It rained again today. The air feels a little bit cooler, the evenings are getting darker, we no longer need the fans in our bedroom from summer time… and the birthday party invites from kids at school are starting up! For children born during the Fall/Winter months, the option of hosting your birthday party in the backyard isn’t usually viable. Instead, many of these Fall parties are held at a local rec center, and it seems that parents are always on the hunt for other options!

If your child has a fall birthday, and you’re looking for alternatives to hosting the party at your house … this list is for you! Do you have other ideas to add? Please let me know in the comments below!

Your local Rec Center: Our local rec center, Panorama Recreation, has a few different birthday party options including pool, skating, and gym. Check out page 12 of the Fall brochure for details.

Karaoke party at Golf and Grind: Although I’ve never been, Golf & Grind in Victoria apparently offers various choices such as Nintendo or Karaoke parties. Find out more about their party room options. If you’ve hosted a party here before, let me know how it was!

Miracle Lanes: if you’re looking for an option on the peninsula, Miracle Lanes has up to 6 5-pin bowling lanes that can be rented for parties. We went to a party here once, and then we all walked over to Mary Winspear where they had rented a room for cake and gifts!

Flying Squirrel: Victoria’s Flying Squirrel offers various party packages where the kids can enjoy time on the trampolines, as well as pizza and drinks.

Centennial Park: if your child’s birthday is in early fall, the weather may be nice enough to rent a picnic shelter at Centennial Park. Kids can plan on the playground, then have snacks/cake at the picnic tables. If weather is a worry, there’s even a fieldhouse that can be rented, where you’re sure to stay out of the rain

Ceramic painting at Fired Up: I’ve never been there before, but Fired Up studio in Victoria offers two types of parties: in studio, or out of studio parties in a box.

Climbing Parties: Boulders Climbing Gym offer a unique type of party, where guests get to climb for 1.5 hours, then enjoy cake and gifts in the party room for 45 minutes. We’ve attended one of these parties before, and the kids loved it!

Michaels craft Parties: Michaels craft stores (Millstream and Uptown) offer craft parties for kids ages 4-13, and Make & Mingle parties for those 14 and up. We’ve never been before, but it looks like an option worth checking out!

Allegro Dance Parties: if your birthday child likes to dance, Allegro on the peninsula offers the perfect party option! They have a few party options, as well as a kitchen that you can book for cake and celebrations afterwards.

Gymnastics Parties: If your child enjoys gymnastics, this can be a fun party option! Victoria Gymnastics offers parties that include a gymnastics session led by an instructor, followed by time for cake, presents, etc.

Lizzy Lee & Me: Lizzy Lee & Me offers many different spa and salon parties for kids. They can include makeup, nail polish, hair dos and more. For an extra fee you can use the cake room.

Playzone, Minigolf or other party: City Centre Park offers a number of kids party options, including minigolf, playzone, bowling, skating, and dry floor. We’ve never been to one of these parties, but there seems to be an option for everyone!

MAOA Parties: McTavish Academy of Art offers two types of parties: DIY or instructor led. DIY parties can be in the gym or studio, and include games, tables and chairs, etc. In the instructor led parties, kids get to work on an art project or craft.

4Cats Art Studio: 4 Cats offers various art parties where kids can create clay figures, or a splatter paint project. You can choose between 60 or 90 minutes of art time, and an optional 30 or 45 minutes for party time.

Splatters Art Studio: Our child just attended a birthday party at Splatters Art Studio, and had a great experience. It was a 2-hour party, and the children created an adorable felt purse, and a splatter T-shirt. Our child wore the purse all afternoon!

DIY Parties: I love to plan, and have enjoyed creating some fun parties over the years. Everything from a fairy party where we made wooden fairy houses and installed them around the yard for the kids to find, to an at-home spa party where the kids could get their nails painted, hair done, and face painted. A DIY Amazing Race party has always been on my list of things to try!

Do you have other favourite places to host a birthday party? Please let me know in the comments!