriate way at their studio. Choose from fun packages like a Yoga Craft Party, a Paint and Stretch Party, a Glow in the Dark Yoga Dance Party, and our personal fave – a Spa Yoga Party which ends with manis or pedis! Party guests will learn stretches and yoga poses. If you’d rather bring the zen to your home, a Firefly instructor will come to your home or venue of your choosing and bring all the supplies.
Firefly Yogis
113 East River Rd., Rumson, NJ 07760
10. Have an enchanted fairytale storybook ending
Children love to play dress up and pretend, so turn this make-believe into a dream come true with Bella Princess Fairy Tale Birthday Parties in Bloomfield. For one special day, your child can have an enchanted birthday experience with a princess or costumed character of their choice, along with custom décor and special touches to bring the elements of this fairy tale to life. Your littles will love the activities, storytelling, theme music, face painting, and did we mention the impressive costume collection? Choose from a wide range of party packages to fit your budget, but we think your kid’s most important decision will be whether to have Cinderella or Little Mermaid join the party! Parties can take place at Bella’s Pad or at your home, but if you want to go the full mile, choose a deluxe party package at The Oakeside Mansion in Bloomfield, a 19th-century private estate most fitting for a fairytale princess birthday party!
Bella Princess
98 Broad St., Bloomfield, NJ 07003
