New Jersey boasts plenty of fun birthday party places for children, including a cool selection of birthday party destinations on the Jersey Shore. If you are looking to host a kids’ birthday party in Monmouth County, Ocean County, or Cape May County, then this list is for you.
From Ocean City and Toms River to Point Pleasant and Red Bank, our picks for the best birthday party places on the Jersey Shore include unique birthday party venues, birthday parties focused on creative crafts, indoor playgrounds, and even a glow-in-the-dark dance birthday party. Find more birthday party planning tips in our Birthday Party Guide for New Jersey Families.
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GoodSports USA offers sports-themed fun during its birthday parties.
Monmouth County Birthday Party Places for Kids
1. GoodSports USA – Wall
This climate-controlled sports facility offers flag football, whiffle ball, kickball, soft hockey, dodgeball, soccer, and relay races on its indoor turf fields. After an hour of sports and games, guests move into the party room for pizza and cake. From June through August, GoodSports also offers pool parties for kids in its outdoor swimming area, which includes an Olympic-sized heated pool, splash park, and kiddie pool.
2. Jungle Jim and Jane – Atlantic Highlands
This indoor soft playground is designed for children ages 6 months to 8 years old. The colorful play space offers 80 minutes of play followed by 40 minutes in a private birthday party room. The birthday party package includes a slide show of the birthday child on a big screen, goody bags for each guest, paper products, a safari-themed sheet cake, and pizza and a drink for each child.
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Enjoy glow-in-the-dark games and dancing for guests of all ages at DJ Got Me Fit. Photo by the author
3. DJ Got Me Fit – Aberdeen
Parents can rent out the DJ Got Me Fit space for a glow-in-the-dark kids’ birthday party. All birthday parties include music and games led by a staff member. Hosts can choose between several themes including Nerf, slumber party, tie dye, slime, minute to win it, and more. Party packages include paper goods and pizza and water for each child. There is also a larger location in Manalapan, NJ, that can fit up to 80 guests for a private event.
4. Chocolate Works – Red Bank
Kids can create their own chocolates and candies during a two-hour birthday party at Chocolate Works. Children learn from a staff member how to mold, decorate, and dip their edible crafts in a private party room. With the standard party package, each kid receives a pizza slice, drink, one chocolate molded item, and the child’s choice of one chocolate-covered pretzel or marshmallow. Fun add-ons include a chocolate fountain, candy bracelets, and a make-a-sundae option.
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Guests love the interactive treasure hunt during a Jersey Shore Pirates birthday party.
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Ocean County Birthday Party Places for Kids
5. Jersey Shore Pirate Adventure – Brick
Up to 43 guests can board this pirate-themed ship that sails on the Metedeconk River from April through September. The adventure includes paint-on pirate tattoos for all guests and a one-hour and 15-minute long voyage where kids get to raise the ship’s flags, battle Pirate Pete with water cannons, and discover sunken treasure. Birthday party options include up to 20 guests on a non-private ship or renting out the entire ship for just your event. Hosts can also add on 45 minutes after docking in the private party room on land.
6. Wish Upon a Jar – Point Pleasant
This art studio offers three different types of birthday party options: ceramic, canvas, or clay. For the ceramic party, each guest chooses a premade piece to paint, and the birthday child also gets a keepsake plate featuring their handprint and all their guests’ names on it. During the canvas party, each guest paints a similar design following an instructor who leads them step-by-step through the painting process. The clay party allows kids to build their own creation and then paint it with direction from a staff member.
7. Robert J. Novins Planetarium – Toms River
A private party at the planetarium includes a 45-minute show plus one hour in the adjacent birthday party room. Hosts can choose either a film or a laser show for their guests. The staff projects a personalized happy birthday message on the dome of the planetarium and ends the show with the Birthday Song and a laser celebration. The planetarium is only available for party bookings on Friday evenings, Saturday afternoons, or Sundays.
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Party with the animals at the Cape May Zoo.
Top Birthday Party Places in Cape May County
8. Cape May County Park & Zoo – Cape May
Parents can rent a pavilion on zoo grounds for a birthday party and invite zoo animals to attend! There is a 25-minute exotic animal option that includes three or four ambassador animals and an educational presentation geared toward school-aged children. The second option is a 20-minute “cute and fluffy petting pen,” during which the children meet two domestic animals up close, such as a duck, bunny, guinea pig, or chicken. Parties can be booked at 12:30pm any day of the week.
9. Playland’s Castaway Cove – Ocean City
This outdoor amusement park is available for birthday parties from April through October, and there are more than 32 boardwalk rides for guests to enjoy. Hosts can choose either one or two hours of rides for their guests followed by 45 minutes in the outdoor party area. Birthday party packages include a drink, pizza slice, and ice cream cup for each child. Parents can add on miniature golf and go-kart rides for an extra fee.
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10. Montego Bay Resort – North Wildwood
The resort allows private birthday parties at its indoor recreation area, which features a pool, two water slides, a playground, and an eating area. An excellent choice for winter babies, you can rent a three-hour swim session on a Friday, Saturday, or Sunday year-round. The party package includes a drink, pizza, ice cream, and a goody bag for each child.
Unless noted, photos courtesy of the venues