Kids' birthday parties
Backyard carnival
Bounce house, popcorn and midway games
See the setup, games and rentals
Kids' birthday parties ideas
Kids' birthday parties: themes, setups and activities
A good kids' party has one big attraction, a treat station and somewhere for parents to sit. The ideas below pair a theme with games and props you can make at home, and the rentals that do the heavy lifting.
Themes
3 kids' party themes
Each theme lists a palette, decor, setups, activities, props and the rentals with live prices.
Kids' birthday parties
Little explorers safari
Soft play, scavenger hunt and jungle greens
See the setup, games and rentals
Kids' birthday parties
Backyard movie night
A big screen, popcorn and blankets
See the setup, games and rentals
Setup ideas
How to set up a kids' party
Layouts for backyards, tents and indoor rooms, with the rentals each one takes.
- 1
Backyard play zone
Backyard
Bounce house at the far end, kids' tables in the middle, a canopy with adult seating near the house. Keep the inflatable 5 feet from fences and away from overhead lines.
- 2
Indoor party room
Indoors
Soft play on a mat for under-fives, a craft table and a cake table. Check ceiling height before booking any inflatable indoors.
- 3
Park pavilion party
Park
Many Chicago Park District shelters have picnic tables; bring canopies for shade, yard games and a cooler station.
Activities, games and props
Things to do at a kids' party
Bounce house
The main event for ages 3 to 10.
Rent: Bounce house ($291.50)
Treat station
Cotton candy, snow cones or popcorn made fresh.
Rent: Cotton candy machine ($60.50), Snow cone machine ($60.50), Popcorn machine ($82.50)
Giant yard games
Connect four, Jenga and ring toss for older kids.
Rent: Yard game ($27.50)
Craft table
Decorate a crown, a cape or a cookie. A 6-foot table covered in kraft paper is plenty.
Rent: 6' banquet table ($11.55), Kids' chair ($3.30)
Treasure hunt
Hide clues around the yard; finish at the cake.
DIY: no rental needed
Freeze dance
A speaker and a playlist; the last one moving wins.
Rent: Portable PA system ($110)
Questions
Kids' birthday parties FAQs
How many kids' chairs and tables do I need?
One kids' chair per child and one kids' table per six. Add adult chairs for about half the parents.
Is a bounce house safe in a backyard?
On level grass with stakes, away from fences, trees and power lines, with an adult supervising and no more kids inside than the unit's limit. Inflatables come down in winds over about 15 to 20 mph.
Can I rent a cotton candy or snow cone machine for a kids' party?
Yes. Both are in our catalog and plug into a standard outlet. Supplies (sugar, cones, syrups) are usually sold separately by the rental company.
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Pick chairs, tables, linens, dinnerware and more, see live prices, and we line up Chicago's best rental houses for your date.
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