Nine Cheap Kids’ Birthday Parties in Columbus for Small Groups

Local Fire Station

Some fire stations will host short kids’ parties for free or a donation. The events and space will depend on the individual station, but some will allow kids to try on gear, take a short ride, hold the water hose, and provide a small area for cake and ice cream.

Columbus Metro Parks 

Meet at a nearby park for a short nature hike, playground activities, and have a picnic or BBQ. Each park offers a variety of different activities. See individual park websites for rental requirements, if any, for covered picnic areas.

Geocaching

Sign up for a free membership, learn about geocaching, search online for cache locations in a certain radius, and split up into teams (if more than a carload) and see who can find the most in a certain period of time. Go back home or to a park for pizza and cake.

Columbus Clippers baseball game: 

Tickets are reasonable to see the Columbus Clippers, especially on Sundays, which is always Bob Evan’s Family Day. There is plenty of entertainment for kids at the games, and you can bring in small bags or backpacks of food items and beverages in plastic bottles, so you don’t have to spend a fortune at the concessions.

College sports

If its not Columbus Clippers season, there are plenty of college sports around Columbus to enjoy.

Pick the birthday child’s favorite sport and take a few friends, whether it’s baseball, volleyball, soccer, football, swimming, gymnastics, basketball, track and field, lacrosse, tennis, hockey, or even something new to the kids! 

Many college sporting events are free or very inexpensive, leaving plenty of money to spend at the concession stand (or grab pizza before or after). 

Local colleges to choose from are Ohio State University, Otterbein University, Ohio Dominican University, Capital University, Ohio Wesleyan University, and Denison University.

Spa Slumber Party

Have a few teens or adults on hand to give spa treatments such as homemade facial masks, hair curling, manicures and pedicures, and makeup applications (with parental permission). 

Make little gift bags of homemade spa items (check out Pinterest) or items from a dollar store or clearance rack.  Serve little sandwiches, cheese and crackers, smoothies, and chocolate-dipped fruit.

Mall Scavenger Hunt

This is best for tweens or teens, but you will also need an adult to supervise each team if they aren’t old enough to roam the mall themselves with their parents permission. There are a million ways to do this and you can find plenty with a google search. 

You’ll have to do some mall recon in the week before to come up with the clues/items.  Make a list of things the kids need take a picture of, buy, or write down the answer for.

Ideas include – how much does (something specific from the food court) cost, and buy something red for less than $1 (could be candy, hair tie, etc.). If you are having them purchase items, make sure to give them enough money. You can even have them buy inexpensive things as their party favors (friendship bracelets, lotion, lipgloss, etc). 

They can complete as many tasks as they can to earn points per task based on difficulty. Ensure the kids know what behavior is expected (no running, screaming, being rude, etc.), and that you will take points away for negative behavior.

Safety tip: If they have cell phones and will be unsupervised, have them temporarily share their location to your device so you can see where they are at all times.

NOTE: This can also be done as a scavenger hunt in any public park or large yard.

Cookie or Cupcake Decorating

Let the kids get messy with some frosting and decorations. Prebake lots of sugar cookies and/or cupcakes using bagged or box mixes and make a big batch of buttercream frosting (I promise – it’s easy, cheaper, and so much better than canned frosting – also easy to double the recipe if you’re having more than 8 kids).  

Divide the frosting into bowls and stir in food coloring (an adult should do this for young kids, as it stains) to make a variety of colors.  Set out bowls of sprinkles, colored sugar, and other decorations (check discount stores or use craft store coupons).  

Give each kid a few cookies or cupcakes and let them decorate as they desire. Buy paper take-home boxes at a discount or craft store to send home decorated treats with them as party favors. 

You could even buy plain kids’ aprons and have the kids decorate those with markers before they start and let them take those home. Amazon sell aprons inexpensively, as may discount and craft stores. You may want to request that they wear/bring old clothes to prevent stains, whether you have aprons or not. 

Decorate outside on a picnic table, or put down a tablecloth on the table to help with cleanup. 

Check for food allergies for all those invited. You can make gluten- or egg-free cookies/cupcakes, and separate small bowls of frosting to prevent cross-contamination. Ask the parent if they are comfortable with the approach, or if they would prefer to supply their own. 

This type of party can also be easily done as a pizza-making party. Just buy lots of toppings and make or buy pizza crusts.

Physical Challenge Party

Split the kids into teams and have them compete in challenges. Buy cheap plain tshirts in two colors and have them decorate team shirts before they begin.

Challenges can be team-based or individuals can represent teams. Some ideas include egg/spoon carry, water balloon toss, hula hooping, limbo, cornhole, Minute to Win It challenges, or search online for other party games that fit the ages and interests of the kids.  If kids will get wet or dirty, have them bring extra clothing.

What other birthday party ideas do you have?

Don’t forget to check out the list of local birthday freebies and sign up for free meals, beauty items, clothing discounts, and more.

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