I’ve gotten a surprising number of questions lately from parents asking where they can host a child’s birthday party in Minot. Especially from families who are new to town or have recently PCSed here.

So many messages have come through I thought I’d take time to organize a few options for you right here.
This is by no means an exhaustive list. Minot has plenty of creative ways to celebrate a birthday. Rather, think of this as a starting point; a list to get your wheels spinning. I have experience with these options, and broke the list into categories so you can find one that might be right for you.

Let Someone Else Handle It
If your primary birthday-party goal is to have someone else do most of the work, Get Air Trampoline Park is hard to beat. We’ve both hosted and attended parties there, and it’s easy to see why it’s popular. The facility is fun for a wide range of ages, and the indoor play area they added last year made it even better. And grown-ups can stay to supervise at no extra charge to the party. Everything you need is provided from food to jump socks for the kids.

For another low-hassle option, you can book a private movie showing at Oak Park Theater. The package includes the movie and popcorn, which means your entertainment and party treat are taken care of in one stop.

Something a Little Different
For an active party that’s outside the box, Shots Fired Paintball is worth knowing about.

A close friend recently hosted her son’s 10th birthday party there and raved about how easy it was. In addition to traditional paintball, they offer gel blasters—paintball-style guns that shoot soft water-beads. They’re considerably less painful when you get hit and can work for a wider range of ages. We went with kids as young as 5 and adults, and everyone it was fun for all.

The staff is highly responsive to questions, sets up the games, explains how everything works and even referees the action. Just keep in mind, this is an outdoor activity, so it’s best for summer and fall parties.

For a completely different kind of party, Taube Museum of Art offers birthday packages for up to 12 children. You bring your own food, and the museum leads the kids through two or three age-appropriate art projects based on your party’s theme.

Don’t Overlook These Options
One of Minot’s more unexpected party possibilities is a conference room at Hampton Inn & Suites Minot Airport. You don’t have to rent a hotel room. Instead, you can rent a conference room for a few hours or for the day, bring your food and gifts, and everyone attending gets access to the pool. Keep in mind, rental price is based on how many hours you book the room, and there is a limit on the number of guests.

The pool and hot tub are clean and appealing, making this a particularly fun option during colder months. There isn’t a lifeguard, so adult supervision is required.

For a bigger groups, check out the seasonal Fun Zone at the Armory in the City Auditorium. Minot Parks offers the opportunity to rent the armory along with one of the Fun Zone inflatable bounce houses. The armory is a full-sized basketball gym, so there’s plenty of room for additional activities, scooters, balls or whatever else you’d like to bring or do. You can bring your own food, and the rental price isn’t based on the number of guests, making this a particularly useful option when you need lots of space, or are hosting lots of guests.

If you want something low-key, consider the library. You can rent a room, bring food and create your own party. A movie party with a rented or borrowed projector, or a board-game party using games from the library’s collection, is fun without requiring much fuss.

Another party option for creative kids is Margie’s Art Glass Studio. Party rentals include a keepsake for the guest of honor and space where everyone can create an object of their own choosing.

And finally, a great party doesn’t require you to leave home at all. Outdoor Recreation on base has a long list of items available to borrow, including bounce houses. The year we rented a bounce house for the back yard lives on as one of our sons’ favorite parties ever.

So, if you’re new to Minot and staring at your child’s birthday on the calendar, hopefully this gives you somewhere to start. And if you know of another great local birthday-party option, consider this your invitation to pass it along. There’s always room for another good idea.