Confession: I love friends, and gatherings, and celebrating — but as I begin my parenting journey, I’m really not looking forward to going to countless birthday parties. Call me a party pooper, but sitting around, having cake, and watching kids get overwhelmed just doesn’t sound like my idea of fun.
These sentiments put me in a conundrum as I considered what to do for my twins’ third birthdays. The answer wasn’t to not celebrate, but rather to incorporate a celebration into what our family and friends would likely be doing on a Saturday morning anyway.
And that’s how we ended up at Carkeek Park on a beautiful Saturday morning in March to celebrate our twins’ third birthdays.
Birthday party at a park: reserve a spot
You don’t need a reservation to have a party in a park, but if you want to ensure that you will have a spot, as well access to some undercover space (rain, anyone?), make a reservation through Seattle Parks and Recreation.
The website has a map of reservable parks, and includes a helpful chart listing price, capacity, covered options, park descriptions, and photos for each reservable site.
We chose a park that our family frequents, so we knew what to expect as we planned the party, such as the parking situation and proximity to play fields and playgrounds. If you want to host your party at a park you’ve never been to, use the website to get information, or perhaps schedule an outing to scope out the park before making your reservation (and have a fun park adventure along the way!).
When you’ve decided on a spot for your party, fill out an online application. Once you’ve confirmed your reservation, you’re all set!
On the day of our party, we didn’t have any other group want to use the space we reserved. I had the confirmation information in my email, though, in case we needed to show our reservation details to anyone.
This scavenger hunt was perfect for Carkeek Park but ended up not getting used as the kids in attendance found other ways to keep busy.
Birthday party at a park: agenda
Our party was extremely casual. We had no formal schedule: no singing, no presents and no structured games. We wanted people to gather, grab a treat and enjoy the park with friends. And we wanted folks to feel like they could come at any time during the party, explore the park, and stay for as long or little as they liked (we included these details in the invitation).
I did want to provide some activity options beyond playing at the playground, though. We brought sidewalk chalk, a soccer ball and ladder golf. A friend brought some hula hoops and flag balls. And I created a simple scavenger hunt for finding items around the park.
We used everything (except the scavenger hunt) at different times throughout the party. It seemed to work well to have these independent and self-paced activities instead of trying to gather folks for a formal game.
But it’s your party, so do whatever you like! I encourage you to think through the logistics beforehand: Perhaps let folks know about an agenda as they arrive, or have some method of communicating when you want everyone to gather, or choose to have your party in a smaller park if you want guests to stay close by.
Birthday party at a park: food and drink
Again, we kept it very simple. Their grandma and I made a few sweet treats; we picked up coffee boxes from the grocery store; and we brought tea bags and thermoses filled with hot water.
We made sure that there was always one party helper (in our case, Grandma or Grandpa) at the food table, using tongs to pass out goodies, answering questions about potential allergens and keeping any park critters away.
Hula hoops, sidewalk chalk and plenty of outdoor room to run: the perfect toddler birthday party!
Birthday party at a park: misc.
Unfortunately, one thing you can never plan is the weather. Rain was predicted all week ahead of our party, but we ended up with the most beautiful Saturday morning: blue skies and the Olympic mountains shining at us from across the Sound. The party was so much better because of the beautiful weather, but we had the undercover shelter in case it rained. As you plan your party, prepare for the worst weather situation, but hope for the best!
My daughter got a bit overwhelmed as the party wore on. I hadn’t brought anything for this situation, and was grateful that a guest had brought some books as a gift. We opened them, and she got some quiet reading time with Grandma as the party wound down. For a future event, I might bring an activity that kids can do if they need a little break from the larger group.
After years of missing out on group gatherings, it was so nice to have people together to celebrate. It seemed as if all of our guests, regardless of their personal pandemic protocols, were comfortable with the outdoor setting. Some wore masks; some did not. The pandemic was not on our mind as we enjoyed the blue skies and watched our kids run around the park.
Pandemic or not, our party at a park worked out just great. I wholeheartedly recommend it for your next birthday party!
Published April 18, 2022
More party fun:
Ideas for a COVID-safe celebration with family and friends
Tips for a birthday party for a child with autism or sensory sensitivity
