Throw a Pink-alicious Birthday Bash for Your Girlie Girl

Got a kiddo who believes that i’s dotted with hearts should be a universal standard? That rainbows and unicorns should adorn every T-shirt? And that sparkles improve just about everything? Celebrate your girlie girl on her special day with a perfectly pink birthday bash (psst… boys who think real men wear pink will love these too). Read on!

Spectacular Spa Parties

Planet Happy 
Go natural with a Budding Herbalist birthday party at Planet Happy in Ravenna. At this party, little gals (or guys) mix up non-toxic lotions, fragrances and bath fizzies that they personalize with special fragrances and even packaging they can decorate. All it takes is a little bit of mixing and blending (pestle and mortar style) using oils and dried flowers to create these spa masterpieces. Each birthday package includes paper goods and utensils, custom evites and even a surprise gift for the birthday girl. So this is a no-stress sitch where everyone can enjoy the party.

Planet Happy also has a Little Fairy Garden party for the fairy fan in your fam. Create a pint-sized garden (known more commonly by its Latin name: terrarium) specially designed to attract the fairies in your ‘hood. Totally sweet! Both parties are for those 4 and over. And did we mention they have a pet hedgehog at the shop? Cuteness overload! Be sure to save an extra seat at your party table for Buttercup.

Good to know: Planet Happy can add to your party experience (and reduce your planning stress) with a few extras. Themed decorations or fresh flower bouquets are just $20 each. Or have them assemble natural goody bags with organic chocolate and a few theme-based items for just $5 each.

Planet Happy
2914 NE 55th Street
Seattle, Wa 98105
800-995-0154

Cost: $25/person (6 kid minimum, 12 kid maximum); $50 deposit required to book the party
Book it: planethappytoys.com

Pacific Science Center
What’s not to love about a girlie girl getting her geek on with a Spa Birthday Party package at the Pacific Science Center? We’d say nothing. At this party, glamorous party-goers will mix beauty with science as they make scented bath fizzies and lip balms with their friends, and learn about the chemical reactions taking place at the same time! Each little scientist also gets a spa cookbook to color, complete with ingredient lists and recipes so families can recreate these beauty products at home (don’t worry, most of the items are already in your cupboards). Top it all off with some liquid nitrogen ice cream and cake, and you’ve got a spa-rific day for any birthday kiddo! The best part? This 2-hour party package is a total hassle-free parent experience. Cake, decorations, table settings and evites are all included in the price. It’s a show up and enjoy kind of experience so hosts get to relax and party, too!

Pacific Science Center
200 Second Avenue North
Seattle, Wa 98109
206-443-2001

Cost: $285 for up to 20 guests (members); $305 for up to 15 guests (non-members); $7 for each additional guest (members and non-members alike)
Book it: pacificsciencecenter.org/Birthday-Parties/birthdays

A few more places: Be sure to check out our picks for Mommy and Me mani-pedis for other spa day party options!

Artsy Fartsy Parties

Arts Aloft
Design the perfect art party for your budding Picasso with a party at Arts Aloft, in the Madrona neighborhood. Get your creative juices flowing with Betsy (Arts Aloft owner and mom) when you meet to design the party project. Fairy houses are what she’s known for, but Betsy can create whatever your birthday girl’s heart desires. Woodland themes, animals, horses and castles are some recent faves. This two-hour party package starts with a free-for-all on the art wall (yes, an entire wall dedicated to being messy!) with paints and Sharpies. Then, expect about 45 minutes – 1 hour of project time, with the rest dedicated to cake and presents. The best part? The party project doubles as a goodie bag, a special gift from the birthday girl to her friends. What a great way to say thanks! Parents supply the cake, plates and drinks, and Arts Aloft takes care of the rest. That’s an easy-peasy parent-pleasing party, for sure!

Good to know: Betsy engages parents and the special birthday girl in a truly creative, collaborative process designing the birthday project together. So plan to be involved creating before the special day. Also, these parties work best for kiddos age 4.5 and up. It’s an attention span thing, of course!

Arts Aloft: an art studio for kids
3302 East Spring Street
Seattle, Wa 98122
206-920-2015

Cost: $285 for the first 6 guests; $25 for ea920-2015ch additional (14 kid maximum)
Book it: artsaloftforkids.com

Mind Unwind Studio
Prepare to paint the afternoon away with your arty birthday girl at the Mind Unwind Studio in West Seattle. This awesome space will inspire artists big and small, as they paint a birthday masterpiece that would make Frida Kahlo proud. About one week before the big event, families can brainstorm with an instructor to design the perfect themed painting to match the party. You can come up with something totally new or choose from some past favorites, like owls, rainbows or even a pirate-themed painting where the minis paint a treasure map. It’s a completely customizable and creative process! And it’s pretty low-key from the parent perspective too. All you bring is the cake, and Mind Unwind provides the rest, including pizza from local eatery, Luciano’s. Plus, there’s no need for decorations (interesting art trumps tired balloons and streamers). Get your brushes and berets ready for this one!

Mind Unwind

2206A California Avenue SW
Seattle, Wa98116
206-829-9128

Cost: $250 for up to 10 guests, $15 each additional (15 kid maximum)
Book it: mindunwind.org

Queen For a Day Parties

Queen Mary Tea Room
Little princesses (ages 5-10) will love donning their white gloves and fancy hats for a kid’s formal afternoon tea party at the Queen Mary Tea Room in Ravenna. This classic English tea starts with a short etiquette lesson (be sure to request this when booking), so that the little ladies get off on the right foot, and a dazzling tiara. Because let’s face it, what tea would be complete without it? Each mini then selects a pot of tea to sip throughout the luncheon (hot cocoa, and plenty of decaf’s, available too). The kiddos will love that the tea is steeped for them. How very proper! Lunch continues with a fruit sorbet trio and shortbread cookie to cleanse the palate, fresh fruits, cotton candy a la royale, and chocolate fudge tea cake (drool much?) And the birthday girl’s in charge of choosing between peanut butter & raspberry jam sandwiches or grilled cheese for her guests. We’re pretty sure there’s no wrong answer with this menu. The final verdict: Two pinkies up for this party package!

Good to know: As this is a popular spot with proper ladies of all ages, we recommend making the reservation at least 2 weeks in advance. And if possible, leave strollers and car seats outside (or let them know ahead of time if you need to bring them in). This is a truly intimate tea room, so space is limited. And while there is no maximum number of guests, accommodating parties over 15 is only possible after 4:00 pm.

Queen Mary Tea Room
2912 Northeast 55th Street
Seattle, Wa 98105
206-527-2770

Book it: queen-mary-tea.myshopify.com/pages/reservations

Cederberg Tea House 
For a worldly tea experience, try the Bella Bella Children’s Tea Party at the Cederberg Tea House on Queen Anne. This South African style tea features delish, authentic dishes like mulva pudding and koeksister, alongside familiar faves like ham and cheese and strawberry jam sandwiches. Talk about yummy! The enticing array is served on traditional 3-tiered English tea trays and comes with a pot of tea, hot cocoa or a baby-cino (a small cup of steamed milk sprinkled with Nesquik, like a mini cappuccino. How sweet!). Have party-goers wear their formal best to add an air of authenticity. Then sift through the Cederberg’s collection of vintage hats (for girls and boys) to find the perfect piece to top it all off. A perfectly proper way to celebrate!

Cederberg Tea House
1417 Queen Anne Ave North
Seattle, Wa 98109
206-285-1352

Cost: $17/person (2 person minimum, 25 person maximum)
Book it: cederbergteahouse.com/tea-party-reservations

Dancing Parties

Darrah Blanton at Soma Yoga
Your little ballerina (ages 2-8), and up to 12 of her friends, can perfect the perfect pas de bourree with Darrah Blanton at Soma Yoga in Ballard. Darrah starts each 2-hour long party with a warm-up circle of nursery rhymes or Brain Dance (depending on the age group) and keeps the partiers moving throughout the 50-minute instructional period. Guests will dance, dance, dance during popular listen and move activities, and even use pom-poms, hula hoops and a colorful parachute (guaranteed to entice even the shyest participant out of her corner) to practice their moves. Finish it all up with an obstacle course designed to really work those large motor skills, and we’d say you’ve got a twirl-tastic event! Cake, present and some much needed cool down time to follow. Darrah loves to work with families to incorporate party themes into the dance time. She’s got a great Nutcracker routine that involves sugar plum fairy costumes (insert kidlet squeal of delight here) and plenty of other tricks up her sleeve. This is one tutu-rific party idea!

Darrah Blanton Dance at Soma Yoga
1423 NW 70th Street
Seattle, Wa 98117

Cost: $225
Book it: darrahblantondance.com

Do you have a girlie birthday party favorite? Share it with us in a comment below.

–Allison Sutcliffe

Photos thanks to: Cederberg Tea House’s website, Mind Unwind’s Facebook page, Queen Mary Tea Room’s Facebook page, Arts Aloft’s website, School of Acrobatics & New Circus Arts and Darrah Blanton Dance’s Facebook page