Kids party ideas - help me escape another princess party

[Peskytooth]

DD is going to be 6 in October. Last year was a year of attending kids parties in community centres with princesses or entertainers in attendance. All good fun but very repetitive. any ideas of something a bit different?

I have two girls and managed all parties without a single princess or entertainer!

Why not a climbing wall? Or if nice we’ve had parties in the park with a picnic

Fav one was a messy play party in the garden with wills of wallpaper and paint.

We also had a quiet corner with Lego.

We also went kite flying one year - which turned out really well!

I always give my kids the choice of a big whole class party in a local hall or a smaller one either doing an activity at home or taking a few friends to do something more expensive. I love doing themed parties at home but perhaps I am strange!
At home - theme around a favourite book or character, build a bear (kits around £10-12 do not venture near hell-hole shop) cooking party (pizza or decorating cupcakes, craft party (kits from Baker Ross) movie night.
Actuvity - clip and climb, swimming, gymnastics.

I also came to suggest a climbing wall. We've also done funfair and mini golf in previous years. Both were really popular with the kids.
Catering was chips and ice cream

Parties we have done/been to at that sort of age

Climbing
Entertainer (but more party games & running about than princess)
Magician
Gymnastics
Arts & Crafts
Bouncy castle

Oh yeah and softplay !

Sports party at leisure centre or ours does an inflatable party? Not horrendous on price (although need to self cater)

Cooking, swimming, afternoon tea, pizza and mocktails, cake decorating, matilda theme with film, Harry potter at home escape room (download from etsy - there are millions of themes for all ages), doughnuts at the ski slope, Pottery painting and decopatch at a local place

Cardboard box party. We did this for my DC's last party and it was great fun. Clean up was easy too - just popped most of the mess in the recycling. I'm plugging it on all the party threads 😂.

Invited to a reptile party. It was like a mobile zoo thing who bought a selection of reptiles for children to handle. Massive hit with the boys & girls. Perfect princess antidote (although several still came in princess dresses)