Birthday Parties FAQ

Preschool Play and Parties are great for young children. The age range is restricted to 3-to-7-year-olds due to the toys and equipment used. Standard, Sports, and Swim Parties accommodate all children ages 2-14. To tailor these parties to young kids, we encourage free play during Sports Parties and splash pad time during Swim Parties. 

You can email Cole Rightley, Youth & Family Program Director, to request a double activity party. These are not always doable because of other Y programs, other scheduled parties, and staffing availability. However, we're happy to try to accommodate double activities, such as gym and swim time, when can. The cost varies depending on the party type you booked and the activities you choose.

Yes and no. There is limited space in our party rooms, so you can bring table-top activities and games, but anything that requires a large footprint should be left at home. We do not recommend bringing your own toys to Play and Parties due to the possibility of them getting lost and/or mixed up with our Play and Learn toys. For Sports Parties, contact Cole Rightley, Youth & Family Program Director, about bringing your own equipment. For Swim Parties, follow our general pool rules.

The Y has some extra goggles and life jackets, but not enough for every party guest, so we recommend bringing your own. The Y does not provide pool towels.

The YMCA reserves the right to swim-test attendees for birthday parties if participants are swimming in the teaching well. This is to ensure every child will be safe in the water and has the necessary skills to remain so. Visit our Aquatics Information page to learn more about what a swim test entails.

On the day of your party, a Y staff member will be present to set up, clean up, and help facilitate some activities. Our party hosts will prepare the room before you arrive and then help you settle in and finish setting up upon arrival. They will then either guide you to your planned activity or let you have your time in the party room. You will have the party room for the full two hours. Other areas of the Y, such as the pool and gym, are not included in the party room time.

Parents/guardians can arrive for set-up 30 minutes before the start of the party. You will also have up to 30 minutes after the party concludes for clean-up. 

After getting you checked in, set up in the party room, and escorting you to your planned activity, your party host will periodically check on you. If you are having a Sports Party, the party host will help facilitate those activities as well. Otherwise, they will let you know where they will be if you need anything—if you have questions or need any assistance, don't hesitate to ask.

Yes, you may bring any food and non-alcoholic beverages provided by yourself or a food vendor, such as Pizza X or Jimmy John's. However, please do not bring ice cream, as we do not have the means to keep it cold.

Yes, if you would like to bring your own decorations and disposable tableware supplies, such as plates, napkins, and utensils, you are welcome to do so. However, please let us know if you plan to bring your own supplies when you register. Classic and Super Party packages both include solid-colored tablecloths, plates, cups, napkins, and forks, so give us a heads-up if you plan to provide your own.

Some items we recommend bringing are food, including cake or other desserts, as well as non-alcoholic drinks, serving utensils, themed decorations, and non-latex balloons.

Standard birthday candles are allowed. Families must provide their own lighters. The Y is not responsible for any damages.

Piñatas are unfortunately not permitted due to the Y's safety rules and regulations.

Yes, decorations are allowed to be hung up on the walls using masking tape or painters tape. Families are responsible for removing decorations at the end of the party.

The easiest way to book a party is to register online. However, you can also stop by our Northwest or Southeast branch to have a Welcome Center representative book your party for you.

We recommend booking your party as soon as possible to secure your preferred date and time. Parties must be booked at least two weeks ahead of the party date.

Birthday party packages include tablecloths and tableware, and we ask about your theme to help determine which color we should pair with your party decor. You can also request colors based on our options: 

• Bright pink
• Bubblegum pink
• Sky blue
• Royal blue
• Navy
• Festive green
• Lime green
• Mint
• Sunshine yellow
• Orange
• Red
• Purple
• Lavender
• Black
• Silver
• White

If your child changes their theme ahead of the party, we are happy to update your theme color as long as you contact us at least 24 hours ahead of the party time.

Due to other Y programming that takes place Monday through Friday, birthday parties are only available for booking on Saturdays and Sundays.

We unfortunately cannot hold party bookings until receiving payment in full.

Payment plans are not accepted for birthday parties at this time. All party fees must be paid in full at the time of registration.

You're welcome to host a birthday party for more than one birthday child. However, there is an additional $30 fee per child if there is more than one birthday child.

We base your party on your headcount to ensure we provide you with the correct supplies, staffing, room counts, space availability, and other things. 

Any person, including babies, coming to the party must be included in the headcount so we can ensure we're complying with safety codes and maximum capacity numbers. Your party room will depend on the number of guests you'll have, and different rooms have different max capacities.

If your final headcount is within the maximum number of guests for the party type you chose (35 people for Classic Parties and 60 people for Super Parties), there's no need to call or email us with a final count. However, if your guest count increases beyond the maximum number of guests allowed for the party you registered for, please call or email us so we can update your party registration.

Usually other Y programming does not permit flexibility with party times. However, you can contact Cole Rightley, Youth & Family Program Director, to discuss the possibility of alternate party times.

If you cancel your booked party with more than two weeks' notice, a refund will be given. If you cancel the party with less than two weeks' notice, we cannot grant a refund.

If you need to reschedule your party for another date after the two-week deadline, you may do so if space is available. A transfer fee of half of the party cost will be applied. All transfers must be requested at least 24 hours before the new party date and time. If you need to reschedule your party after the 24-hour deadline, you will have to register again and pay for the new party booking.

No-shows automatically waive the right to any refund.

If an act of God or weather-related event causes the Y to close, your party will be rescheduled with no transfer fee. Refunds are not provided for acts of God or weather events.

In the unlikely event the pool has to be closed during your party, your party will be rescheduled with no transfer fee. No refunds will be given if you choose not to come to your rescheduled date. Alternatively, you may switch to another type of party on the same day if space is available.

Facility use waivers outline the risks associated with every YMCA activity. As with our members, we require all guests to read and sign a waiver before entering the facility for any activity.

We also ask guests to sign an optional photo waiver, which gives the Y the right to take and share photos of your party for marketing purposes. You will be notified ahead of time if the Y's marketing team is coming to take pictures of your party. If you do not want your party photographed, you have the right to decline signing the photo waiver. However, you must still sign the general facility use waiver.