Kids Guide NJ | New Jersey Kids Parties | Party Entertainers, Party Places, Special Event Entertainment

Your guide to the best in party places and party entertainment in New Jersey
For even more info, pick up a copy of New Jersey's Kids Guide FREE at libraries, stores, schools, real estate and professional offices in northcentral New Jersey and at tourist info centers throughout the state for a complete calendar and guide to children and family events, programs and services!

Party Places | Party / Special Event Entertainment | Party Supplies

party places

Local recreation departments may have facilities and/or play equipment available for parties for a nominal fee. Contact your recreation office for information.

Art-4-All Party
265 E. Main St., Somerville, 908-725-4490. All your guests will be thrilled to go home with their own unique creation. 1 1/2 -2 hr. party includes facility use and choice of ageappropriate art project such as tinsel painting, book bag painting, placemat, t-shirt and more. $10 per child.

Celebrations at JCC MetroWest
Leon & Toby Cooperman JCC, Ross Family Campus, 760 Northfield Ave., West Orange, 973-929-2944. Birthday party options for all ages featuring a JCC instructor and party room for refreshments. Work with our professional staff to celebrate a life cycle event-bar/bat mitzvah, baby naming or adult party.

Classic Thyme Cooking School
710 South Ave., West, Westfield, 908-232-5445. Our fun, hands-on, "Chef For A Day" cooking parties have made us the leader in children's birthday parties for over 12 years.

The Connection for Women and Families
79 Maple St., Summit, 908-273-4242. Ages 1 and up choose birthday party themes: Messy Play, Gym Party, Pool Party, Sports and Games.

Color Me Mine of Bernardsville
30 Olcott Square, Bernardsville, 908-953-9000. ColorMeMine is a paint your own ceramics studio where kids of all ages can make masterpieces and have fun. We have fantastic parties, corporate team building, educational programs, fun fund raising, wedding and baby showers, gifts and more!

Creative Hands Art Studio and Atelier
14 Kings Rd., Madison, 908-604-0773. Fun and creative birthday workshops for ages 3 through teens. Great choices of fine art techniques and themes from drawing and painting to throwing pots on our pottery wheels. A creative birthday is a happy one!

Creative Kids Birthday Parties
1008 South Ave. W., Westfield, 908-232-4949. Creative Kids has the most innovative parties in town! We offer a range of creative party themes, activities and entertainment geared specifically for children ages 2-12. Best of all, our parties are completely hassle-free! Visit our website.

Environmental Party
Somerset County Park Commission Environmental Education Center, 190 Lord Stirling Rd., Basking Ridge, 908-766-2489. 2-hr. party for ages 5-10 includes naturalist program, setup, cleanup, decorations, dishes, invitations and favors.

Farm Hoe Down Party
New Jersey Museum of Agriculture, Cook College Campus, Rt. 1S on College Farm Rd., North Brunswick, 732-249-2077. Farmrelated activities under the supervision of museum staffmembers or Indian Pow Wow Party with Lenape Indian activities.

Frozen Ropes Baseball & Softball Training
60 Milltown Rd., Union, 908-696-9060. From fun and fitness to top-notch instruction, Frozen Ropes has programs for every age, skill level and budget. We offer batting cages, video pitching simulator rentals, winter and summer camps, group lessons, birthday parties and more.

The Funplex
182 Rt. 10 W., East Hanover, 973-428-8772. Choose the all-inclusive party package that works best for you. Includes tons of amusements and rides, paper goods, balloons, even a hostess that organizes activities for the children and cleans up.

Glassworks Studio Inc.
151 South St., Lower Level, Morristown, 973-656-0800. It's a glassy party. Your guests make their own glass art in our spacious, private room with personal party instructor. Ages 3-103. Package price includes everything except food and beverage. Beading parties available too.

Hot Shot Tennis
Joli, 908-727-0011. Action-packed, fun-filled tennis parties for ages 3 and up are our specialty. Available at many locations in Somerset, Middlesex and Essex Counties. Call for information.

Imagine That!!! Discovery Museumfor Children
4 Vreeland Rd., Florham Park, 973-966-8000. Enjoy an exciting, fun-filled adventure at Imagine That! Your child and guests will be thrilled to try the many unique activities, including a real plane, fire truck, computers, pirate ship, dance studio, art gallery and much more. Parties include invitations, hostess and private room. Theme parties, dance, pirate, firefighter, train, princess/prince and craft parties. Packages start at $219.99 for 10 children. Kosher, Indian and Italian catering available. Unlimited time to explore.

Kid Junction
Kid Junction of Branchburg, 3322 Route 22 West, Branchburg Commons, Bldg. 12, Branchburg, 908-252-0055 or Kid Junction of Mount Laurel, 16000 Commerce Parkway, Suite A, Mount Laurel, 856-273-9500. Kid Junction now has two fantastic, award winning locations for your child's next birthday party! Our Branchburg Family Fun Center is located in Central NJ, and our Southern NJ location is in Mount Laurel, just minutes from Cherry Hill and Philadelphia! Kid Junction is perfect for your child's next party, play date, school/camp field trip or organizational fundraiser. Kid Junction is also a great recreational play place for toddlers and kids, up to 9 years old, to enjoy open (walk-in) play every day! Come and see why we have been voted the Best-of-the-Best in NJ 3 times running. Kid Junction franchises are now available.

Jazzberries Center for Music & Art
1677 Springfield Ave., Maplewood, 973-762-6575. See listing under EnrichmentMusic.

Kangaroo Kidz Youth Gymnastics
35 Rt. 202 Far Hills, 908-766-0300. Kidz 3 to 12 have fun taking part in carefully planned age appropriate physical activities. They will do forward rolls, crayon rolls, straddle rolls and egg rolls on the incline mat, walk forward, sideways, backwards on the balance beam, vaulting, hanging on the bar and much more. Your group will have the entire gym to itself.

Liberty Hall Birthday Party
1003 Morris Ave., Union, 908-527-0400. Choose from a Victorian Tea Birthday Party or Firefighter Birthday Party at historic Liberty Hall or at the Firehouse Museum. Recommended for ages 6-12.

Madison Area YMCA Family Center
111 Kings Rd., Madison, 973-822-YMCA. Rooms available for birthday parties, as well as staff available to lead party activities in the pool, gym, gymnastic center, dance and arts and crafts.

Meyer's Dolls Toys Hobbies
35 E. Northfield Rd., Livingston, 973-740-9400. Celebrating our 95th year in business! Have a spectacular Thomas Train Theme Party or bring your own entertainment and food into a fun, safe, clean party space for up to 30 kids, all at a very reasonable price. Kid-sized tables/chairs included. Huge selection of party favors, too!

Montclair Art Museum Art Party
Montclair Art Museum, 3 South Mountain Ave., Montclair, 973-746-5555, ext. 259. 2-hr. arts and crafts party offered on Sunday afternoons from 1-3pm.

Morris County Park Commission Party
973-326-7600. From ice skating to a beach swim party or outdoor hikes, complete party packages are available through the Morris County Park Commission.

Murray Hill Health & Racquet Club
593 Central Ave., New Providence, 908-665-1141. Celebrate your child's birthday with a fun-filled Fitness or Tennis Party. Our 90 minute parties for children ages 4-8 include tennis, sports, music, movement and a free T-shirt for the birthday child. Our parties will delight children and please parents.

My Gym Children's Fitness Center
1100 South Ave. W., Westfield, 908-317-0888; The Marketplace, 3885 Rt. 27, Princeton, 732-422-3600. Awesome birthday parties where your child is the star. Age appropriate games, relays, rides, songs. Special Birthday March and Space Flight ride. We set up, clean up and take care of it all.

Nature Party
Reeves-Reed Arboretum, 165 Hobart Ave., Summit, 908-273-8787, ext. 15. Nature-themed parties for ages 4 and up.

Nature Party
Trailside Nature and Science Center, Mountainside, 908-789-3670 (9-1pm). Choose from a variety of 45-min. nature programs for ages 5 and up. Indoor party room or covered outdoor picnic area also available.

Nature Party
Essex County Environmental Center, West Essex Park, 621 Eagle Rock Ave., Roseland, 973-228-8776. Celebrate your next birthday with a nature theme. Call for party packages.

Nature Party
Mountain Farm or Echo Hill, Hunterdon County Parks, 908-782-1158. 2-hr. birthday party hosted by a park naturalist includes room rental, one hour nature hike, half hour of crafts or field games, and gift for the birthday child.

Olympika Gymnastics
250 Sheffield St., Mountainside, 908-514-0449. Basic gymnastics accompanied with many games, obstacle course, inflatable slide, tumble truck in a safe and fun environment. www.olympikagymnastics.com

Party Zone at the JCC of Central New Jersey
1391 Martine Avenue Scotch Plains, 908-889-8800. Contact: Carol Goldstein ext. 280. The JCC of Central NJ's Party Zone will take care of all your party details from planning, invitations, food, cake and clean-up. Party themes such as sports, swimming, cooking are available.

P.E.P. Club (Preschool EnrichmentProgram)
732-271-1007. Your location or ours. Birthday parties available for ages 1-7. Tumbling, crafts & music; cooking parties; and tea parties. Party locations in Warren, Lebanon and Bernards Twp.

Pony Party
Lord Stirling Stable, 256 South Maple Ave., Basking Ridge, 908-766-5955. 2-hr. party includes two ponies for parents to lead around fenced area or inside pavillion, party room adjacent to indoor ring and filled pony piñata.

Printmaking Council of New Jersey
440 River Rd., Branchburg, 908-725-2110. Creative parties for ages 5 and up. Choose from papermaking, silkscreen t-shirts, soap-crafting and painterly prints in an intimate setting or we can bring the fun to your location.

RVCC Theatre Party
Edward Nash Theatre, Rt. 28 & Lamington Rd., North Branch, 908-725-3420. $16 per child (min. 10) includes invitations, tickets to a Sunday Sampler performance, birthday announced from the stage, use of party room for 45 min., refreshments and special gift for birthday child.

Salta! Jump into Spanish
Edison, 732-549-7722; Peapack, 908-234-2100; Skillman, 609-333-0013; Westfield, 908-232-4949. See listing under EnrichmentLanguage.

Scotch Hills Miniature Golf Party
Jerusalem Rd., Scotch Plains, 908-232-9748. Birthday parties at Scotch Hills' 18-hole miniature golf course.

Sharkey's Cuts for Kids
629 Springfield Ave, Berkeley Heights, 908-665-4222. Mini-cures and private birthday Glamour Parties and Karaoke Parties for girls. Great selection of party favors, too.

Shimon & Sara Birnbaum Jewish Community Center
775 Talamini Rd., Bridgewater (conveniently located off Rt. 202-206), 908-725-6994 ext. 207. Email psilberfein@ssbjcc.org. www.ssbjcc.org
    Multiple birthday party packages are available for children ages 2 yrs. old and up. All run for 112 hrs. with the option to extend. Each package includes choice of an activity (swim, sports, gymnastics or creative movement), a party room, party helper, paper goods, invitations and the birthday child is free! Swim parties include a free swim with lifeguards. Sports, gymnastics and creative movement parties include an activity leader. Parties book far in advance so don't miss out. Ask about room rentals for your child's Baby Naming or Briss, Bar/Bat Mitzvah Celebration, Sweet 16 Party, Graduation Party and more! Book your best party ever by calling today.
Jan 10
        JCC Open House,1-4pm.
Feb 21
        Purim Carnival,1-4pm.
Mar 20
        Annual Comedy Night, 7:30pm.

Somerset Art Association
2020 Burnt Mills Rd., Bedminster, 908-234-2345. Celebrate your child's birthday or any other special occasion with an art twist at an SAA party! Perfect for children ages 6 to 12 years old, parents may select from one of six creative and educational art projects each designed with fun in mind. Based on availability, parties are offered on Saturdays and Sundays. The first hour of the party will be an instructor guided art project followed by cake, refreshments etc. provided by the parent or caregiver during the last half hour.

The Sports Academy
56 E. Willow St., Millburn, 973-912-9002. Indoor sports birthday parties. See listing under Multi-Sports.

Storming Robots, LLC
3322 Rt. 22W, Suite 402, Branchburg Commons, Branchburg, 908-595-1010. Email challenge@storming-robots.com. The only authorized LEGO Mindstorms Center in Eastern U.S. offers a truly unique and awesome experience with LEGO robots and a proprietary platform designed by LEGO.
Appealing themed parties are instructor-led.

Sunburst Gymnastics Party
565 Rahway Ave., Union, 908-810-1300.

Tea Time and Tiaras Birthday Parties
973-289-4934. Specializing in themed Tea Parties onsite or at your home for children ages 3 and up. From Fairy and Princess parties for girls 3-6 to Spa and Rock Star parties for girls 6 and up, we do it all so you can sit back and enjoy. Mommy and Me Craft and Tea workshops also available each third Sunday of the month starting in February.

Union Sports Arena
2441-A Rt. 22W, Union, 908-687-8610. Union Sports Arena is Union County's "coolest" place for fun, featuring a yearround indoor ice skating rink and two indoor soccer fields. Our skating, soccer, football and baseball birthday parties are the best!

US Sports Institute
12 Maiden Lane, Suite 1, Bound Brook, 732-563-2520. USSI offers fun-packed sports parties for children of all ages. Our qualified staff will travel to your location or why not use our brand new indoor sports facility!

Watchung Arts Center Artistic Party
Watchung Arts Center, 18 Stirling Rd., Watchung, 908-753-0190. Projects based on storybook or cartoon characters, popular heroes, hobbies, or movies with activities designed for ages 3 and up.

Westfield Area Y
220 Clark St., Westfield, 908-233-2700. Choose your favorite party activity. Swim, gym, arts and crafts, science and tea parties available as well as Sweet 16's, dance parties, class parties, scout events and other themes.

party/special event entertainment

Cuddly Construction
908-526-3245. Have a stuffed animal party at home! It's easy and affordable! Choose from a wide selection of animal skins, outfits and accessories. You'll be impressed with the quality of our merchandise!

Hire A Fire Truck
201-807-0077. Imagine a real working fire truck at your party! Fire safety, games, pictures, goodie bags, 750-gal. of water fun and more. Available for
special occasions, block parties, whatever you can imagine!

Hobby Quest Aviation Party
Harry, 973-452-0558. Build and fly real model planes, explore the world of aviation, create aviation experiments at an aviation party with your friends.

Hoppy Trails
908-232-4300. Make your next birthday party, barbecue or celebration of any type a spectacular event! Our clean moonwalk will entertain guests of all ages for hours. Serving Westfield and surrounding communities.

The Lizard Guys
P.O. Box 6, Raritan, 908-722-1519. An entertaining introduction to live lizards, snakes, turtles, frogs and bugs. Available for parties, day cares, camps, schools, scout meetings and special events. Children will look, laugh and learn with The Lizard Guys and their living fossils in a fun, interactive and safe presentation. Ask about our new Peas & Carrots music show.

Magic by Joel
973-422-0019. Pick up the phone and don't be late so Joel can perform to make your party great. Live animals (dove and rabbit), balloons, audience participation and magic wand for birthday child. The best in children's magic birthday parties, age 4-8.

Magic! Wizards! Clowns! Pirates! Balloons! & More!
908-803-5179. Comedy Interactive family fun for parties, schools, camps, picnics, libraries, etc. by Mark A.S. Dolson. Professional theme magic shows, balloon art, goodie bags, slime lab and more. Check out website for more information.

Music to My Ears Kids' Party Entertainment
908-874-5300. First thru Fifth birthdays are our specialty. Have "Miss Kathy" and her partner perform their popular one hour music show at your next party. We have performed for over 10,000 babies, toddlers and "big kids!" Live guitar and singing. Enjoy familiar children's songs and party music, dance with scarves, play with bubbles, rubber duckies, a Steel Drum and much more! The children can even strum "Miss Kathy's" guitar and sing into a real microphone. We use only the best -a professional Bose® sound system! We perform at home parties, camps, libraries and special events.

Party Maniacs by Scott Levy
973-376-2211. Fast-paced games keep the kids entertained from start to finish. Costumed characters, arts & crafts, face painting, balloon sculpting, DJs, magic and more. We can bring it all!

Party Time Characters
908-654-3838. Imagine your child's favorite cartoon character visiting his or her next party. Great for any special occasion. Parties, schools, picnics, corporate events, anytime you want to add more fun! Sing-a-long, music, dance, tattoos, fun for all.

Rent My Bull Inflatables & DJ Service
973-768-2693, www.rentmybull.com. Indoor and outdoor inflatables and pro DJ service, great for school events, birthdays, block parties, company outings and trade shows. Choose from bounce houses, giant slides, obstacle course, sport inflatable and more.

Rizzo's Reptile Discovery LLC
973-586-0444, 201-230-2415, email: rizzo@rizzosreptiles.com. Our programs are about laughing and learning. Specializing in reptiles, including alligators, mammals and insects, too! We incorporate the adults and the children into our shows to make it fun for everyone. With our passion, excitement for nature, and the experience of a hands-on program, we will have you talking about reptiles for weeks. With a variety of programs we can accommodate any needs for birthday parties, day cares, schools, scouts, camps and special events. Rizzo's Reptiles has also developed an interactive wildlife game which is used as part of the program and can be given as a party favor as well as an educational tool.

Soccer Party
McLoughlin Sports, 908-393-5811. You provide the facility, we provide the coaching for an exciting, action-packed party for ages 4 to 5 by the experts from McLoughlin School of Soccer.

Tea Time and Tiaras Birthday Parties
973-289-4934. See complete listing under Party Places.

Tickles the Clown
908-689-9392. Let me and my menagerie of exotic and unusual animals make your event truly special and fun! Presenting a unique, high energy performance that blends audience participation with skits, magic and live animals leaving everyone to believe there is magic in themselves. Wanda Wizard, seasonal characters, balloon sculpturing, magic and face painting available for all occasions. Free color brochure and references upon request.

Uncle John's Traveling Magical & Musical Puppet Show
908-508-9292. Uncle John's puppet show follows a stand-up comedy format with heavy audience participation. His puppets constantly carry on a dialog with the audience. He invites the birthday child to assist with some classic magic tricks to open the show. He then performs his famous puppet show and follows it with a dance party using an iPod loaded with 3,500 songs. Uncle John uses a pulsating LED multi-colored light show to accompany his music. His high quality sound system with Bose speakers adds excitement and a concert hall realism not expected for a birthday party.

Wiggles n' Tunes
201-488-6711. There's plenty of sing-along, play-along fun to the children's favorite songs. Parties feature 45-minute award-winning entertainment and hands-on audience participation with bubbles, musical instruments, outrageous puppets, colorful scarves, and more! Free favors! Ideal for ages 1-5. Watch a birthday party video at www.wigglesandtunes.com and listen to our tunes. Happy wiggling!

party supplies

CATERING
Marcello's Italian Restaurant & Pizzeria
268 Springfield Ave., Berkeley Heights, 908-464-4222, Fax 908-464-6363. Party catering specialists, offering traditional Italian cuisine, pizza, hot and cold subs, using only the finest and freshest ingredients available.

FAVORS
Meyer's Dolls Toys Hobbies
35 E. Northfield Rd., Livingston, 973-740-9400. See display ad and listing under Party Places.