Fall means pumpkin carving, leaf raking and a whole mess of holiday preparations, from Halloween costume searching (or sewing!) to Thanksgiving meal planning. If someone in your house has a birthday coming up too, you may be feeling a bit...frazzled. Rain? Check. Wind? Check. Party in the park? Maybe not.

At KidsQuest we've had our share of parties. Below are some tips to get you through it...without losing your head.

• Looking for something special? Try a theme party. In the last year we've seen a pirate party (complete with pirate hats, homemade treasure chests and a scavenger hunt), a Night at the Museum party (the perfect theme for an after hours event!) and our fair share of princess parties. We'll provide the space, you provide the imagination.

(Psst: If you're planning a pirate party you'll love the new accessories in our Treehouse!)

• If possible, avoid opening presents at a big party. This can take awhile, and kids aren't interested in sitting for that long (especially when there's a museum to explore).

(Psst: If you decide you do want to open presents, our birthday staff will keep track of who gave what. Less work for you!)

• Don't stress about who has or hasn't RSVP'ed. Plan for the worst and hope for the best. You're never going to hear back from everyone.

(Psst: Not sure how many guests will end up coming? Give us the guest list and we'll do the headcount.)

• Considering KidsQuest for your party and want to know if it's a good choice? Do your kids love coming here? Yes? Problem solved.

Got questions about having a birthday party at KidsQuest Children’s Museum? Click here to contact our birthday coordinator. We can host school events, corporate parties and family reunions too!