Child’s 6th birthday party and dilemma about the venue.

[ToffeeTea]

So my LO has his 6th birthday next year and I have started to research things slowly.
Realistically I have 3 options:

Venue A is where literally everyone goes. It’s in our town, a walking distance,close to school so it’s accessible both to those who’s driving and who’s not. It’s your typical soft place with party/host/food package.

Venue B is a soft play in also local leisure centre. It offers only soft play, no outside food allowed, no hosts nothing, basically just run around for 2 hours with friends. Also cheapest

Venue C which I guess like more is in a neighbouring town - about 25min drive from school. It’s a combo trampoline and soft play party with food, party host, party room etc. It’s 45 min trampoline and 45 soft play + 30 min for food but I’m worried that the distance would put a lot of parents off. I’m planning around 12ish kids maybe. Most expensive one but not by lot .

Help, which one would you choose!!

Yes that's true. It was probably when they were bigger.

A or B, if B is in between meal times and the kids are given cake in party bags to eat on the way home?

25 min drive is a pain in the arse, yeah you can lift share but that’s more admin for parents.

My kids have been to parties all over the place, I’ve always been fine with a bit of a drive. I would go for the one you like the best which seems to be C and the people you invite can chose to go or not! It doesn’t sound like A will be very exciting for your LO if they go all the time and I hate soft play in leisure centres as they are always boiling, I wouldn’t have a party without food either.

C does sound more fun. We've only been to one party that was walking distance! Most around the 15 minute drive mark but some a bit further too.

We had a parent earlier this year that text the parents of children her DC would most want there well in advance to see if we'd be able to make it, before booking it and sending out the invitation, you could always test the waters that way.

Go for D. An hour is about right for a very active party. They often burn out by that time if it’s trampolining.

You are in the grey area re drop-offs so if you want parents to stay, make that clear or you’ll be frazzled looking after lots of kids on the trampolines, some of which will inevitably bang into each other.

C or D. Most people round our way are used to driving around 30 minutes. Some lift share. But that’s just due to where we live.

B - no due to no food.
A - sounds boring if they’ve been there lots.

eta - more people might come if it’s a bit differnt?

I don't get why you can't just choose an option OP. They're all fine apart form the one with no food.

Evening, OP. Hope you don't mind but we've moved this over to Chat as there wasn't really an AIBU in your OP.