Best Kid's Party Venues in Northern Virginia

Some of my favorite childhood memories are from my birthday parties. Growing up in South Florida, I often had pool parties in the backyard, or my three older brothers put on magic shows for my friends and me.

So, when my kids have birthdays, I try my best to make it as memorable as possible without feeling like I'm going overboard. The best kid's party venues in Northern Virginia make planning easy for you but ensure the birthday kiddo has a fantastic time.

So, here's a look at some of the best places to have a kid's party in Northern Virginia.

Children's Science Center Lab - Fairfax

If you have a child interested in science or you're looking for an excellent place to hold an indoor birthday party, you'll want to check out the Children's Science Center Lab at Fair Oaks Mall.

Parties are held on Saturdays and Sundays; you can choose either a 10 a.m. or 2 p.m. time slot. Each party runs for two hours, and you can have up to 50 guests. During the party, children have full access to the lab and are shown demonstrations by STEM educators.

Here's a preview of what a party looks like at the Children's Science Center Lab :

Contact: 703-648-3130

Address: 19948 Fair Oaks Mall, Fairfax, VA 22033

Sky Zone Trampoline Park - Various Locations‌        

If your kids want a higher-energy party, Sky Zone Trampoline Park will help provide that. The venue offers various package options, so you can choose what fits your needs best. For example, the Basic Party Package is $25 per jumper and offers one hour of jump time plus one hour of party room use after jumping.

It also includes socks for each guest, which is great because I seem to lose them after every visit to Sky Zone until a random orange sock appears in the laundry.

Address: Several locations in Northern Virginia; click here to find the closest one to you

Imagine That! - Dumfries

‌Another great indoor party venue is Imagine That! in Dumfries, which is geared towards younger kids, in my opinion. The indoor playground has a pirate ship, toddler center, climbing structure, and more. While I think the place would be a hit for 4-5-year-olds, I think my 8-year-old and his friends are a bit too old for it.

What's great about Imagine That! is they provide the majority of what you need to throw a party - balloons, utensils, tablecloths, invitations, plates, use of the party room, and a designated party host.

Different packages are available, ranging from $275 to $500. I always appreciate venues that don't have a flat fee, regardless of the number of guests. I don't want to pay for 30 kids when there will only be 15.

Contact: 571-285-1212

Address: 5101 Waterway Drive, Dumfries, VA 22025

Vertical Rock Climbing & Fitness - Manassas

My 6-year-old son attended a birthday party at Vertical Rock Climbing & Fitness, and he thoroughly enjoyed the experience. I find it to be perfect for older kids, who are a bit tougher to entertain at parties. We all know kids get to a certain age where a standard party isn't enough.

Birthday parties at Vertical Rock Climbing offer guests two hours at the facility, with 1 hour and 15 minutes of climbing, followed by 45 minutes in the party room. In addition, there is a 1:5 ratio of instructors to climbers, so you don't have to bring climbing experience to the party.

As with most venues, you can build your package based on the number of guests and what you want them to provide. The minimum for a birthday party is $275, which covers ten guests.

Contact: 855-822-5462

Address: 10225 Nokesville Rd, Manassas, VA 20110

Tysons location coming soon - 8461-D Leesburg Pike, Vienna, VA 22182

Kidcreate Studio - Alexandria

‌If you have an artist in the house, the Kidcreate Studio makes for a great party venue. What's great, too, is kids get to take home an art project, which beats most goody bags. Each party runs for 90 minutes and is assigned an instructor to help guests throughout the process.

My favorite part might be that they do all the clean-up because that's probably my least favorite party about birthday parties. Well, that and the fights my kids have over leftover balloons. But I digress. When you book a party at Kidcreate Studio, the guest of honor can pick from hundreds of art projects and pick the one they want everyone to work on at the party, making it truly their own creation.

Contact: 703-660-4814

Address: 724 Jefferson St, Alexandria, VA 22314

Frying Pan Park - Herndon

If you are looking for an outside venue, Frying Pan Park provides an excellent birthday party experience, complete with farm animals and a private wagon ride or carousel ride (You don't get both rides with the party).

You also will have access to a large tent with picnic tables to set up snacks, cake, and presents. A party at Frying Pan Park is low-key and offers old-fashioned games the guests can play.

They do have a limit of 25 guests, including adults, and recommend no more than 12 children. In addition, the cost is $250 for 2.5 hours ($350 for 3.5 hrs), and birthday parties are held between March and November.

Contact: 703-437-9101

Address: 2709 West Ox Rd, Herndon, VA

Host a Party at Playground or Park

To piggyback on Frying Pan Park, I feel like any park or playground in Northern Virginia makes for the perfect party venue for kids, especially if the weather is right. Most places allow you to reserve a pavilion or picnic table, giving you a place to set up.

Here is a link to the park's department for the major counties in Northern Virginia, where you can find information about making reservations.

Arlington County

Fairfax County

Loudoun County

Prince William County

Princess Parties of DC - NOVA, MD & DC

While it's not a venue, you don't want to miss the opportunity to book Princess Parties of DC for your next party. I have used them twice, and my daughter has had unforgettable memories each time, leaving guests thinking they met a real princess.

Both times, once with Ariel and most recently with Cinderella, the princess sang songs, painted the girls' nails, did crafts, played with the parachute, sang Happy Birthday, and read a book while the guests ate cake.

In addition to various princesses, you can choose from several superheroes, Peter Pan & Tinkerbell, Woody & Jesse, Fancy Nancy, Blippi, and more.

Princess Parties of DC services Northern Virginia, Maryland, and DC and have various packages available, depending on how long the character stays. I have done one hour, and I feel like it was the perfect amount of time. For reference, in my previous experience, we had seven guests.

Contact: 301-848-9935

Location: Serves NOVA, MD, and DC

Bricks 4 Kidz - Ashburn

All three of my kids can't get enough of LEGOs, and if every birthday could be filled with colorful bricks, they'd ask where they could sign up. Bricks 4 Kidz has several party options, with the smallest package starting at $275 for 90 minutes with up to 20 kids.

The venue provides your basics like tablecloths, napkins, plates, and cutlery, and each party is assigned a host to help ensure things go smoothly. Guests get to play with LEGOs (obviously) and build a motorized model.

My middle son has a winter birthday, and I find this to be a fantastic party venue idea when the weather is unpredictable.

Contact: 571-210-5439

Address: 43635 Greenway Corporate Drive, Ashburn, VA 20147

Escapology - Fairfax

If you're looking for something a bit different, I highly recommend checking out Escapology in Fairfax. Escape rooms have become really popular, and I think it's fantastic that kids can participate, as it's a great challenge of wit and strategy.

Escapology offers birthday party packages for 6-10 children and runs for two hours (one hour of play and one hour of celebration). Packages also included pizza, cupcakes, and juice, so you only have to bring yourself.

The venue has a special kid mode (adult-free zone) that runs Sunday-Friday and is ideal for children ages 7-14. You can also choose from several themed rooms, including Mansion Murder and Lost City.

Contact: 703-881-2368

Address: 4211 Fairfax Cor Ave E #230, Fairfax, VA 22030

LaserTag2You - Northern Virginia

‌LaserTag2You is unique because instead of going to a venue, they bring fun to you. I love this idea because it allows us to keep things at home and provides a fun experience for the birthday kiddo and guests.

The company sets up everything in your yard and provides the necessary equipment for an amazing party. You also are assigned a coach to help facilitate the games, which is great, especially for beginners.

There are various packages, including the three-star package, which includes 16 laser taggers, six bunkers, and one coach for $345. They also have add-ons like yard Jenga, a popcorn machine, and jumbo Connect 4.

If you're looking to keep the party outside and ensure the kids stay occupied, LaserTag2You can't be beaten.

Contact: 703-297-7289

Location: Serves Northern Virginia

Little Divas Day Spa - Haymarket

From laser tag to pampering, Little Divas Day Spa in Haymarket is the next venue on the list. The venue offers a complete spa party experience for the guest of honor and her guests.

Services include manicures, pedicures, and facials, and I kind of want to celebrate my next birthday here.  Also, guests can access dress-up items, homemade lotions, games, and more. If your daughter loves the royal treatment (like mine), she will thoroughly enjoy a day at the spa with her besties.

Contact: 703-753-3200

Address: 4446 Costello Way, Haymarket, VA 20169

Chuck-E-Cheese - Various Locations

Ok, hear me out on this one, and don't click the X in the upper right-hand corner. At least not yet. Chuck-E-Cheese has been around for what seems like forever, and that robotic mouse probably has brought its share of nightmares, but my kids can't get enough of that place, and when you have a birthday party there, they take care of everything. EVERYTHING.

When you reserve a birthday party, you get two hours of pizza, unlimited games, reserved tables, Dippin Dots, and a visit from the (in)famous Chuck E. The guest of honor also gets to experience the Ticket Blaster, where they try to stuff as many tickets as possible into their pockets, socks, and wherever they can fit them. You get the point.

There are various packages, and I recommend going for at least the second tier, where unlimited games are offered. If you have a bunch of kids running around, you don't want them coming up to you for additional credits.

I also appreciate most locations offer "Sensory Sensitive Sundays" for families with children who have autism or other special needs. So, while good old Chuck E. gets a bad rep, I find it a fantastic party venue for kids and families. Just don't forget the hand sanitizer.

Address: Various locations in Northern Virginia, so check their website for the one nearest to you

Wrapping it up

So, to wrap it up like a birthday present (sorry, I couldn't resist), the best kid's party venues in Northern Virginia offer a memorable time while making the planning process a breeze. I look forward to hearing which one is your favorite from the list!

Looking for more ideas for where to host a kid's birthday? Check out the 21 Best Indoor Kids' Play Areas in Loudoun County.

What about gifts? Here is our list of Independent Toy Stores in Northern Virginia.