One of our most asked questions from our readers is about birthday parties — and how to make them amazing! From venues to ideas, we have curated a list of the best ideas for kids’ party places in and around Madison, WI! These businesses represent some of the area’s best venues for entertainment, activities, and birthday cakes!
*Updated in October 2023
Ash & Arrow Events
As Madison’s original slumber party experts, Ash + Arrow will transform your next party into the ultimate sleepover experience that your guests will never forget! Each child will receive everything they need for a magical night: a custom tent, luxe mattress, plush linens, lanterns, breakfast + activity tray, twinkle lights(!), and styled decor.
Their team will setup, stage, and style the locally-crafted tents in your home for a night of whimsy, and return the next day to pack it all away. All you have to do is select one of the boutique themes and a party date – the rest is taken care of!
Urban Air Adventure Park
Make your kid’s birthday party a little bit more EPIC at Urban Air Adventure Park in Madison, Wis. They offer birthday packages for adventurers of all ages. Plus, you can build your perfect party by selecting the ideal combination of attractions you won’t find anywhere else, like unlimited laser tag, unlimited sky rider, unlimited spin zone bumper cars (e.g., bumper cars that flip!), ropes and warrior courses, climbing walls, APEX trampolines, the battle beam and so much more.
All parties include a 2-hour hangout, a party host, Urban Air socks, a t-shirt for the guest of honor, digital invitations, setup, clean up and party basics like balloons, party favors, plates, napkins and forks. Book a private room party for additional perks.
Animart Pet Store
All Inclusive Birthday Parties include: one-hour store tour and an hour in our upstairs party room! Animart will provide plates, cups, utensils, napkins, tablecovers, popcorn, music and a coloring book for each child. Parties are $300 for 12 kids ($5 per additional child).
DIY Parties Include: one-hour store tour and an hour in our upstairs party room. You will be responsible for decorating the room and cleaning up afterwards. DIY parties are $150 for up to 12 kids ($5 per additional child).
Holiday Inn | Crawdaddy Cove Water Park
The Holiday Inn and Suites Madison West has Madison’s only indoor waterpark perfect for all ages.
Our event team is here to help plan your birthday party, team outing, school trip and more.
While swimming, have Benvenuto’s Italian Restaurant located on site bring in food for the whole family.
Frios Gourmet Pops
Frios Gourmet Pops loves being the life of the party, bringing you joy, happiness and hopefully some fun! Book us for your kiddos birthday party.
We live to make things easy. We are a no-fuss or mess food truck, with no need for water or electricity hookups (usually).
Forward Athletics
Forward Athletics offers a turfed baseball/softball area equipped with batting cages and pitching machines, a basketball/volleyball gym and a state of the art golf simulator.
The birthday/events party package includes exclusive use of the entire Forward Athletics facility.
Infinity Martial Arts
Treat your child to an experience like no other with our Birthday Parties here at Infinity Martial Arts. Your Birthday Star will have a private karate class with all of their friends that will have them SMILING ear to ear, LEARN about karate lesson #1 Respect, and engaging their bodies in fun exercises and games!
Parties start at $250 for one hour party, including a class and 15 guests! Multiple Locations to choose from.
Boulders Climbing Gym
Black Belt America
Kids will love this Awesome Martial Arts Birthday Party! Parents will appreciate the professional coordinated, safe and supervised setting, and variety of physical activities that keep their children engaged for the entire party. These 90 minute parties are designed for ages 5-12. Reserve your party today!
Dane County Humane Society
Children ages 6 years and older can party like an animal at Dane County Humane Society! Birthday parties include interaction with DCHS’s classroom animals, an animal craft or shelter service project, a gift for the birthday kid, and more. Cost is $250 for two hours and up to 15 kids.
PlayN Wisconsin
Try it first at PlayN Wisconsin! We sell indoor and outdoor recreational products for kids and adults of all ages! Kids are welcome for open play, and the showroom is available for birthday parties and other events. Play systems, trampolines, and basketball hoops are set up inside for your kids to play on year-round.
Happy Axe + Splatter Factory
At Splatter Factory, you’ll receive a canvas, paint, and protective gear. You can prop the canvas up on our shelving and then splatter neon paint from squirt bottles onto your canvas, and also at the walls, ceiling, floor, and even your friends! The canvas is yours to keep.
Happy Axe offers indoor axe throwing parties for up to 25 people. Think darts…but with axes!
Party with a Pony
The best birthday or celebration ever! Our parties host up to 20 children. We also have adult party options. Please call for details. During your 3 hour party, guests will take turns on guided pony rides.
While waiting to be called to ride, guests can partake in a variety of fun activities:
Jump around in TWO inflatable set ups! Choose between either the colorful bouncy castle OR the princess bouncy castle, AND enjoy the inflatable Cliff Hanger obstacle course slide as well.
Guests can also enjoy our petting zoo with bunnies, Mini-golf, human foosball, lawn size connect 4, and cornhole.
Comprehensive List of Madison Area Birthday Party Ideas
- Aldo Leopold Nature Center
- Animart
- Ash and Arrow Events
- A Step Above
- Balloons by Design
- Baymont Inn
- Black Earth Children’s Museum
- Boulders Climbing Gym
- Bowl A Vard
- Bricks 4 Kidz
- Celebration Yard Designs
- Chuck E Cheese
- Code Ninjas
- Crawdaddy Cove (Holiday Inn)
- Dane County Humane Society
- DiVentures (fka Madison Swim Academy)
- Dream Lanes
- Fast Forward Skate Center
- Fired Up Pottery
- Flip City Gymnastics
- Fun Play Inflatables
- Funny Faces Family Entertainment
- Fun Time Bounces
- Geeks Mania Arcade
- Go Ninja
- Goodman Aquatic Center
- Goodman Pool
- Great Scott Magician
- Gymfinity
- Harbor Athletic Club
- Havens (Mobile) Petting Farm
- Henry Vilas Zoo
- Jump Around Gymnastics
- Keva
- Kona Ice
- LaFleur Stables
- Legacy Academy
- Little Amerricka
- Madison Children’s Museum
- Madison Turners
- Madtown Twisters
- Michaels Craft Store
- Middleton Fire Department
- Middleton Gymnastics
- Our Vibrant Community
- Play N Wisconsin
- Prairie Kids Club
- Princess Parties by Paolina
- Rainbow Play Systems
- Rock Paper Scissors
Help Give a Birthday Party to a Child!
Check out Box of Balloons, a local non-profit that provides birthday boxes to families in need. Parents/Caregivers are given a box of party supplies customized for their child for a memorable celebration!
Looking for a Birthday Photographer?
There are SO many awesome photographers in the area – way too many to list! But we do have some that we have personally worked with and would highly recommend. Each offers a different style and price point.
Check out our Guide to Local Photographers here!
Thanks for putting this great resource together for parents in Madison. These are some great ideas, especially for the Winter.
Hi there:)
How do I go about getting my business listed on your Birthday Party Guide? I offer in-home it on location parties with a variety of small furry animals, insects and reptiles. The name of my business is Ms. Kim’s Amazing Animals. I also do school programs, libraries, day cares, senior living and Scouts.
Thank you:)
Thanks for listing Fired Up Pottery, on Monona Drive. We love hosting Birthday parties in our private room. Pottery painting or glass fusing have always been popular, and now we are offering pottery wheel birthday parties too.
I would love to share my Our Vibrant Community artshops for all ages. I have a few adult+child paint events in Middleton coming up. How can I promote them with you.
Do you have any ideas for an 11 year old boy’s birthday celebration during this time of families quarantining? I’m thinking of some type of entertainment to observe, done outside with no contact with the family.
Thank you.
Cool venues
FYI, The Little Gym told me they aren’t offering birthday parties going forward this spring 😭
Thank you for the heads up – we will update!