Your guide to planning your child’s birthday party in WNC

WNC Parent’s 2024 Birthday Guide

Party Spots

Skip the cleaning and have your party at a spot that provides the fun. Here are some options for hosting the fun away from home. Ask about virtual and take-home options, too! Are we missing your business? Emailchris@worthyplace.com.

360 Party Bus, 828-301-0245, 360partybus.com. Bus includes large stereo, wrap around seating, coolers. Options are available for all ages.

Adventure Center of Asheville, 85 Expo Drive, Asheville, 828-450-3400, ashevilletreetopsadventurepark.com/asheville-birthday-parties. Open all year with options for ages 4 and older. Parties packages are available for Asheville Treetops Adventure Park and KidZip attractions and Kolo Bike Park, including use of a picnic area for party fun before or after your adventure. Reservations are required and can be made by emailing groups@adventurecenterofasheville.com or by calling 828-450-3400. Age rules and regulations apply. Picnic information and weather policies are available online.

AMF Star Lanes Bowling, 491 Kenilworth Road, Asheville, 828-254-6161, amf.com/location/amf-star-lanes-asheville. A variety of party packages are available.

Appalachian Pinball Museum, 538 N. Main St., Hendersonville, 828-702-9277; appalachianpinballmuseum.com or facebook.com/pinballplayers. Parties and field trips are available by appointment. Call for details.

Asheville Mountain Kitchen, 19 Eagle St., Asheville, 917-566 5238, ofriofri@gmail.com, ashevillemountainkitchen.com. Private and public cooking classes are offered, as well as cooking camps and family/team building events.

Asheville Museum of Science, 43 Patton Ave., Asheville, 828-254-7162, ashevillescience.org/birthday-parties. Ideal for children ages 3 – 10, science themed birthday parties include all day general admission for party guests, as well as educator-led learning and fun during the 90-minute STEAM Lab rental. Before guided activities, the STEAM Lab is exclusively available for food, presents, family activities, etc.

Asheville Parks and Recreation, Asheville, 828-259-5800, ashevillenc.gov/parks.

Asheville Parks and Recreation offers affordable and convenient party location options throughout the city including picnic shelters, community centers and swimming pools.

Asheville Racquet Club, 27 Resort Drive, Asheville, 828-253-5874, and 200 Racquet Club Road, Asheville, 828-274- 3361, ashevilleracquetclub.com. Call for group event information.

Asheville Retrocade, 800 Haywood Road, #100, Asheville, 828-575-9488, ashevilleretrocade@gmail.com, ashevilleretrocade.com. Play all day for $10. More than 5,000 games are available. All ages until 9 p.m. Details are online.

Asheville Sun Soo Martial Arts, 800 Fairview Road, Suite D2, Asheville, 828-505-4309, martialartsasheville.com/birthday-parties. A 90-minute Sun Soo birthday party includes skill and team-building games, a fun and educational Tae Kwon Do lesson highlighting the birthday child as the “star” of the class, a Tae Kwon Do demonstration by Sun Soo instructors, pizza, and time for cake, ice cream and opening of presents. Birthday parties are booked on a first-come, first-served basis for Saturday afternoons and are $350.

Breakout Games – Asheville, 60 Patton Ave. Asheville, 828-201-2600, breakoutgames.com/asheville. Family escape room games are offered. Contact for birthday party details.

Build-A-Bear Workshop, Asheville Mall, 3 S. Tunnel Road, 828-298-1852, buildabear.com. See online calendar for party bookings.

Buncombe County outdoor pools, Call Swim Club Management at 828-348-4770 or book private pool parties online at buncombecounty.org/governing/depts/parks/facilities/pools.

Center Stage Dance Studio, 38L Rosscraggon Road, Asheville, 828-654-7010, dance@centerstage1.com, centerstageavl.com/parties. Parties include dancing, games, crafts, and more. Details are online.

Chevron Trading Post & Bead Co., 40 N Lexington Ave., Asheville, 828-236-2323, chevronbeads.com. Birthday parties are offered for all ages. Make a seed bead necklace or bracelet with your choice of charm. Other options include bachelorette/bachelor parties or even jewelry repair parties.

Chimney Rock at Chimney Rock State Park, 431 Main St., Chimney Rock, NC, 828-625-9611, groups@chimneyrockpark.com, chimneyrockpark.com/birthday-parties. Nature-based, hands-on activities get kids discovering the world around them.

Chuck E. Cheese, 104 River Hills Road, Asheville, 828-299-3750, chuckecheese.com. Package includes pizza, soft drinks, tokens for each guest, decorated table, cake, visit from Chuck E. Cheese and more. Details are online.

Claying Around, 1378 Hendersonville Road, Suite D, Asheville, 828-277-0042, clayingaround@bellsouth.net, clayingaround.com. Five different parties to choose from, two pottery painting options, canvas painting, glass fusing pendants, and working with clay. All parties include a tablecloth, a small bouquet of balloons, all paint, supplies, and a party helper. Feel free to bring food and drinks. At least 30 minutes will be allotted for cake/food after everyone finishes their project.

Cultivate Climbing, 173 Amboy Road, Asheville, 828-505-4446, cultivateclimbing.com. From bouldering and roped climbing to belay services, special rates are available for birthday party bookings. Details are online.

D-BAT Asheville, 1262 Hendersonville Road, Asheville, 828-412-5050, dbatasheville.com. Packages include a gift for the birthday child, party room for two hours, D-BAT instructor for one hour and more. Food options available. Full details on packages are online.

Epic Theaters, 200 Thompson St., Hendersonville, 828-693-1980, http://epictheatres.com/location/hendersonville. Contact for private screenings, birthday parties and more.

Fired Up! Creative Lounge, 26 Wall St., Asheville, 828-253-8181, and 1800 Four Seasons Blvd. in the Blue Ridge Mall, Hendersonville, 828-698-9960, fireduplounge.com. Call about hosting your birthday party at Fired Up! Pottery is also available “to go.” See options online.

Fox-N-Otter Adventure Escapes, Three locations from Asheville to Hendersonville: 3 South Tunnel Road, Asheville; 3749 Sweeten Creek, Arden; and 1800 Four Seasons Blvd., Hendersonville, Call or text 828-585-4302, EscapeRoomsAsheville.com. Participate in a 1-hour escape room game – up to 10 players or more with multiple games. The Asheville Mall Location has an optional party space. Details and options are online.

Hahn's Gymnastics, 18 Legend Drive, Arden, 828-684-8832, hahnsgymnastics@hotmail.com, hahnsgymnastics.com. Details about gymnastics parties are online.

Hands On! Children’s Museum, 318 N. Main St., Hendersonville, 828-697-8333, handsonwnc.org. Classic or private birthday party packages are available. Details and costs are online.

Hendersonville Family YMCA, 810 6th Ave. W, Hendersonville, 828-697-9622, ymcawnc.org. The Hendersonville Family YMCA has facility rentals available for birthday parties. Pool party package: Parties are two hours (one hour for pool time, one hour for community room use). For YMCA-WNC members, the cost is $260. For non-members, the cost is $350. For an additional lifeguard (follows a participant ratio of 1:25), it is an additional $30 per hour. Hickory Nut Gap Farm, 57 Sugar Hollow Road, Fairview,

hickorynutgap.com/venue-rentals-events. Two venues available: The Party Shed, an open-air, covered pavilion with adjacent creek and a treehouse, and The History Barn, a covered barn next door to the animal observation area. Fill out inquiry form online for more information.

Jack the Dipper, jackthedipper.com. Parties are available at locations in Sylva, Waynesville, Franklin, and Bryson City. Details are available at jackthedipper.com/birthday-parties.

KidSenses, 172 N. Main St., Rutherfordton, 828-286-2120, kidsenses.org/kidsenses. Several birthday party options are offered, including character visits and more. Details are online.

Kilwins, 116 W. State St., Black Mountain, 828-669-6119, kilwins.com/stores/kilwins-black-mountain. For take-out: ice cream quarts and chocolate-dipped treats. In the store: birthday parties for up to 8 children, ages 7-12 preferred. Call the store and leave a message for details.

Lake Junaluska, 91 Lakeshore Drive, Lake Junaluska, 828-454-6650, lakejunaluska.com. The lakeside Lake Junaluska swimming pool has a partially shaded area of the pool deck with tables that can be rented for parties and events. Other birthday party options at Lake Junaluska range from reserving the shelter at the playground to booking a stone firepit complete with firewood and everything you need to start a fire. Other venues include a lakeside tent and a variety of indoor and outdoor event spaces at the conference center. On-site catering is available.

Lakeview Putt & Play, 2245 Hendersonville Road, Asheville, 828-676-1746, lakeviewputtandplay.com. Party package options include Just Putting, Putt and Play (golf and VR), Gamers, Taggers (outdoor laser tag) or outdoor Gellyball. Details are online.

Launch, 24 Walden Drive, Arden, 828-651-0280, info@launchasheville.com, launchtrampolinepark.com/asheville. A variety of party packages are available. See website for details.

Mountain Play Lodge, 3389 Sweeten Creek Road, Arden, 828-676-2120, mountainplaylodge.com. Themed party rooms and other options are available.

Ninjaville, 128 Swannanoa River Road, Asheville, 828-505-4492, ninjaville.org. Ninja Warrior parties are offered. Details are online.

OSEGA Dream Academy, 260 Rutledge Road, Fletcher, 828-665-0004, osegagym.com/events. Party details are available online.

Smoky Mountain Sk8way and Fun Zone, 19025 Great Smoky Expressway, Waynesville, 828-246-9124, smokymountainsk8way.com. Activities offered include roller skating, obstacle course, bounce houses, mini golf, arcade, skate games and a cafe. Details are online.

Tarheel Lanes, 3275 Asheville Highway, Hendersonville; 828-692-5039; tarheellanesnc.com. See party packages online.

The Factory, 1024 Georgia Road, Franklin, 828-349-8888, franklinfun.com. A variety of party packages are available, including set up and clean up.

The Little Gym, 10 Crispin Court, Suite 104, Asheville, 828-785-4808, thelittlegym.com/north-carolina-asheville. A variety of packages and themes are offered. Kids have access to the entire facility with instructor-led games, music and activities.

The North Carolina Arboretum, 100 Frederick Law Olmsted Way, 828-665-2492, ncarboretum.org/education-programs/youth-family-programs/birthday-parties. Choose from three birthday party themes: Fairies, Gnomes, and Homes, Outdoor Adventure, or Fur, Feathers, and Scales. Details are online. Parties are not offered during the summer. Details, dates and costs are online.

Three Eggs Cakery of Asheville, serving Asheville and surrounding areas, 828-585-7035, 3eggscakery.com. Certified commercial kitchen based in Flat Rock. Delivery on all orders. Offering custom cakes, dessert tables and cookie decorating classes for all ages.

Tropical Gardens Mini Golf, 956 Patton Ave., Asheville, 828-252-2207, minigolftropicalgardens.com. See party packages online.

We Rock the Spectrum Asheville, 63 Turtle Creek Drive, Asheville, 828-505-7556, werockthespectrumasheville.com. Birthday options include private gym time and private party room. Use of the zipline, trampoline, swings, art room, imaginative play area, climbing wall, monkey bars, and more is included with your party. Add a balloon drop, art projects, full decor and more.

WNC Nature Center, 75 Gashes Creek Road, Asheville, 828-259-8091, wildwnc.org/events. A party reservation includes a 2½ -hour room rental and admission to the Nature Center for 20 invitees. No reservations are available in June, July and August due to summer camp.

Wolverine Paintball Park, 487 Brookside Camp Road, Hendersonville, 828-697- 4263, wolvpb.com. Party packs are available. Details are online.

XP League Asheville, 15 Loop Road, Suite 2B, Arden, 828-761-0516, asheville.xpl.gg/birthdays. Two-hour birthday party packages are for ages 7 – 17 and include video games (Fortnite, Minecraft, and others) for groups of up to 18 friends. Default party times are Sundays from 2 – 4 p.m. and 5 – 7 p.m., or other times by request. No food or drinks are included. Outside food, drinks and desserts are welcome.

Zaniac Asheville, Biltmore Park Town Square, 1 Town Square Blvd., Suite 120, Asheville, 828-575-0355, zaniaclearning.com/asheville/programs/birthday-parties. Choose from popular themes or customize your own. Two-hour parties are for kids in grades K-8 and include a Zaniac instructor as the designated party host. Details are online.

ZigZag Agile Learning Community, 24 Thompson Road, Asheville, 828-573-0444, zigzagalc.org. Unschooling in community. View details online.

WNC Parent’s 2024 Birthday Guide: Cake and more!

Looking for a birthday cake or other special treat? Here are a few of the options around WNC.

Baked Pie Company, 4 Long Shoals Road, Arden, bakedpiecompany.com. Dozens of varieties of pies are available, including vegan, gluten-free and sugar-free options.

Blue Ridge Bakery, 86 W. Main St., Brevard, 828-883-8444, blueridgebakery.com. Custom cakes of all shapes and sizes and party trays are available.

Cold Stone Creamery, 30 Town Square Blvd., Asheville, 828-650-3013, coldstonecreamery.com. Ice cream cakes, and candy from Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory.

Farm to Cake Bakery, 500 Hazelwood Ave., Waynesville, 828-476-9311, cake@farmtocakebakery.com, farmtocakebakery.com. Custom celebration cakes and cupcakes and available for birthdays and other occasions.

Filo Pastries, 1155 Tunnel Road, Asheville, 828-298-9777, filopost70.com. Custom cakes and pastries are available.

French Broad Chocolate Lounge, 10 S. Pack Square, Asheville, 828-252-4181, French Broad Chocolate Factory, 821 Riverside Drive, Suite 199, Asheville, 828-348-5187, frenchbroadchocolates.com. Cakes, cookies, brownies, bonbons, ice cream, liquid truffles, and chocolate bars are available.

Geraldine's Bakery, 840 Merrimon Ave., Asheville, 828-252-9330, geraldinesbakeryavl.com. Cakes, cupcakes and more are available.

Great American Cookies, Asheville Mall, 3 S. Tunnel Road, Asheville, 828-298- 2849, greatamericancookies.com. Specializes in customized cookie cakes, cupcakes and cookies.

Hey Hey Cupcake!, 102 W. State St., Black Mountain, 828-669-2253, heyheycupcake.com. Cupcakes and custom cakes are available.

Ingles, various locations, ingles-markets.com. Cakes and 12-inch cookies made to order in store and online.

Kandi's Cakes & Bake Shop, 200 S. Main St., Waynesville, 828-246-0180, kandiscakesandbakeshop.com. Special occasion cakes, cupcakes and more are available.

Karen Donatelli Cake Designs and Bakery, 1000 Hendersonville Road, Asheville, 828-225-5751, karendonatellicakedesigns.com. Specialty cakes, cookies and cupcakes by appointment and special order only.

Kilwins, 116 W. State St., Black Mountain, 828-669-6119, kilwins.com/stores/kilwins-black-mountain. For take-out: ice cream quarts and chocolate-dipped treats. In the store: birthday parties for up to 8 children, ages 7-12 preferred. Call the store and leave a message for details.

McFarlan Bakery, 309 N. Main St., Hendersonville, 828-693-4256, mcfarlanbakery.com. Cakes and more, made to order.

Publix, area locations; publix.com. Custom decorated cakes in a variety of sizes, flavors and themes.

Pure Butter Bakery, Sylva, 828-342-0247, purebutterbakery.weebly.com. Custom cakes and cupcakes.

Short Street Cakes, 225 Haywood Road, Asheville, 828-505-4822, shortstreetcakes.com. Naturally handcrafted cakes, pies and more. Gluten-free and vegan options are available.

The Hop Ice Cream Cafe, Multiple WNC locations, including The Creamery at 167 Haywood Road and 640 Merrimon Ave. (including Pop Bubble Tea), hopicecreamnc.com. The Hop Creamery has dairy and vegan ice cream cakes in a variety of sizes, decorations, budgets, and for all different ages, available for birthdays, showers, graduations or any celebration.

Three Eggs Cakery of Asheville, serving Asheville and surrounding areas, 828-585-7035, 3eggscakery.com. Certified commercial kitchen based in Flat Rock. Delivery on all orders. Offering custom cakes, dessert tables and cookie decorating classes for all ages.

Ultimate Ice Cream, 1070 Tunnel Road, Asheville, 197 Charlotte St., Asheville, ultimateicecreamavl.com. Fresh craft-made ice cream sold by the cup, cone, pints and quarts.

Well-Bred Bakery, 26 N. Main St., Weaverville; Grove Arcade, Asheville; 6 Boston Way, Asheville; 232 Reems Creek Road, Weaverville, wellbredbakery.com. Birthday cakes and catering are available.

Whisk, 801 Smokey Park Highway, Candler, 828-633-0622, whiskavl.com. Drive-through bakery. Special event cakes, cupcakes, pastries and more are available.

WNC Parent’s 2024 Birthday Guide: Entertainment

Get some extra help entertaining the crowd and make life a little easier in the process.

Asheville Inflatable, 828-230-0443, ashevilleinflatables.com. Bounce houses, wet and dry slides, gem mining, concessions and more.

Asheville Storks & More, Asheville, Hendersonville and the surrounding area, 828-782-8022, ashevillestorksandmore.com. Personalized and unique yard signs celebrate birthday parties, graduations, and new baby arrivals.

Bill Grimsley, Magic Productions Inc., 828-777-9143, magicprod1@bellsouth.net, billgrimsleymagic.com. A professional Christian entertainer for over 30 years, Bill Grimsley provides magic and humor for a variety of events.

Bricks 4 Kidz Mobile Parties, 828-674-2446, bricks4kidz.com/northcarolina-asheville-arden. All parties include 90 minutes of organized Lego building activities, with add on options available, all at your location.

Card My Yard Arden,cardmyyard.com/arden. Yard signs are available for birthdays, anniversaries, new baby celebrations and more.

Caricatures by Brian Vasilik, Asheville, 828-298-1350, facebook.com/BrianVasilikCaricatures. Hand-drawn caricatures for family and company parties. Contact Brian for prices and availability.

Hendersonville Bounce, Hendersonville, 828-20-AMUSE, hendersonvillebounce.com. Inflatables, games, concessions and more, including a rock wall and a mechanical bull, are available.

Marcie the Balloon Fairy, 828-423-2030, facebook.com/MarcieTheBalloonFairy. Interactive balloon art and magic shows are offered where the birthday child is the star.

Mountain Circus Arts, WNC, randallthompson@gmail.com, mountaincircusarts.com. Entertaining locally and regionally for 31 years, the Thompson family offers a variety of characters for your theme, including clowns, jugglers, fire eaters, magicians, pirates, over the top chefs, mad scientists and classic street performers. Characters, costuming, props and performances are tailored for specific needs.

Professor Whizzpop, Sylva, 828-506-3198, professorwhizzpop.com. Magic shows to amaze, amuse, inspire and enthuse alongside balloon art for all ages.

Rental Me This, 535 Merrimon Ave., Asheville, 828-505-3434, rentalmethis.com. Full-service company with party and outdoor recreation rentals, inflatables, and party essentials.

Songs Sealed Delivered, 828-776-0411, songssealeddelivered@gmail.com, songssealeddelivered.com. Balloon twisting, princess parties, face painting, balloon decor, fairy hair, party planning, balloon delivery, singing telegrams and children's characters are available.

The Bubble Brigade, Sylva, 828-506-3198, thebubblebrigade.com. Foamtastic foam parties are offered for all ages with music, beachballs and foam fun.

Zuber Mobile Petting Zoo of the Carolinas, 864-316-1301, ZUBERPettingZoo@gmail.com, zuberpettingzoo.com. This mobile petting zoo and pony ride service offers party options to the Upstate of SC and foothills of NC.