Your Guide to Throwing a Children's Birthday Party in Albany County
Looking to throw your child a birthday party in Albany County and don't know where to start? Take a scroll through this range of options to make the celebration extra special.
Albany County has a variety of indoor party options — perfect for a birthday during any season — and outdoor party venues to take advantage of warmer weather birthdays.
No matter where you choose to host, explore ways to bring the party to life from dazzling decorations to photo booths. Plus, we've rounded up some of Albany's best bakeries and treat-makers so you can have your cake and eat it too.
Indoor Party Locations
Whether your party takes place during the winter or you’re looking for an air-conditioned spot for a summer party, Albany County has plenty of indoor venues to celebrate the special day.
Regal Movie Theatres
Have your child invite their friends to grab some popcorn, find a seat, and be transported to another universe during a birthday party at Regal. Regal Theatres can be found in both Colonie Center Mall and Crossgates Mall. Choose from brand new films playing at the theatre or enter in the film genre you'd like to see. Enjoy cake, gifts, and snacks in a designated and decorated party room. Request a birthday party at Regal here.
The Pottery Place
Each child can paint their own pottery souvenir from a birthday party at The Pottery Place in Stuyvesant Plaza. The pottery studio has separate rooms for parties with 8 to 29 painters and a designated party host to lead the special day. Want to host the party in your own home or a separate party venue? Rent the Party in a Box with everything you need to paint your pieces. For larger groups, the Pottery Place will bring the fun to you! Call (518) 446 0870 for more information.
Paint Cohoes
Let the creativity flow for your child and their friends with a painting party at Paint Cohoes. Each child can create their very own masterpiece to take home. The studio in downtown Cohoes offers parties for children of all ages and room to create your own customizable event. Book your party by emailing paintcohoes@gmail.com.
Dick's House of Sport
Have a future sports star on your hands? Host your birthday party at Dick's House of Sport in Latham! The sports shop offers a variety of packages each including a party Team Captain to lead your young athletes through fun activities, a dedicated party space, custom party gifts, and a custom shirt for the party guest of honor. Choose from a Rock Wall party, a Golfing party, or a combination of the two. Book your party here.
Nelly's Treats
Book the newly renovated event space at Nelly's Treats in Cohoes for a lovely indoor party. You can work with the bakery to create a customizable event. Plus, Nelly's Treats offers delicious treats and cakes to serve at your celebration.
Albany County Hockey Facility
Skate into the big day with a party at the Albany County Hockey Facility. The ice-skating rink is open for ten months each year making for a fun indoor party no matter the season. Rent the party room and enjoy public skate admission included.
Party Venues at Crossgates Mall
Crossgates Mall has a variety of fun birthday party spots for children of all ages. Have each party guest build a forever friend at Build-a-Bear Workshop. Build-a-Bear offers a variety of party packages each with a designated party leader, a stuffed animal for each guest, games, and a photo booth. Or for a group of adventurers, take the party on a journey to a mummy's tomb, dragon's castle, or onboard a rocket ship at 5 Wits Entertainment. 5 Wits offers three live-action adventure rooms where guests must solve puzzles, games, and challenges to complete their mission. 5 Wits offers a variety of party packages with customizable options.
Find classic fun and games with a party package at Apex Entertainment. The venue offers everything from laser tag to bowling, arcade games, sport simulators, escape rooms, and more. Or play the day away at Dave & Buster's offering dozens of arcade games and a selection of party packages. Head up to the third floor of the mall to celebrate at Billy Beez, an indoor play park buzzing with fun. Or jump into the big day at Get Air Trampoline Park. Both third floor spots offer party packages. Book a party at Billy Beez here or at Get Air Trampoline Park here.
Hotels with Swimming Pools
Booking your child's birthday party at a hotel with a swimming pool is a great way to swim the day away when the weather is cold outside — plus it can make for the ultimate slumber party. Whether you book a room or coordinate with the hotel to use a meeting space for the day, there are plenty of locations in Albany County to choose from. Explore this page to get in touch with locations that may be able to accommodate your party!
Outdoor Party Locations
Soak up the sun and enjoy a lovely outdoor party in Albany County. Outdoor venues are a great option for birthdays from spring to early fall. Take a scroll through this list of outdoor locations for your celebration.
WildPlay Thacher
Swing, soar, and zip through the trees at the WildPlay Elements Park tucked within the gorgeous Thacher Park. WildPlay offers exciting (and safe) outdoor adventure courses with age requirements starting at 5+. Explore the park's birthday packages which offer special gifts for the birthday adventurer and each of their guests. WildPlay Thacher is open May through October.
Huck Finn’s Playland
Celebrate your child's birthday at the classic Albany amusement park, Huck Finn's Playland. Children can enjoy 2 hours of fun exploring the playland's rides from the Carousel to the Scrambler, Tilt a Whirl, Ferris Wheel and more. Book the party package including ride wristbands, pizza, beverages, a treat coupon and reserved tables. Huck Finn's Playland opens each season in May and closes early fall.
Indian Ladder Farms
This historic farm in Altamont offers a series of seasonal birthday party options May through October. Children can learn about, pet, and feed animals that live on the farm during a Baby Animal Birthday Party or the Farm Animal Party. Children with fall birthdays can invite their friends for an apple picking party or pumpkin picking party complete with a hayride to the orchard or pumpkin patch to pick-their-own.
Albany County Parks & Playgrounds
This party option is perfect for birthdays in the warm weather months and there are plenty of Albany County locations to choose from! Many playgrounds have designated picnic areas to enjoy snacks, activities and to open gifts or picnic pavilions to rent. Check out just some of the playgrounds throughout Albany County below:
Ways to Bring Your Party to Life No Matter the Location
No matter where you throw your party, there are plenty of businesses in Albany County that can help make the day extra special with fun activities, dazzling decorations, and photo opportunities.
Bash Birthday Parties
Bash Birthday Parties brings the party right to your doorstep or whichever location you choose! Choose from a list of themes including Spy, Mini-Golf, Art, Games, Dinosaur, Mermaid and more. The staff will bring theme-based decorations and activities to fill the day. They will also take care of hosting and clean-up meaning you can sit back and take it easy on party day.
Smile Lounge Interactive Photo Booth
Capture all the memories of the day with your child and their friends with the help of Smile Lounge Interactive. This traveling photo booth business has a variety of options from glittery backdrops to a green screen. The friendly staff will help make your party special with customizable backdrops and props. Enjoy unlimited prints, unlimited photo sessions, and tech support no matter which option you choose!
The Balloonary
Add a pop of fun and color to your birthday party decor with a custom balloon installation by The Balloonary. The brand new Madison Ave business in Albany offers customizable designs with a variety of sizes and colors or pre-made designs with themes from galaxy to ice cream.
Birthday Treats
End the birthday festivities on a sweet note by ordering from one of Albany County's local bakeries or treat-makers.
Emack & Bolio’s
Nothing says birthday like cake and ice cream, why not combine the two with a customized ice cream cake from Emack & Bolio's? This specialty ice cream shop offers a variety of funky ice cream flavors and each cake has room for two. Plus, the decorators never disappoint when it comes to your cake design. Looking for other treats? The shop serves everything from baked goods, to hand-crafted chocolates and of course, scoops of ice cream.
Bonus: Email events@ebalbany.com to host a birthday party at this sweet stop open all-year round. Another fun way to bring Emack & Bolio's to your party is to rent their ice cream truck complete with your child's 8 favorite flavors.
Nelly's Treats
Enjoy a delicious custom cake from this locally owned bakery in Cohoes. Nelly's Treats offers specialty cakes from cookies and cream to strawberry crunch and a variety of cake and cupcake flavors. Plus, you can work with the bakery to create a special cake design perfect for your party theme. Looking for some snacks to graze on during the party? Nelly's also offers charcuterie boards filled with fruit, baked goods, cheese, crackers and more.
Bonus: Host your birthday party at the event space in Nelly's Treats.
Sweet Eats
A great option for dietary restrictions, Sweet Eats serves up delicious flavors while being gluten-free, dairy-free and vegan. Choose from the shop's options of cake, cupcakes, and dairy-free cheesecakes with flavors from classic vanilla and chocolate to red velvet and lemon. The shop also offers baking mixes you could use to host an allergy-friendly baking birthday party.
What's Poppin
For a birthday treat that's out of the box (or if you're hosting an at-home movie party) place an order with What's Poppin'. The gourmet popcorn shop on Central Ave has a variety of flavors from classic butter to caramel. Order customized party favors for each child to enjoy, a customized popcorn bar or have fun making the popcorn right at your party location by renting a popper for the day directly from the store.
