Birthday Parties

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Birthday Parties

All Birthday parties at The Children’s Museum include the following advantages:

An Expert Party Guide, to lead you and your guests in the many exciting activities that you have planned for your party
A Private Party Room for your cake and celebration and for the special demonstrations included in your package
A Tour of your favorite exhibit areas in The Children's Museum, customized by your party guide on the day of your party:
- Kids’ Corner
- Idea Zone
- United Technologies Wildlife Sanctuary
- Excavation Station: Dinosaurs, Rocks & Fossils
Free All Day Admission to explore The Children's Museum on the day of the party
A Science Dome Planetarium Show for all children attending the party
A Free Return Pass for each child at your party to come back and visit another day

Little Hands

This party is just for the little ones. Create an animal craft, listen to a story, and meet an animal (for ages 2-5 years).

Your Party Includes:

12 children and 8 adults (see Extra Guests)
30-minute private room celebration
Craft activity, story, and animal demonstration (see Common Questions)
15-minute exploration of one exhibit area
Science Dome Planetarium Show

Price
Members: $225
Non-Members: $250
(It pays to become a Member.)

Fossil Fun

Ever wonder how fossils ended up in the ground? Learn all about it and even create your own to take home (for ages 4-10).

Your Party Includes:

12 Children and 4 Adults (see Extra Guests)
30-minute private room celebration
Special demonstration including a take home "Dino Fossil" and a private visit with an animal of your choice (see Common Questions)
Guided museum tour of 2 exhibit rooms
Science Dome Planetarium Show

Price:
Members: $225
Non-Members: $250
(It pays to become a Member.)

The Museum Experience Party

Enjoyed by hundreds of party-goers, our traditional party package maintains its popularity year after year (all ages).

Your Party Includes:

12 children and 4 adults (see Extra Guests)
30-minute private room celebration
Private animal demonstration (see Common Questions)
Guided museum tour of 3 exhibit rooms
Science Dome Planetarium Show

Price:
Members: $180
Non-Members: $200
(It pays to become a Member.)

Extra Guests

With the exception of the “Private Party” package, the maximum number of children at a party is 22.
Each additional child (over the number included in your package) costs $8, due on the day of your party.
A large party fee of $35 is charged to your birthday package, if 18 or more children attend the party.
You may want to consider a “Private Party" package (below), allowing up to 25 children without extra fees.
There are no charges for extra adults attending your party. However, you will be charged for any additional adults (over the number included in your package) if they wish to attend the planetarium show on the day of the party.

Private Parties (Sunday Mornings Only)

Did you know that your special party can be held before we open to the public? You and your guests can enjoy The Children's Museum from 9:30am to 11:30am before we open for our regular museum hours. We are limited to two private parties each Sunday morning. We suggest you book well in advance as these times fill up quickly.

Private Museum Experience Party
Included in this package is:

30 minutes in a private party room for cake and private celebration
Animal demonstration
Guided tour of the museum
11:00 Science Dome Planetarium Show

Price:
Members: $320
Non-Members: $350
(It pays to become a Member.)

Private Activity Party
This party includes one of the special themes listed above (Little Hands, or Fossil Fun) for 25 children and 25 adults.

Included in your private party:

30 minutes in a private party room for cake and private celebration
Guided tour of the museum
Animal demonstration
11:00 Science Dome show
Special activities based on the theme (Little Hands, Fossil Fun)

Price:
Members: $350
Non-Members: $375
(It pays to become a Member.)

Party Times

Saturdays and Sundays

9:30am-11:30am (11:00am Science Dome Planetarium Show)
- On Sundays, this time slot is only available for a Private Party
12:30pm-2:30pm (2:00pm Science Dome Planetarium Show)
3:00pm-5:00pm (4:30pm Science Dome Planetarium Show)

Common Questions

Which animals can be selected for the private demonstration?
In general, the birthday child can choose from the following list: bullfrog, chinchilla, cockroach, ferret, lizard, snake, and turtle.

Does The Children's Museum offer birthday cake or paper goods?
You supply your own food and other items. We recommend that refreshments be kept simple to allow guests to enjoy them in the 30 minutes allotted for private room celebration. Afternoon parties receive a list of places that will deliver pizza to your party.

What does the "party room" consist of?
The private room is a classroom containing four 3’ x 8’ tables that each seat eight people and one table for serving. Typical rectangular plastic tablecloths measuring 54" x 108" can be purchased at any party store.

What about decorations?
We supply one “Happy Birthday” banner for the room. You may decorate your party room with streamers or balloons to a reasonable extent. Keep in mind: you and your guests are only in the room for a short time. For safety precautions, piñatas and confetti are not allowed.

What time should we arrive?
The hosts have access to the party room 15 minutes prior to the start of the party to set up. Guests should arrive a few minutes before the party time. Parties must begin on time to allow for all scheduled activities.

Does The Children's Museum offer gift bags for the parties?
YES! We can customize gift bags for any party with items from our Explore Store gift shop. Our guest relations staff will be happy to help coordinate the perfect selection to complement your party theme and pick out the ideal items for a terrific goodie bag. Can’t make up your mind? We can give your guests “Explore Store Dollars” for their own personal shopping spree. Place your order at least three days before your party. Full payment is due upon ordering.

To Book Your Party

Call (860) 231-2830, ext. 44 or email events@thechildrensmuseumct.org at least two weeks in advance. All dates, times, and packages are subject to availability. We offer two options for party payment:

Pay the full package price upon booking your party
Pay a $100 deposit upon booking with the remainder due on the day of the party

With either option, payment for Extra Guests is due on the day of your party.

Refund / Cancellation Policy:

$100 out of your full party payment is a non-refundable, non-transferable deposit/processing fee.
The remainder of your party payment is refundable if we are given a minimum of two full weeks notice.
If cancellation is done within two weeks of the party date, no refunds are given due to the loss of another booking during your chosen slot.
There is an additional $50 charge for rescheduling the date or time of your party.

Forms of Payment:

We accept MasterCard, Visa, check, money order or cash. Deposits may be paid over the phone or dropped off at our admissions desk during museum hours, or send a check payable to The Children's Museum to: The Children's Museum, 950 Trout Brook Drive, West Hartford, CT 06119, Attention: Registration Department.

Personal checks will not be accepted for any payment on the day of your party. MasterCard, Visa, money order or cash will be accepted.

In Case Of Bad Weather

If The Children's Museum is closed due to bad weather, the weekend manager will notify all party hosts by telephone the morning of your party, and will refer you back to the Registration Department for refunds or rescheduling. If we are open and you prefer not to have your party, we will do our best to reschedule, but no refunds will be given.