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Long Island Birthday Party Places: Play Spaces and Museums

Center for Science, Teaching, and Learning – Rockville Centre

Dinosaur-loving tots will not be disappointed in a birthday party at CSTL. The facility boasts a beautiful dinosaur exhibit that includes multiple animatronic dinosaurs, fossils, and live animals. More dinosaurs and animals can be found outside, including a "dig site." Birthday parties are offered on weekends and include a private party room with two bathrooms, pizza, paper goods, and two party hosts. 

Children's Museum of the East End – Bridgehampton

This South Fork museum features a number of themed play spaces where children can run a diner or food truck, sail a ship, play musical instruments, or meet hand puppets. It also features an arts-and-crafts room where there is almost always a project that kids can join. The discovery area for small children is a delight for all ages. Party packages include baby's first birthday, the "Classic," which includes a birthday announcement over the loudspeaker and a t-shirt for the birthday kid, the "Bash," which includes pizza and cake, and the all-out "Extravaganza.” After the party, kids are invited to stay and play in the museum until closing.

RELATED: Animal Encounter Birthday Parties for LI Kids

The toddler section at Xplore Port Jefferson is full of soft obstacles for littles to explore. Photo by Gina Massaro

Xplore Family Fun Center – Port Jefferson Station, Commack

The Port Jefferson center has a soft play area just for those 3 and under. In addition, there is an inflatable obstacle course and slides. There are several party packages to choose from, and all include a private party room for 90 minutes, cupcakes, pizza, and juice, as well as paper goods. The Commack location also has indoor glow carts, with children as young as 4 years old able to drive. 

Cradle of Aviation Museum – Garden City

The Junior Jet Club makes the Cradle of Aviation a great party option for toddlers and preschoolers, especially if they love airplanes or rocket ships. Kids will get to do an age-appropriate craft before exploring the museum. 

The playground is a hit with La La Land party-goers.

La La Land – Babylon

La La Land is not only clean, but its crisp aesthetic is pleasing to even adult eyes. Toddlers and preschoolers will love climbing and hiding in the CedarWorks playground. Play areas and equipment are separated with enough space for kids to run and explore without getting in each other's way. All party packages include at least 90 minutes of play time, balloons for the table, and invitations. 

RELATED: 25 Things to Do With LI Preschoolers

Science, engineering, and lots of imagination make a Long Island Explorium birthday party a blast. 

Long Island Explorium – Port Jefferson

Newly rebranded, the former Maritime Explorium offers young ones a chance to go crazy with interactive and engaging exhibits and a big boat filled with rice. With a science and engineering theme, a birthday party here offers bang for your buck with one of the most affordable on-site parties we've come across. Museum teachers cater activities to your child's age, and the party package also includes invitations, paper goods, pizza and drinks, music, and museum passes for each guest. You can also select a theme from the STEM challenges to add a special touch.

Long Island Children's Museum – Garden City

LICM offers a tot-spot option for children 2-5. It includes either a music-and-movement activity or an art activity, as well as time in the bubbles gallery and the play space. Preschoolers can choose a "story-and-art" package that includes a visit to the tot spot, or the "messy merriment package," a multi-sensory experience of goopy and gooey substances. There are add-ons such as silly sounds, slime time, or an animal encounter. The museum store is available to assist with goody bags.

My Gym Huntington – Huntington Station

There's plenty to keep a tiny tyke or preschooler busy here. With soft mats, small slides, a ball pit, multiple swings, and climbing structures, toddlers will be engaged and so will their older siblings. Packages provide use of the entire gym as well as a free class for each child. Add-ons include a bounce house or selfie station.

Enjoy an imaginative party experience at Once Upon a Treetop in Plainview.

Once Upon a Treetop – Plainview

This large indoor play space focuses on creating settings for imaginative play. The space is organized as if it were a little town or city, with a post office, restaurant, school, veterinary office, grocery store, construction zone, and more. Kids can run from room to room or ride little cars and bikes. In the back, there is a climbing tree house with a slide. Book a basic, 90-minute Treetop Party and add an extra 30 minutes of crafting, stuff-a-friend, dance party, baby ballet, or "Soccer Shots" for an additional cost.

Planet Play – Bellmore

Planet Play is a favorite birthday party spot for Long Islanders on Nassau's south shore. There is a multi-level climbing structure appropriate for toddlers through preschoolers, as well as an arcade and small bounce house. The dedicated toddler and baby zone is a safe space for crawlers and new walkers to explore. You also have the option of theming your child's birthday party to anything they are interested in. 

Safari Adventure – Riverhead

With a toddler-only area, a sensory calming spa, and a hands-on sensory area, this play park has something for everyone. There are several party packages to choose from, and all include a private party room for 90 minutes, cupcakes, pizza, juice, and paper goods.

RELATED: Great Indoor Play Spaces for LI Toddlers

Swoosh down the slide at Sippy Cups Cafe. Photo by Gina Massaro

Sippy Cups Cafe – Seaford

The indoor play space is a perfect birthday party venue for toddlers and preschoolers. There is a kitchen for pretend play, a doll house, and large CedarWorks playground to explore. Parties can include a visit from your child's favorite superhero or princess. 

Little ones love to play in the barn of corn at Fink’s Country Farm. Photo by Gina Massaro

Long Island Birthday Party Places: Petting Zoos and Animal Farms

Fink's Country Farm – Wading River

Fink's Country Farm is an affordable birthday party location where you get a lot of bang for your buck. A party at Fink's includes a visit to the barnyard, where kids can pet and feed goats, ducks, alpacas, chickens, and more. The corn barn is always a fun sensory play experience, and the play area includes bikes, a giant jump pillow, and a tractor slide.

Garden of Eve Farm – Riverhead

This is a favorite of ours for strawberry picking, and we were thrilled to learn it offers birthday parties. Kids can play with toys on the farm until the cows come home (a.k.a., when the farm closes for the day). They can climb on the spider web, climb on the castle structures, and race around the haystack on scooters. Pony rides are available for an additional fee, and you can add on an organic lunch, snack, and cake.

White Post Farms – Melville

Little ones delight in feeding the animals, riding the ponies, and exploring this hands-on farm. Each party gets a privately decorated room, pizza, juice, and a special gift for the birthday child. Check out the fresh baked seasonal goodies on your way out.

At-Home Entertainers for Long Island Birthday Parties

Let Them Play 

Soft play areas can be delivered directly to your home or the venue of your choice. The play equipment is great for crawlers through preschoolers. Some offerings include ball pits, giant foam blocks, and small slides. 

PlayHooray 

This popular program is found at libraries across Long Island, but you can "let Molly Mouse bring the party to your house." PlayHooray parties combine music, instruments, ball play, a parade, and more.

Tack 'N' Go Farms Long Island Pony Parties

A basic party here includes an hour of unlimited pony rides. You can add face painting, a miniature donkey, a bunny pen, and an extra half-hour of time for additional fees. Winter birthdays can be held on location at Tack 'N' Go Farms in Oakdale.

Top Tips for Throwing a Birthday Party for Your Toddler

After going through the expense of the party and inviting friends and relatives, it can be disappointing if the guest of honor spends the party in tears. Here are some helpful hints when considering an ideal venue.

• Visit the venue with your child first. Take advantage of any open-play sessions. Your child will require less warmup time to get used to the party place.
• Keep it small. While it can be hard to keep the number of invites down, you might not want to invite everyone as it can be a lot for a little one to handle. Consider a small gathering at home with the grandparents, aunts, and uncles, and save the party for the little ones. 
• Prepare your child ahead of time for what to expect. Have a small family celebration at home and sing Happy Birthday so he or she knows what that's like. Don't let the party be the first time you place a cake with candles in front of him or her, as you don't know how the child will react. 
• Choose an early morning time. The later in the day, the more you have to worry about interfering with nap times for your child and guests. Most young children seem to be at their best first thing in the morning. Adults probably will be grateful for the long afternoon nap likely to follow. 

This post, originally published in 2013, was updated in 2023.

Unless noted, photos courtesy of the venues