Hosting a kids’ party at home

When hosting at home makes sense, what it really costs, and the entertainment you can hire to come to you.

Hosting at home isn’t automatically cheaper, and it isn’t automatically harder. It depends on the age, the season and how much of the day you want to spend setting up.

When home works well

• Very young children. Familiar surroundings, nap schedules and a small guest list all favor home.
• Small guest lists. Under about eight children, most venue packages charge you for guests you don’t have.
• You want the time. No fixed two-hour slot, no cleanup clock.
• The weather cooperates. A yard in June changes the math completely.

When a venue wins

• Winter birthdays with active kids. Twelve six-year-olds indoors in February is a long afternoon.
• You’d rather not clean. Both before and after.
• The activity needs equipment. Climbing, skating, go-karts, swimming.
• You want to enjoy it. At a venue with staff running the party, you get to watch your child’s birthday rather than work it.

What home actually costs

Parents often compare a venue’s total against "free," which isn’t the right comparison. Count food for children and adults, cake, decorations, paper goods, favors, and anything you rent. Add the entertainment below if you’re hiring any. A home party with a bounce house and a character visit can land close to a mid-range venue package.

The real saving at home is per-child: adding four more kids costs you a little more pizza, not four more guest fees.

Entertainment that comes to you

Several kinds of businesses will bring the party to your house:

• Bounce houses and inflatables, usually delivered and picked up the same day, with a setup area and power requirement to check first.
• Game trucks, which park at the curb and hold a group at a time.
• Characters and princesses, typically a 45- to 90-minute appearance with games, songs and photos.
• Magicians, face painters and balloon artists, often booked for an hour.
• Science and bubble shows, popular in the five to nine range.
• Petting zoos and pony rides, which need yard space and good weather.

Our parties that come to you section lists these across Chicagoland and Northwest Indiana. Each one lists the town it’s based in; ask how far they travel, since many charge for distance beyond a certain radius.

Questions to ask anyone you hire

• How long is the booking, and when do you arrive to set up?
• What do you need from us: space, power, a flat surface, parking?
• What’s the deposit, and what’s the policy if it rains?
• Are you insured? Bounce house rentals in particular should be.
• What ages is this best for?

A middle option

Park district rooms and community center rentals sit between the two. You get a space with tables and chairs for a modest fee, bring your own food and decorations, and skip both the cleanup at home and the per-child pricing of a venue. Our listings include park districts and rec centers across the region.