4 minute read

P-A-R-T-Y! Ideas for kids’ parties

Kirsty McLean on 2023’s garden...

Of course, there are parents who cope superbly with seventeen sugar-stuffed squabbling seven year olds running amok and treading cupcakes into their precious Persian rugs, but for most of us, outsourcing birthday parties is easier on the nervous system. We’ve rounded up some ideas for a great party that won’t mean clearing up for the three days afterwards…

Hire a cinema

Cineworld offer private hires of cinema screens from £120, with a 30 person birthday party on a Sunday morning at the Beach Leisure Park coming in at £180. There’s a decent range of kids’ films to choose from. Maybe arrange to take your own snacks rather than let the guests have free reign in the pick-n-mix, or head to Burger King afterwards.

If you’d rather take a DIY approach, partysuppliesaberdeen.co.uk have an inflatable cinema room you can hire for £150 for 24 hours. You can add roped off VIP barriers, some bean bag chairs and a red carpet and make it a Premier Party for an additional £60. The projection system hooks up to a DVD player, so the choice of films is up to you.

Bounce around

Innoflate at the beach, Inverurie’s Skyline Trampoline Park, or JumpIn in Altens all offer the opportunity to tire out the guests, whether they’re toddlers or teenagers. Skyline offer a party package for 10 kids for £210, which includes an hour’s jump time and 30 minutes in a party room with a big TV, pizza or hotdogs, chips, sweets and juice. Additional places for £21 each. They also do a package for toddlers. Find out more at skylinetrampoline.co.uk. Jump In Aberdeen do similar packages from £190 for ten guests, but also have soft play options for toddlers, a crazy glow area, climbing wall parties and there’s the Friday Night Takeover trampoline disco for kids over 12. Check the options at gojumpin.com. Innoflate swaps trampolines for huge inflatable structures and offers similar party packages from £18 -£20 per guest for up to 16s.

Moonlight swim

Strictly one for the summer, Stonehaven’s outdoor pool offers moonlight swims from 10pm-Midnight on selected dates. Combine staying up late with pizza, or fish and chips at the beach and a sleepover and you’ll have a party for your teens to talk about. For younger kids, book a session with inflatables or live music. The dates for the 2023 season aren’t out yet, but you can find out more at stonehavenopenairpool.co.uk Animal magic

Lots of kids love animals. Hayfield Equestrian Centre offer birthday parties for 4-6 children aged five or over. These include an hour-long riding lesson in the sand arena and woods for £26 per child. Find out more at hayfield-club.com/activities/ Combine it with a trip to the Animal Corner at Hazelhead Park where the kids can get up close to a range of creatures from ponies to meerkats. Opening hours at facebook.com/Petscorneraberdeen/ Round off the day with a trip to the Park Café for drinks and something gooey. Find the menu at park-cafe.co.uk.

If dogs are more your child’s thing, then you can book a group kennel tour at Husky Haven to meet the sled dogs. It’s £10 for under 16s and £15 for adults. Book at Huskyhaven.co.uk

SOCIETY FOCUS Trend's Bubbles & Baubles

Karen O’Brian, Natasha Rose, Iona MacPhearson, Fiona Kindness, Stephanie Fisher, Ailsa Stewart, Patricia Bruce, Claire Forbes

Trend’s ever popular Bubbles & Baubles event was a resounding success once again. Everyone had a fabulous time enjoying tunes from Paul Black, entertainment from The Jivettes and a stunning fashion show from Perfect Bridal Rooms and Premiere Productions. Host, Steven J Innes, was entertaining and kept the guests on their toes. Funds were raised on the day for Friends of Anchor. Our thanks go to our entertainment sponsor The Orthodontic Clinic and as always the Marcliffe hotel and their staff all raffle providers and exhibitors and everyone who attended.