Cheap Kids Party Venue Ideas

How to throw a a cheap or affordable party away from home for your favorite birthday boy or girl?

It may take some work, but the money you save makes for a fun and memorable party that you may want to repeat year after year.

First, start with a party location checklist to make sure your chosen venue can accommodate the kind of kids birthday party you have in mind:

• Budget
• Number of guests
• Food storage or cooking facilities
• Indoor or outdoor (depending on time of year and liklihood of good weather)

Once you decide on the type of birthday party venue that works best, start thinking about local organizations that may fit your plans and budget.

These may include neighborhood groups, clubs, or places of worship that may offer free or very affordable party space for neighborhood families. Also consider neighborhood playgrounds, community centers, the local YMCA, or even the local firehouse. Most of these venues are open to hosting kids birthday parties for a small deposit or donation.

Helpful hint: If you don't reserve a date and time WAY in advance everything will be fully booked. If so, there is always the local fast food joints like McDonalds. Most chains in suburban areas will offer the use of an indoor or outdoor playground for free, with the only major cost the purchase of a kid's meal for each child.

Meanwhile, if your child's birthday happens to fall during the summer months - lucky you! The warm weather season provides one of the cheapest outdoor venue ideas for hosting a great kids party at a nearby park or beach. Of course, the weather might interfere, so always have a "Plan B" ready in case of rain.

For a great beach party, simply lay out a couple of beach blankets, unload the cooler, take out the sunblock, and party! Don't forget games and activites like sandcastle building or a fun seashell scavenger hunt.

Picnic areas in public parks also make for a fun summer barbecue party. Best of all, hosting a kids party on a weekday (especially in the morning hours) may guarantee that you'll have the whole place practically to yourself.

Finally, in what may be one of the biggest drawbacks to the DIY party venue (unlike party-and-go restaurants where you leave the mess), most free or affordable venues means the final cleanup falls to YOU.

If that's the case, be sure to arrange a special activity that involves the kids and some small trash bags, called "The Cleanup Game". It was devised by one clever mom who routinely gives out a cool prize to the guest who fills up their trash bag the fastest!

With a little ingenuity, finding a kids party venue location - from planning to final cleanup - can result in a fun and easy birthday celebration that doesn't break the bank.

More about cheap kids party locations around the Web:

How to Find a Cheap Kids Party Venue

38 Away from Home Birthday Party Venue Ideas

Top Ten Summer Party Cocktail Recipes

Here they are. Everything you need to know for celebrating summer. Soak up these classic cocktails that are perfect for awarm afternoon or cool summer evening out n the porch or in the backyard. Cheers!

10. Bahama Mama 

 1/2 ounce rum

 1/2 ounce coconut-flavored rum

 1/2 ounce grenadine syrup

 1 ounce orange juice

 1 ounce pineapple juice

 1 cup crushed ice 

Instructions: Blend all ingredients until slushy and pour into a hurricane glass. Garnish with orange slice.

9. Cosmopolitan

1 oz vodka

1/2 oz triple sec

1/2 oz Rose's lime juice

1/2 oz cranberry juice

Garnish: lime wedge

Instructions: Fill a shaker with ice and add vodka, triple sec, lime and cranberry juice and shake vigorously. Strain into a martini glass and garnish with a lime wedge.

8. Mai Tai

1 oz. dark rum

1 oz. light rum

1 oz. Triple Sec

1/2 oz. lime juice

1/2 oz. grenadine 

splash of sweet & sour mix

Garnish: pineapple, cherry

Instructions: Combine ingedients together in a shaker with ice. Serve on the rocks in an old fashion glass or high ball glass. Garnish with pineapple and top with cherry.

7. Margarita

1 ounce tequila 

1/2 ounce triple sec

1 ounce fresh squeezed lime juice  

Salt

Garnish: lime wedge

Instructions: Rub the edge of cocktail glass with a lime wedge and dip wet glass edge in salt. Fill a large cup with ice,  add remaining ingredients and shake well. Strain into cocktail glass. For a frozen margarita, place all drink ingredients and ice into a blender and process until smooth.

6. Pina Colada 

1 oz coconut cream

2 oz pineapple juice

1 1/2 oz white rum

Garnish: pineapple slice. maraschino cherry

Instructions: add all ingredients in a blender and process until smooth. Pour into a hurricane glass and garnish with pineapple slice and cherry. Serve with a straw.

5. Sex on the Beach 

1 1/2 oz. peach schnapps

1 1/2 oz. vodka

2 oz. cranberry Juice

2 oz. orange juice

2 oz. pineapple juice

Garnish: cherry

Instructions: Combine all ingredients in a cocktail shaker with ice. Shake and strain into a highball glass filled with ice. Garnish with a cherry.

4. Tequila Sunrise

2 oz tequila

4 oz orange juice

1 oz grenadine

Garnish: lime wedge

Instructions: Fill highball glass with ice and add tequila and orange juice. Tilt glass and quickly add a shot of grenadine so that is sinks to the bottom.  Garnish with a lime wedge and serve with straw. 

3. Singapore Sling 

1 1/2 ounce gin

1/2 ounce Cherry Herring

1/4 ounce Cointreau

1/4 ounce Benedictine

4 ounce pineapple juice

1/2 ounce lime juice

1/3 ounce grenadine

1 dash Angostura Bitters

Garnish: Cherry and slice of pineapple

Instructions: Fill cocktail shaker with ice, add all ingredients. Shake vigorously and strain into an ice filled Collins glass. Garnish with a cherry 

2. Mojito 

Ingredients

1 1/2 oz light rum

1 tabelspoon superfine sugar

Lime wedges

Club soda

Mint sprigs

Instructions: Muddle mint leaves, superfine sugar and lime in a mixing glass. Add mixture, along with and light rum and ice, in a cocktail shaker and shake. Strain into a tall glass and top with club soda. Garnish with a fresh mint sprig. 

1. Sangria

This is the classic recipe, but feel free to sweeten it up with chilled apples, cherries, peaches, watermelon or other favorite fruits:

1 lemon

1 lime

1 orange

1 1/2 cups rum

1/2 cup white sugar

1 bottle dry red wine

1 cup chilled orange juice

Instructions: Slice lemon, lime, orange and other fruits into thin slices and place in a large glass pitcher (or punch bowl). Add the rum and sugar and chill in refrigerator for at least 2 hours. Add the wine and orange juice and serve in red wine glasses or punch glasses.