Children’s birthday parties can be expensive. While I love the Nashville Zoo, parties can be $825. Adventure Science Center? $500. Sky Zone? At least $300. If you can’t or don’t want to spend that kind of money on a birthday party, here are some options under $200 for all ages, ordered from least to most expensive.
You can rent the party room at the Bellevue Pizza Perfect for free! You’ll still need to buy pizzas for everyone, but that’s a bargain compared to other places. Pizza Perfect has a small arcade, and I’ve seen some parents give kids pre-loaded game cards to play in the arcade as party favors, but others have noted on the invite that parents need to bring their own money for the arcade. Whatever works best for your budget!
Find a park shelter by a playground, and you’ve got the perfect spot for a birthday party. Shelter reservations run from April through October, and start at $30. If your kid has a birthday outside these months, you don’t need to make a reservation. We just show up at a shelter with my December kid, and have never had an issue. Many of these shelters have grills for a birthday cookout, or you can bring your own food.
Metro community center room rentals start at $35, and some of these centers have indoor pools and lifeguards you can rent! The downside of having a community center birthday party is you’ll need to plan the entertainment; the plus side is it’s inexpensive, many have kitchens, and you’ll be indoors, so weather won’t be a problem.
With a $50 deposit, rent a lounge couch for 2-10 people, and if more are coming, you can rent multiple couches. This deposit will go toward food and drink. This is Nashville’s largest arcade, so there’s plenty to do, but it’s best for teen birthday parties.
This bowling alley has three Nashville-area locations, with kid and teen party packages that start at $85 per lane. Packages include pizza, drinks, and a birthday shirt.
Our childhood’s number-one birthday party experience is still around, and packages start at $99.99 for six kids. I admit the pizza is underwhelming and the noise overwhelming, but there’s lots of gameplay in the arcade, and a birthday show. There are several locations in the Nashville area.
I’m surprised by how affordable birthday parties are at this giant indoor playground — they start at $140, and come with a dedicated party host. Kids 2-6 will have a blast here. Word of advice: Bring hand sanitizer. My kid loved going here when she was younger, but we definitely picked up some viruses!
If you have a kid with a summer birthday, this is an excellent place! Parties start at $170 for 10 kids, with a reserved umbrella area and a birthday shoutout on the public intercom. Adults accompanying their kids have to pay an extra $12 each.
Have an ice skating birthday party at Centennial Sportsplex. Party room rentals start at $175. You’ll need to bring your own food and drink.
A miniature golf party at SOAR in Franklin is $175 for 12 kids, and bringing in outdoor food is welcome. Unfortunately, their tower climbing parties are much more expensive at $325.
