Little party guests.

This past Sunday afternoon (Oct. 26th) our favourite real estate agent Stewart McNeely (our faithful and patient real estate wheeler-dealer owner/broker at the local Royal LePage – highly recommended if you need an agent) hosted a Hallowe’en party for kids.

My grandkids (in the inset) watching the show.

Not only did the kids have fun, it was a good learning experience.

Little Princess and her drink box.

The hall was spooktacularly decorated and arrivals were greeted by Count Dracula (Stewart). The table was laden with good, healthy snack food (fruit and vegetable trays, along with crackers and chese trays), but also included some yummies like a chocolate and a white Halloween cake, and some pretty yummy Halloween cookies; fruity drink boxes and bottled water were on hand to wash it down with.

Braydon (Pirate) and Wyatt (Ninja)

Scattered around the room were opportunities for kids to win a prize: in one spot, a clear glass jar filled with large Halloween gumballs and a paper and pens for kids to write their name and guess how many were in the jar. To the winner went the spoils (I am so glad the winner wasn’t one of my grandkids…that’s a lot of bubblegum).

MacKenzie-Grace (Chic Diva) and Wyatt (Ninja)

There also was a “guess the weight of the pumpkin” station, and one lucky child went home with a 20lb. pumpkin. Near the end of the day was “Pin the Nose on the Pumpkin” and there was also a photographer on hand to take a family shot of the kids in their costumes

Chelsey-May (The Enchantress), Braydon, Wyatt

The final fun of the day was a mummy wrap – in at least one of the other photos you’ll notice some large packets of toilet roll…um, yep – not for the bathroom at all. Each of the families had to wrap one parent like a mummy. If you know anything about almost any toilet roll available today, you’ll know that this is no easy task. Most of the papers break or tear the minute you unroll them (whatever happened to 3-ply? we haven’t been able to find it for a long time).

Shannon being mummified.

In our case, we were essentially 3 families with four kids: my oldest daughter with her 3, and my youngest daughter with her one. We had a small conference and decided that since my youngest daughter was the smallest of the adults it would take less time and less toilet roll to wrap her, so the kids went to work. The result was probably one of the best of the day…here, still unfinished is the Mummy Queen.

The Mummy Queen, nearly done.

The biggest hit of the day was The Mad Science Guy. Entertaining, and fun for the kids the show was also a great way to teach kids a little science, and to make it fun. The kids loved it, and while many of the “experiments” were visually spectacular, each one was safe. Even the adults enjoyed this – the presenter (didn’t catch his name at the show, but on the website it says the Orillia rep. is Neil) was personable, and humourous and I found myself laughing right along with the kids.

Mad Science

I had a look for the Mad Science website, and while the cost may be a little expensive for a full-blown, all-out show, the cost of a birthday party for up to 12 kids isn’t that much different than if you took them to almost any other party venue (you get 40-50 minutes of show time) and about as expensive as having a full-blown party at say “Build a Bear”. While the cost doesn’t include food, hot dogs and potato chips (from the grocery store) for 12 kids is a fairly minimal expense to add on. (Mad science guy cleans up his own mess, though there really isn’t any mess at all)

The costs for up to 12 kids at a birthday party:

40-50 minute fun science show $169.99

If you want more, there are add-ons to the basic party:

Add some cotton candy fun for an additional $24.99
For those looking for an all out extravaganza you can add the electrifying machine (makes your hair stand on end) for another $24.99

Somewhat more expensive is the “rocket blast-off” which you can add to your party for $44.99.

They’ve also got Mad Science goodie bags which come filled an assortment of mad science toys that you can add for $5.49 per child.

If you live in Orillia, the local chapter has a 10% discount posted on the website (check the discounts page – it may not always be available).

All-in-all, the expense is not too enormous given the cost of some other venues parents use for kids parties. For 10 kids your costs (minus the rocket launch but with the cotton candy and electric ball) would be something like $219.96 (+taxes of course). Add another $55 for 10 goodies bags, you’re at $274.86. Okay, but you’ve still got to add food, and a cake – not all that expensive. Estimating on the high side, hot dogs (or sandwiches), potato chips and drinks for 10 kids @ about $25.00 and another $25.00 for the birthday cake and you’re up to about $325. (If you do the basic party package including goodie bags then $275.00 (take off another $55 if you do our own goodie bags) – this cost doesn’t take into account the discount, if there is one available at the time you book). While that may seem somewhat expensive, consider the family who has twins – 2 birthday parties.

It may not be manageable for all income levels, but middle income earners and up may find it a worthwhile cost to provide something useful, interesting and sorta unique for their kids.

Comparing those costs to some other popular party venues:

MacDonalds – for a party of 10 (all inclusive of food, goodie bags, party organization, cake, the works) you only need to spend a grand total of $70. However, after one or two of these, it’s pretty boring for kids. When you visit the website they show pictures of Ronald and all the kids having fun playing and doing things…that doesn’t happen. The kids get their food, play in the ball pit for a while, and go home. No biggie after you’ve had a couple. (yawn)

Build-a-Bear – the websites boasts a $10 per kid price. But any parent who has had a party here knows…this includes nothing. A basic bear and nothing else. You’ve still got all the rest to pay for. At best you are looking at $25 per kid (minimum), plus extras (and for those in Orillia, travel expenses since the only one is in Barrie). Kids like it though, and it seems to be fun for all ages, as well.

Glow-In-The-Dark Indoor Golf - for 10 guests roughly $200 (less if you go with a smaller package that excludes some of the goodies you’d end up buying anyways). Includes most things you’d want for a kids party including some food. Kids really seem to like this too – the glow-in-the-dark makes it attractive for kids.

Go Karts & Mini Golf – Shanty Bay Go-karts

Here’s another party venue that the older kids may like. Not suitable for kids under 8 (unless there’s an adult to ride with them) and not allowable at all for kids under 3. They do have a party hall and party packages, but there’s no cost listed for this – it is customizable so you need to contact them for rates.

We can, however, estimate some costs based on their ticket prices.

one lap on the track: $4.00 2 laps: $7.00 3 laps: $10 5 laps: $15.00
Family pack: buy 10 tickets, get two free (assumed here that the free ticket is the same number of laps as the ticket you’ve bought)

one 18-hole round of mini golf: $5.00

So, for a party of 10 kids, you can have each kid take a 2 lap ride for $70.00 (plus extra tickets for the host parents to ride free); then you can take the kids to mini golf for another $50.00 (total: $120)

If you’ve got a summer birthday and can manage the party on a Tuesday, they have a “Toonie Tuesday” special. Check out the site for details.

This doesn’t include food or cake or anything else, however, right next door is MacDonald – another $70 and you can feed the crew (total $190). If you want to go for the do-it-yourself meal, the Shanty-Bay GoKarts has an on-site picnic area. Pack a light, finger-food type lunch (crackers and cheese, sandwiches, fruit) and bring your own cake. The cost will probably run close to $40 or $50. (if you want to plan a party, call or contact them through the website and ask if they can give you a party plan price).

There are restrictions for the track usage though – children over age 11 can ride on the “fast track” – children between 8 and 11 must ride on the junior track – children between 3 and 8 may only ride with an adult, but they get to ride free (since the adult must pay for a ticket). Children under the age of 3 may not ride at all, no matter what the circumstances.

The other drawback is that the track only operates “weather permitting”, and is closed right after Thanksgiving (October) until Victoria Day (May). So, if the birthday falls anytime during late autumn to early spring, it’s not an option for you.

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In the final accounting, mad science is definitely the most expensive of the bunch if you get all the add-ons, but it is probably one of the more unique ones. If your kids have done all the rest and are bored, you might want to look into this one.