How kids party during COVID-19
Birthday Parade: Make some noise with the neighbors
Ask friends to decorate their cars to match the theme, serve dessert or bring in an ice cream truck, and work with the local fire and police departments to schedule a police escort.
Birthday Scavenger Hunt: Add excitement and creativity to that special day
Setup for a hunt through the house or outside to find gifts or the cake, for younger children, read the clues, draw pictures, or make simple clues to avoid frustration, there are lots of ideas online if you get stuck!
Restaurant at Home: Let your child set the menu
Cook your child’s favorite meal or order from their favorite restaurant, design, print, and decorate menus, decorate the table with candles, a centerpiece, and fancy dishes. Siblings can act as wait staff to give the experience a more authentic feel.
Virtual Birthday Greetings: record a video with birthday greetings
Invite friends, family, and teachers to participate, set a deadline, time limits, and video/camera requirements
Virtual Party: Spend time with friends and family onscreen
Send out invitations virtually or through the mail, your child can help write the invitations and address and decorate envelopes for a fun learning opportunity, decide what activities will take place. You may choose to do games, a craft, or a movie, consider sending a supply list to your guests or put together a kit for each guest and mail it, you could include a snack for the guests to enjoy together after singing to the guest of honor
Virtual Shopping: Shop together in your own home
Set a time where you will sit down together and let them shop online, give them a budget and any guidelines you may have, prepare their favorite drinks and treats or pickup from their favorite shop
While Covid has changed the way we celebrate, there are still lots of options for spending time together and having fun!
Ask friends to decorate their cars to match the theme, serve dessert or bring in an ice cream truck, and work with the local fire and police departments to schedule a police escort.
Birthday Scavenger Hunt: Add excitement and creativity to that special day
Setup for a hunt through the house or outside to find gifts or the cake, for younger children, read the clues, draw pictures, or make simple clues to avoid frustration, there are lots of ideas online if you get stuck!
Restaurant at Home: Let your child set the menu
Cook your child’s favorite meal or order from their favorite restaurant, design, print, and decorate menus, decorate the table with candles, a centerpiece, and fancy dishes. Siblings can act as wait staff to give the experience a more authentic feel.
Virtual Birthday Greetings: record a video with birthday greetings
Invite friends, family, and teachers to participate, set a deadline, time limits, and video/camera requirements
Virtual Party: Spend time with friends and family onscreen
Send out invitations virtually or through the mail, your child can help write the invitations and address and decorate envelopes for a fun learning opportunity, decide what activities will take place. You may choose to do games, a craft, or a movie, consider sending a supply list to your guests or put together a kit for each guest and mail it, you could include a snack for the guests to enjoy together after singing to the guest of honor
Virtual Shopping: Shop together in your own home
Set a time where you will sit down together and let them shop online, give them a budget and any guidelines you may have, prepare their favorite drinks and treats or pickup from their favorite shop
While Covid has changed the way we celebrate, there are still lots of options for spending time together and having fun!
Venues without EntertainmentBella Vista Winery (Maryville)
Spend a relaxing afternoon tasting delicious foods paired with our award-winning wines. Blum House (Collinsville) Available for rental for any occasion. Call the Collinsville Library at 618-344-1112 for information. Has Wifi. Crystal Garden (Edwardsville) A family owned and operated business. Custom packages. Three venues offer simple or adventurous, and unique or classic. Can provide a custom menu. Elijah P's (Alton) Downtown wedding and event venue with indoor event room, rustic outdoor lodge, and private parking. The Ink House (Edwardsville) Over 5,000 square feet of event space and additional lounge/gathering space. Olde Wicks Factory (Highland) Veteran owned historic event center. Features stained glass, chandeliers, and outdoor space. Three spaces. Also offers bridal suite. Old Herald Brewery and Distillery (Collinsville) Features craft spirits and beer made in-house paired with a fresh menu incorporating locally sourced ingredients. Large event space available. Family owned and operated. Post Commons (Alton) Can provide a capacity of 515 people. Three main spaces flow together for larger events, or rent individually. The Sanctuary on Main (Troy) A historic church with a unique experience for a wedding ceremony, event, meeting, or reception. The Studio (Glen Carbon) Available for events of any kind. Wow Furnishings and Event Center (Alton) A retail location displaying upcycled furniture and the home of beautiful weddings, receptions, and other events. We also considered playgrounds and parks. Venues with EntertainmentAlton Room Escape (Alton)
Has a conference room and kitchen facilities that can be used before, during, and after the adventure. Ages 10 and older are welcome (with an adult present). Reservations must be made in advance and are subject to availability. BRISTOW-PLEX (Alton) Glow in the dark nerf: $250 for 2 hour rental with nerf guns, safety goggles, nerf bullets, and glow in the dark vest. Facility Rental: $75 per hour Chocolate Affair (Highland) Parties for ages 5 to 12 to learn candy making basics. Groups of 6-15. Also offers adult tasting parties with candies, cake, and fondue. Beverages provided, Alcohol may be brought. Cornerstone Farms (Saint Jacob) A 1600 sq. foot deck with tables overlooking the arena where ponies give rides. A 2,000+ foot clubhouse with a 60″ Plasma screen, and kitchen. They provide horse handlers, helmets, and gear. Bring food and decorations. Stay as long as you like. Courage and Grace (Edwardsville) Groups select project, time, and date. Groups can be 10 to 34. Bring food and favorite drinks (licensed BYOB). Everyone will make a project. Private workshop base price is $40.00. East Alton Ice Arena (East Alton) Year-round ice skating. For hockey, figure skating, public sessions, parties and lessons. Edison's Entertainment Complex (Edwardsville) Edison’s offers bowling, laser tag, an arcade, and a restaurant. Happy Hooves Equine (Edwardsville) Party includes 1-hour of ride time with three horses and 1-hour of "free time" in a covered arena with tables and chairs. All funds raised go directly to care of rescued horses. Highland Arts and Crafts (Highland) All attendees go home with something they created. Birthday parties include: a gift from the studio, snacks, materials, instruction, and up to 2.5 hours studio time. You provide cake and decorations. Highland Saddle Club (Highland) They provide horses, ponies, and handlers. Guests provide food and decorations. Parties are held in air-conditioned clubhouse that overlooks the Outdoor Arena. Unicorn birthday parties are available. One hour with 2 horses and handlers: $200 for 8 kids or less. Two hours with 3 horses and handlers: $325 for 25 kids or less North American Outfitters (Highland) Golf Simulator & $80 Per hr., archery shop area (open lane), use rental bows or own, $40.00 Per hr., Video Dart, 3-D Pop-Up $40.00 Per hr., All Ranges Including Golf $160.00 Per hr Patty-Cakes (Highland) Nailed It party has cake decorated and kids mimic decorations. Winner gets a prize! Cupcake decorating party has a 20 minute demonstration and kids decorate 6 jumbo cupcakes. Cake decorating party has step by step instructions on how to decorate a cake. After every party, there is 30 minutes to eat cake, drink punch, and open presents. Painted Lace (Maryville) For all ages. Bring in any drinks, decor, or food. The host project is free with 10 or more participants. Accommodates private groups as small as 7. Children Birthday Parties are $150 for up to 10 unframed 12x12 signs, all materials, and 2 studio hours. Additional signs $15. Pottery Hollow (Glen Carbon) 8-14 painters. A staff member assists through 1 hr 45 min party. Parties Include: chocolate chip cookie cake, juice, plates, napkins, candles, supplies, complimentary signed plate for the honoree. Offers Ladies Night, shower, and corporate parties as well. Riverbend Axe Throwing (Alton) Features a bar and lounge, pool table, multiple big screen TV's, free popcorn, and seven axe-throwing lanes. Each lane can accommodate up to 12 people. Throwing coaches teach safety. Ages 10+ (with parental discretion). Bring Your Own Food. Stained Glass Class (Alton) No experience needed. They provide all the tools, supplies, and instruction are included in price. Create a hand-made gift for any occasion. Classes are for ages 9 & up. Classes cost $40 - 60 and take 2-4 hours. Tri-Township Park Activity Center Skating Party (Troy) Private: $300 for up to 50 people, Semi-Private: $150 for up to 25 people, 2 hour slots available & skates are included! We Rock the Spectrum (Edwardsville) Not renting for parties at this time. Include party favors, birthday cakes, themed parties, face painting, crafts, cupcake decorating, and more. They also have balloons to purchase and rent other party supplies. |
DessertFrosted Fox- Cakery (St.Jacob)
A home baker who works with customers to put together a special cake. Currently specializing in birthday cakes. Can fulfill wedding or special event cake orders. Glazy Squares (Collinsville\Edwardsville) Offers personalized number donut treats for birthdays. Number are 12-14 inches tall for $14. Kaylin Jones Cupcakes A stay at home mom that loves to bake. Bakes custom ordered sugar cookies, cupcakes, and custom cakes. Little Taste of Heaven Bakery (Edwardsville) Offers personalized cookies for events. Pat's Edible Creations (Hamel) Custom cakes, cupcakes, & cookies for any occasion. Weddings, birthdays, showers, anniversaries. Make your event unique! Patty Cakes (Highland) Specialize in wedding and occasion cakes. Also selling jumbo gourmet cupcakes, daily. Snowy Sweets (St. Jacob) An ice cream truck to rent for a party or event. EntertainmentAmazing Kids Entertainment (Troy)
Phone: (618) 604-0268 Brittain’s Princess Parties (Litchfield) Offering 30 and 60 minute party packages for in person parties or a virtual party. Superheroes or princesses can appear in masks. Characters socially distance. Fish Eye Fun (STL) Sets up at events to take pictures and make prints like a photo booth. They have professional studio lighting and Nikon DSLR cameras for quality photos. They make enough prints for everyone to have their own copy. Gametime Truck (STL) A game studio in your driveway. The video game theater allows up to 28 players at once. Laser tag games allow a combination of tag and hide and seek. Players can compete in teams or individually. Jammin Jumpers (Collinsville) Rents inflatables, obstacle courses, and games. They clean and sanitize the equipment on-site. Krazy Jump (Belleville) Unique 3D bouncy houses. Me 2 You Game Truck (Edwardsville) Game Coaches take charge, keep everyone entertained, and make sure that the guest of honor feels special. Parties are great for kids, teens, and adults. Metro STL Bounce House (Granite City) Offers a variety of bounce houses. Deliver, set up, and collect the bounce houses after your event has ended. No deposit is required. Omnidome VR (Maryville) A virtual reality arcade with VR escape rooms, top trending VR titles, hosts parties or business events, and top of the line VR equipment with custom built computers for each player. Photo Beast (STL) Use top of the line cameras, software, and printers to ensure the best quality. Professional attendants are trained to assist guests through photo booth sessions to give the the best photo booth experience. Pony Rides (Alton) Pony & donkey rides for kids and adults. They supply a step to assist, saddles, and donkey walkers. They can come to your house, park, or location. They decorate the donkeys with your color or theme. Pony rides start at $150 for the first hour and $50 for additional hours. Riverbend Bounce (Wood River) Inflatables for any age group. Themes such as SpongeBob, Spiderman, Disney Princesses, Scooby-Doo, Dora, and more. Inflatables are cleaned and sanitized frequently. DecorationsDierbergs (Edwardsville)
Has latex, mylar character, and mylar messages balloons. You CAN bring your own balloons to have them blown up. There is a fee to have balloons blown up based on size. Clips are free. It's Party Time (Highland) Balloon art, party supplies, and party rentals. Offers delivery services as well. Laura’s Wedding and Party Rental (Granite City) Centerpieces, backdrops, props, linens, and balloons. Party Box (Highland) Decorations, party supplies, greeting cards, gifts, invitations, holiday decorations, balloons, party favors, and more. Schnucks (Edwardsville, Bethalto, Wood River, Collinsville, Alton, Granite City, Godfrey) Have solid balloons. You can NOT bring your own balloons to have them blown up. Clip weights are free. Others cost. Secret Garden (Edwardsville) Unique florals for weddings, events, or everyday. Orders taken Tuesday-Friday. Walk in store hours vary depending on pre-booked events. Call to place an order or visit online SignGypsies 618 (Madison County) A locally owned yard greeting rental service. Greetings are custom designed and personalized. Purchases include delivery, installation, and removal. To-Dos (Edwardsville) Party supplies and balloons. Balloon prices vary based on size and kind. Offers curbside service. Other Event ServicesElite Events (Edwardsville)
Full service event and rental company. Specializes in all types of events Has inflatables, interactive sports/games, concession items, small to large event tents, effects, rental equipment, etc. Fully insured, permitted and inspected in several states. |