Birthday parties have morphed into an entity all their own. Each year the celebration has to be bigger and better than the last. So, where do you start?

Don't worry—we've rounded up some of Long Island's best venues for parties to please a variety of kids, from divas and princesses to tumbling tots and animal enthusiasts. These places make party planning easy, and almost all include a host, setup and cleanup, food, and other essentials. The only hard part is picking just one! 

Be sure to check out our Birthday Party Guide for Long Island Kids for even more tips on planning the perfect party for your child. It has ideas specific to first birthdays, toddlers, active kids, and more.

At Active Kidz, party-goers can try their hand at Cannonball Blast.

Nassau County

Active Kidz Long Island — Jericho

Primarily billed as a party space, Active Kidz has a number of attractions to customize your birthday party experience. Attractions include an adventure maze, laser tag, inflatables, toddler center, ball pit/cannon area, a rock climbing wall, and a ninja warrior course. Active Kids is suitable for all ages. There are different party packages, all include a private party room, pizza or bagels, drinks, invitations, and party goods.

Center for Science Teaching & Learning — Rockville Centre

Get hands-on time with exotic animals at this nature preserve nestled next to a picturesque pond. Kids can choose between a science party, where they can make slime, a fossil, slime and goo or a foam flyer, or an exhibit party, where they can tour the on-site zoo and indoor animal exhibit and excavate dinosaur bones. Packages include two activities, private use of the party room, hosts, invitations and paper goods, pizza and beverages. Note: The exhibits are Dinosaurs! and People’s United Bank Animal Adventure.

Long Island Children's Museum — Garden City 

Kids ages 5 and younger can choose to party in the TotSpot gallery (including a bubble gallery and a lighthouse, train station, grocery store, and post office for role-playing); have a Messy Merriment party (think slime, oobleck and mud); or enjoy a quieter gathering with stories and crafts. Kids older than 5 can choose from a variety of themes, including Bubblemania, Treasure Trove, Weird Science and Spy School. Each party includes 90 to 120 minutes in the museum, staff guides, invitations, paper goods and a T-shirt for the party child, setup, and cleanup. Partygoers also get a two-for-one free admission pass in their goody bags so the fun can continue another day. Add-ons include specialized activities, such as slime time or an animal encounter, pizza & juice, cake, and goody bags.

Bowl for fun at a Momo's Clubhouse party.

Momo's Clubhouse — Syosset

Birthday packages include playtime on the three-tiered jungle gym. Momo's Clubhouse offers two dedicated party rooms and plenty of ways to customize your kid's birthday party wishes with add-ons such as balloons, cupcake decorating, character meet & greet, face painting and even manicures. There is also a separate area for crawlers to play safely, as well as plenty of interactive toys, pretend play areas and games to engage little hands and big imaginations. Each party includes invitations, gift tags, paper goods, pizza, and juice. Bonus: It only hosts one party at a time.

Once Upon a Treetop — Plainview

Exploration meets imagination at this whimsical play space for kids ages 1–10. Kids can climb, slide, jump, and crawl through a multilevel padded "tree house" or ride pedal cars, bikes, and other toys through the mini-village, which includes a pretend firehouse, pizzeria, construction site and puppy store. Parties include an hour of play, pizza and juice, invitations, paper goods and a gift for the birthday child. Themes include Treetop Crafts, Stuff-a-Friend, Ballet, Princess, Soccer Shots and the new LoopDLoop. Costumed characters, favors, balloons and other fun add-ons are available.

Sippy Cups Cafe — Seaford

Sippy Cups Cafe can handle all of your party details for the under-5 crowd. Pick from four party plans plus various add-ons, including a bouncy house, piñata, balloon animals, and more. There’s a pretend kitchen and market, a Lego table—Duplos for tiny hands—a train table for budding engineers, a puppet theater for future thespians, and an indoor playground equipped with two slides. There's even a hidden “clubhouse” for important kiddie conferences. All parties include invitations, decorations, pizza and drinks. Caffeine alert: The cafe serves fresh Brooklyn Roasting Company coffees.

RELATED: Superhero party destinations for kids on LI

The Little Gym — Islandwide

TLG, which has various Long Island locations, combines gymnastics, games, Legos, and music for a party that tumbles past the competition. Choose from fairytale, superhero, pirate or character themes. Your group has exclusive use of the entire gym and a trained instructor to lead the party. Parties are 90 minutes long and can accommodate ages 1–12. All packages include pizza and juice, invites and paper goods, a Little Gym T-shirt for the birthday child, setup and cleanup.

Suffolk County

@Play Amusements — Farmingdale

This indoor amusement park is expansive, with six private party rooms and over 30,000-square feet. @Play will also customize the party to your child's age and interests, but all packages include a private room for your child and 12 friends, credits for free games, personal party hosts, pizza, drinks, invitations and paper goods. Amusements include 65 arcade games, laser tag, four inflatable structures, a 55-foot maze including three slides and capsules in the rafters, a safari ride, a carousel, bumper cars and a dedicated toddler area.

RELATED: Birthday-party entertainers on LI who come to you 

It's thumbs-up for a birthday party full of thrill rides at Adventureland. 

Adventureland — Farmingdale

Families have been enjoying the rides, attractions, and games at this Long Island amusement park since 1962, Chances are, you may have visited Adventureland back in the day. From big-kid rides that thrill, such as the Turbulence Coaster and the Frisbee, to kiddie rides, including the improved helicopter ride and everything in between, Adventureland is fun for the entire family. There are a water rides; a token-less indoor arcade; Midway Games; a gift shop; a sit-down, family-style restaurant; and plenty of snack stands. Food options include the 3Generations Food Court and 3Generations Sweet Shop. Party packages include one or two hours of unlimited rides and 45 minutes of eating time. Food includes chicken nuggets or pizza, French fries, fruit punch and Dippin’ Dots dessert. Paper goods, table cloths and party hats are also included. NOTE: Open April to October.

Boomers! Long Island — Medford

Boomers! Long Island has something for everyone, including outdoor rides and attractions such as a roller coaster, spinning tea cups, mini jets, convoy trucks, and a kiddie swing. Kids will also enjoy a train, two carousels, miniature golf, an indoor rock wall, and an indoor arcade with state-of-the-art games for kids of all ages. After a day of rides and games, stop by the on-site Nathan's Famous restaurant. Birthday packages are available. NOTE: Boomers closes for the winter.

Bowlmor Lanes — Melville

This isn't your standard Friday-night bowling scene. To spice up your party, Bowlmor offers XTreme glow-in-the-dark bowling as well as other games, such as wacky bowling, where you make a list of silly rules; character bowling; and guess-the-pins. Request bumpers for younger bowlers to help them knock 'em down every time. All birthday packages come with two hours of bowling, an arcade card, shoes, unlimited soft drinks and a party attendant. Customize your menu with a variety of kid-friendly meals. Kids parties are geared toward ages 4-12. Bowlmor also offers parties for teens.

RELATED: Indoor party spots with extra-large play spaces on LI

Country Fair - Medford

This entertainment park offers mini golf, a spin zone, go-karts, batting cages, an arcade and a laser frontier, an outdoor laser tag field. All packages include a choice of at least three attractions. The basic package does not include a party host. All other packages include food and drink and a party host.

RELATED: 6 science-themed birthday parties for LI kids

Celebrate your birthday at the Long Island Aquarium. Photo courtesy of the aquarium

Long Island Aquarium — Riverhead

Kids will dive into fun at the Long Island Aquarium. All packages include full-day admission, a guided tour, invitations, aquatic-themed party-ware and a host. In addition to plenty of food options, there are also lots of party upgrades to choose from, including a photo of a sea lion kissing you, a chance to feed stingrays, a sail on the Atlantis Explorer tour boat, snorkeling adventure and gem mining. With or without a party, kids receive free admission any day during the week of their birthday. Bring a birth certificate or other form of identification.

Monster Mini Golf — Deer Park

No worries about the weather forecast for this golfing party: Monster Mini Golf is an 18-hole glow-in-the-dark indoor facility. Think three-dimensional props, animated monsters, a live DJ, skills contests and prizes and fluorescent golf balls. Game cards for the arcade are also included. If you choose the Monster or VIP package, kids get to dip their hands in monster slime and leave their permanent handprint on the wall! All parties include 90 minutes in the private party room, golf, a host, paper products, invites, setup and cleanup.

Lazerland - Commack
Safari Adventure — Riverhead
Xplore Family Fun Center — Port Jefferson Station

These jointly owned facilities offer 90 minutes in the private party room, after which partygoers enjoy unlimited time in the larger play space. Your child and friends will soar to new heights on the four-level soft playground, then hop on over to the inflatables, which include a bounce house, slides, an obstacle course and a disco dance dome. There's also a state-of-the-art arcade, an interactive projected game floor, an augmented-reality kinetic sand table, light tables and more. Toddler tagalongs can play in a special safe area, and there's a calming sensory zone if kids feel overwhelmed. All packages include paper goods, pizza and juice, cupcakes, game-play cards, a host, and setup and cleanup; the play space is also available for private rental upon request.

Urban Air Adventure Park - Lake Grove

Urban Air Adventure Park offers something for everyone. From go-karts and trampolines to a ninja warrior obstacle course and an indoor sky coaster, kids are sure to have a blast at a party here. With several private party rooms, Urban Air offers two main party packages – Classic or Glow, both include paper goods, decorations, and a host. Glow is only offered select nights of the week and includes dodgeball under black lights. Add-ons include food and party favors.

White Post Farms — Melville

Mosey on up to White Post Farms for a party at this animal haven. It's cuteness overload time as kids ride the ponies and feed baby animals. Afterward, retreat to a private party room for pizza and cake. All packages include two ponies for riding, pizza and juice, decorations, cleanup, and a hostess. Cakes, invitations, favors and hats are available with some packages.

Unless noted, photos are by the author.

This article, first published in 2013, was updated in January 2020.