Celebrate Your Child’s Next Birthday at Firefly Play Cafe!

My son turned three a couple of weeks ago and we celebrated with family and friends at Firefly Play Cafe. It was a blast. The kids had fun racing around on scooters and jumping in the bounce house, and the parents had fun socializing. This was the first time my husband and I threw a birthday party outside of our home, and we weren’t sure what to expect. We had lots of questions and Karen Reider, one of the owners, was so helpful and kind. She made everything easy – from answering my endless email questions to keeping the flow of the party going. Karen seemed just as excited as I was to throw a party for my boy, and that really made my family feel special.

We chose Firefly Play Cafe because the kids love to play there, and since it was winter we wanted a space where the kids could run around and exert some energy. And, play they did. We were told some of our little guests even fell asleep on the way home.

Now, let’s walk through the process, shall we? Let’s hold virtual hands, and I’ll list what I did in regards to planning for my first out-of-the-house party experience with Karen at Firefly Play Cafe (which I can’t say enough nice things about – let’s start with “You guys are true professionals and treat everyone with the utmost respect…even when they are being needy and a bit stressed out.”). Now, onto business, as follows:

STEP ONE: Call/email Firefly two to three months in advance with dates of when you want to book your party.

This is important because they book up quickly, and it allows time to choose the most preferable day and time for your family. We booked on a Sunday from 3 p.m. – 5 p.m. Details for booking here: Firefly Play Cafe: Party Planning.

STEP TWO: Send out your invites with name, location, and time of party about four weeks in advance.

I used Evite because you can include a map and it seems easier for people to RSVP online. Firefly is kind of hard to see when you are driving down High Street. A few of my guests had a hard time finding it. I would advise you to mention it is right beside the Verizon store in front of the bus stop.  Also, be sure to mention guests can park for free on the street if the spots are filled in the parking lot, and they can enter through the back entrance.

STEP THREE: Work with the folks at Firefly to plan your menu.

We had a cake and provided snacks, water, and juice. I also made cookies for the kids to decorate, but only after getting the okay from Firefly. I promised not to have decorations such as Nerds, sprinkles, or other tiny candies that would be hard to clean up or get all over the floor.

Karen got everything set up and put the tables together for eating, socializing, cookie-making. I just asked how I could help and she put me to work. I barely did a thing – she was an awesome host.

*Don’t forget the plates, cups, napkins, and cutlery if you are providing food. If you don’t want to do any food, that would be fine too, but I would suggest water for thirsty kids. Coffee is provided for the adults.

STEP FOUR: Work with the folks at Firefly to plan your decorations.

I brought red plastic table cloths for color, balloons (one for each child to take home), small train whistles and Thomas the Tank Engine tattoos as take-aways, and used colorful plates and napkins. I am not generally a streamers kind of gal, but if you wanted to put up signs and have streamers, just talk to Karen Reider or Chrissy Kilroe (co-owner) about what they think makes the most sense.

STEP FIVE: Once you receive RSVPs let Firefly know approximately how many guests they should expect.

This helps them determine how to set up tables, how many chairs to put out, etc.

STEP SIX: Show up. Don’t forget to list everything out you’ll need to bring or be on time if food is getting delivered.

Firefly opens their doors for set-up half an hour before the party starts. Plan to stay half an hour after the party ends to clean up.

• A waiver needs to be signed if your child is going to play.
• Suggest the kiddies take their shoes off and put them in the cubbies provided. Shoes aren’t allowed in the bounce house, and since kids forget, it is easier to just take them off right away.
• Show your guests where the bathrooms are and where they can hang their coats.

Miscellaneous tidbits I learned along the way:

1. If you make your cake, be sure you have a good vessel to transport it in. (Let’s just say I was stressing about this one. I got all fancy – for me – and then didn’t know how to get the cake out of my house.)

2. Gifts. Be sure your decision on gifts is stated on your invite.

3. Also, gifts are opened at home, not at the party. Don’t waste precious playtime!

4. I didn’t bring ice cream, so if you think you will bring it, ask Karen or Chrissy how that is handled.

5. Have plenty of water. Kids get really thirsty! I provided individual bottled water and big bottles of juice with small cups for the kids.

I had around 30 adults and 19 children and this is what I went through as far as food and drinks:

Food: 1 bag of pretzels; 1 bag of potato chips; 1/2 a veggie tray (pre-made from Giant Eagle in their produce section); 1/2 big box of Gold Fish; one bunch of grapes; I made 36 sugar cookie cut-outs shaped like trains and went home with 24, provided Rolos, Twizzlers, M&Ms, and sour patch kids for decorating, and had 2 small bags of icing that I had left from the cake to hold the candies; train cake; and my friend over at Travels With Pirates made the “Boring Grown-Up Cake.”

Drinks: I went through about 24 bottles of water and one regular sized Mott’s Apple Juice.

A special Thank You goes to uber talented Ely Bros. Photography. All of the pictures you see in this post were taken by them. Aren’t they terrific?!! (Disclosure: Ely Bros. were taking pictures for Firefly Play Cafe’s website, and happened to be there during our party. They took all of the pictures you see on my site at no cost to me.)

Firefly Play Cafe

4822 N. High Street

Columbus, OH 43214

614-230-2375

Want to know more about Firefly Play Cafe? Check out my Cbus Mom post:

Firefly Play Cafe in Columbus, OH

or

My Columbus Underground post:

New Modern Play Space Firefly Play Cafe Opens

Disclosure: Humongous THANK YOU goes to Firefly Play Cafe for hosting my son’s party free of charge to me in exchange for a birthday party post.