Three Great Places to Hold Your Child's Birthday Party This Summer in Indianapolis, Indiana

If you want to provide your child with a birthday that they will always remember, here a three ideas for places you can go for a fantastic summer adventure in my home town of Indianapolis, Indiana.

The Indianapolis Zoo is a great place for some summer fun. Here your party of up to 14 people can enjoy free admission and free parking.
The day starts with a parade led by one of the zoo's costume characters. The character leads the way to the birthday shelter which is all yours for up to an hour and a half. Here your child and their guest will receive an ice cream cup, a bottle of juice, a goodie bag and 3 ride tickets. You provide the cake. The birthday child will also receive a free souvenir photo. You can download invitations to your party for free from the zoo's website: www.indyzoo.com.
Also included in your package are tickets to the dolphin show.

The cost of this adventure is $295 for zoo members and $325 for non-members. For parties of more than 14, zoo members pay an additional $21 per person; non-members pay $23.50 per additional guest. There is a $25 non-refundable deposit. There are no rain checks or refunds.

There are add-ons available for additional costs:

Face painting is $5 per child

A 16 in pizza is available for $14.95

Cotton Candy $2.99 each

Extra ice cream and juice $3.00

Just visit their website at www.indyzoo.com for more information

Another great place to hold a birthday party for your child (at a slightly lower cost) is Great Times Family Fun Park. Here everyone can have fun. Great Times features go-kart and bumper boat rides, arcade and video games, miniature golf, batting cages and a ball pit play land for the younger children. Prizes can be won by collecting tickets awarded for playing the arcade games.

Great Times a wide range of birthday packages to meet almost any budget. A minimum of 8 guests are required. Reservations are required and must be made within a week to a week and a half ahead of time. There is a $25 non-refundable deposit required to book a party.

Package A costs $10.95 per person and includes:

24 game tokens for the birthday child

12 game tokens for each guest

Unlimited soft drinks

A helium balloon for the birthday child

A gift bag for everyone

Your choice of either a chocolate or white cake

A slice of pizza for each guest

Paper products and utensils are included

Your party will have a special host or hostess and lasts approximately 95 minutes.

The birthday child receives a special T-shirt.

Package B costs $12.95 per child and includes everything in package A plus any one of the attractions offered (bumper boats, the play land, miniature golf etc.)*

Package C costs $15.95 per child and includes everything in package A plus a wristband that is good for 2 hours of use of any of the parks attractions.*

The Ultimate Party Package costs $22.95 per child and includes all of package A, a Mylar balloon for the birthday child and a wristband that is good for 3 hours of use of any of the parks attractions.*

*There are some height restrictions on some of the attractions.

For more information visit their website at www.greattimesfunpark.com .

My last suggestion for an exciting summer birthday party is to hold it at Indy Island/Raymond Park. This is a city owned park, located at 8575 E Raymond St., Indianapolis, Indiana features an indoor aquatic center. Your child can play in the water playhouse that features a small slide, water geysers and lots of spray features. Children and people over 48 inches tall can go down the big water slide. The park offers 2 packages to meet your party needs.

The first package includes pool admission for 8 children and 2 adults.*

A special party area reserved for up to 55 minutes.

Juice boxes

Paper products, utensils and a tablecloth

You provide the cake.

This package costs $70. You can have additional guests up to 20 maximum for an additional charge of $5.25 per child and $6.00 per additional adult.

The second package includes everything in the first plus hotdogs and chips for each of the invited guests and costs $90 with additional children costing $6.25 and each additional adult costing $7.25.

Reservations need to be made 2 weeks in advance and if more than 2 adults and 8 children are coming please let the park know at the time of the reservations

* It is recommended that children ages 3-5 are accompanied by 1 adult per every 3 children and children 6-8 are accompanied by a ratio of 1 adult per every 5 children

You can contact the park at 317-862-6876 or visit www.indyparks.org for additional information.

Whether you choose the Indianapolis Zoo, Great Times Family Fun Park or Indy Island/ Raymond park, your child will have a very memorable party this summer.