As the hustle and bustle of the holiday season winds down, instead of relaxation, our family transitions to birthday season. With both of our boys having birthdays in January, we start the planning well before Christmas just to make sure things do not catch us unaware. Each year, we lament the same fact that it is rather difficult to enjoy a birthday outdoors in Chicago and quickly nix our ideas for an outside barbecue luau. Instead, we have to get a bit creative with our party locale since having two winter birthdays can sometimes cause a wee bit of claustrophobia. Here are some great ideas for hosting a birthday party in the south suburbs:
Goldfish Swim School
This bright and colorful family swim center in Burr Ridge is not only perfect for swim lessons, but great to host a birthday party! With open swim time and a beautiful backdrop, Goldfish Swim School promises to make your event extra special. Families will love changing it up and you’ll feel like you’ve taken your winter birthday parties to the beach this season!
Oak Lawn Racquet Center
The Center is home to the park district’s very popular gymnastics program offering gymnastics and tumbling classes for boys and girls. In addition to its wide-range offering of birthday parties, the Center also offers birthday party packages to encourage kids to get all that energy out through tumbling and gymnastics moves! We attended a birthday party there last year and definitely put this location on our list for future events.
Odyssey Fun World
This four-level soft playland in Tinley Park has a myriad of activities for kids of all ages. A maze of tubes, laser tag, video games, bowling and indoor family thrill rides. Also featuring bumper boats, mini-golf, paddle boats, go-karts and batting cages outdoors. There are a variety of birthday and group packages available to suit your party needs.
Children’s Museum of Oak Lawn
Located right near the Oak Lawn Metra station stop on 95th street, this hidden gem of family activities will create the perfect way to escape the winter cold and beat the stay-in-the-house doldrums. Two levels of fun for all ages, the Museum is a local find that provides plenty of entertainment without breaking the bank. My sons, Charlie and Jack, love the real-life grocery store, the performance theater and the tree house climber! With a variety of birthday party packages for your budget, the Museum is the perfect location to host your next family party.
