25 Great Places to Host a Kids Birthday Party in Washington DC

Kids love the animals and Washington DC's premier zoological park is a great place for a birthday party. For children ages 4-8, FONZ (Friends of the National Zoo) will provide an indoor party room and expert tour guides. Parties are held Saturdays and Sundays from 10 a.m. to noon, subject to availability. See the details for planning a FONZ party

Read More About Visiting the National Zoo

Petting Zoos in the DC Area

• Leesburg Animal Park – Leesburg, VA. The 21-acre petting zoo offers wagon and pony rides, live animal shows, llamas, donkeys, sheep, goats, monkeys, lemurs, parrots, giant tortoises, and more.
  
  
• Reston Zoo - Vienna, VA. The 30-acre zoo in the heart of Fairfax County offers a chance for kids to get "up close and personal" with the animals and feed them too!
  
  
• Catoctin Wildlife Preserve & Zoo – Thurmont, MD. The small zoo in Frederick County offers a variety of animals and an easy venue for kids parties.

In a dark, foggy haze of twisting hallways and platforms, birthday party guests play a team tag game, shooting one another with lasers. Score is kept electronically. Shadowland has 5 locations in the Washington, DC area: Gaithersburg, Frederick and Columbia, MD and Springfield and Chantilly, VA. This is a great party option for older kids and even adults. Read more about Shadowland

Alternative

• Ultrazone Laser Tag - Locations in Falls Church and Sterling, VA.

The Washington DC area has a wonderful variety of theaters with performances for kids including puppet shows, fairy tales, popular stories, musicals and children's classics. All of them offer birthday party packages and will help you plan a special celebration for your child.

The Washington DC area has many ice skating rinks that offer special birthday party packages ranging from hockey to Princess themed parties. Most rinks include a private party room for 1 hour, a party host/hostess, admission to the public skate session, skate rentals, party supplies, food and more.

Got a child who is a baseball fan? The local ballpark is a great place to host a birthday party. Nationals Park has a family picnic area that is ideal for small groups and the Family Fun Area is a kids-oriented play area that features interactive games including the Exxon Strike Zone, Build-A-Bear Workshop, GEICO Racing Presidents, and Jungle Gym. Read more about Nationals Park

Minor League Baseball Stadiums in the DC Area

• Camden Yards - Baltimore Orioles, Baltimore, MD.
  
  
• Harry Grove Stadium - Frederick Keys, Frederick, MD.
  
  
• Prince George's Stadium - Bowie Baysox, Bowie, MD.
  
  
• Pfitner Stadium - Potomac Nationals, Woodbridge, VA.

Skelterama lets kids drive their own karts around a racetrack, or for more timid kids, share a double go kart. There are no official "birthday party" arrangements here, but there are outdoor picnic tables and guests are welcome to bring their own party food. Located in Bladensburg, MD. Read more about Skelterama

More Go Kart Tracks

• Adventure Park - New Market, MD.
  
  
• Central Park Funland - Fredericksburg, VA

Ceramic painting parties are fun for kids and adults. The party host chooses several ceramic pieces for their guests to choose among; the guests each select a piece to finish; and with the paints and glazes provided, they finish their piece. The pottery is left at the studio for firing and is ready for pickup a few days later. Rules regarding food vary according to location.

Paint-Your-Own Pottery Studios

• Color Me Mine - Gaithersburg, Rockville, Silver Spring, MD and Fairfax, VA.
  
  
• All Fired Up - Washington DC and Bethesda, MD.
  
  
• Amazing Art Studio - Gaithersburg, MD.
  
  
• Mud Hut - Olney, MD.
  
  
• Fireworks Art Cafe - Damascus, MD.
  
  
• Paint Your Own Pottery - Fairfax, VA.
  
  
• Clay Cafe - Chantilly, VA.
  
  
• Earth, Glaze, Fire - Warrenton, VA.

The Western theme park in New Market, Maryland has Go Karts, mini golf, bumper boats, laser tag, ropes course, rock wall, water wars, moon bounce, paintball, soft play playground, arcade games, carousel, and tea cups. Located about 40 miles north of Washington, DC.

The gymnastics centers in the Washington DC area offer non competitive tumbling and gymnastics programs for kids of all ages. They also offer birthday parties with age-appropriate games and fun activities, rides, songs, puppets and more. Details very by location.

The national park for the performing arts is a great place for a birthday party. Performances for kids are held at the Adventure Theatre and the Puppet Company. Groups can explore nature with hands on activities at the Living Classrooms of the National Capital Region. There's also a historic carousel and a variety of special workshops can be tailored to your needs. Private party rooms and picnic areas are available. Read more about Glen Echo Park.

See More Birthday Party Places on Pages 2 and 3