Thinking of kids’ party ideas that are different and unusual can be a tall order year after year. From birthdays to family celebrations, we asked our audience to share their favourite unusual kids party ideas and venues around Ireland.
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It can be stressful coming up with new birthday party ideas for your kids and teens. Once you’ve done the soft play, the trampoline centre, the swimming or the cinema party, you may be stuck for something new.
These are some ideas that our parents have suggested — so they’ve all been road-tested and got the thumbs up from party-goers!
Watch: unusual kids party ideas in action
Lough Key Forest Park, Roscommon
Lough Key Forest Park is home to the weather-independent Boda Borg, an exciting quest adventure where you must puzzle your way out of different rooms.
For younger children there’s the tree-top canopy walk, and the on-site café is the perfect place for a birthday feast.
If you want to get active outdoors, how about an orienteering adventure party?
Junior Einsteins, Nationwide
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Junior Einsteins Science Club parties are hands-on, and children get to make and take home their own slime! They wear lab coats and goggles and watch amazing science experiments — from two types of slime to electrocuting a Barbie doll on a Van de Graaff generator, lighting lightbulbs just by touching a plasma ball, and shooting smoke rings at each other with giant smoke cannons.
Their science parties are fun-filled, action-packed and something different — a great way to encourage your “Junior Einstein” to explore and be curious about the world around them. All that’s needed is an electricity source (a table would be ideal too), and everything is cleaned up afterwards.
Castlecomer Discovery Park, Kilkenny
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From Fairy & Elf parties for under-7s to Zip-a-dee-do-dah parties for ages 12+, Castlecomer Discovery Park in Kilkenny offers a varied range of activities for kids of all ages. Food from the Canopy Café can be ordered in advance, and the kids can bounce, climb, mine and get outdoors to enjoy everything this amazing venue has to offer.
Delphi Adventure Centre, Galway
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Delphi Adventure Centre offers up to 20 different land and water-based activities for ages 4+. You can book everything from bushcraft survival to zip ‘n’ trek, canoeing to a bog obstacle course, and raft building to coasteering. Fun and adventure are guaranteed in equal measure — this is a party that will be remembered forever!
Croke Park, Dublin
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Croke Park offers stadium tours, skyline tours and museum tours, all perfect for an unusual party. You can eat afterwards in the on-site café, and they offer discounted rates for group bookings. The only choice is whether you want a thrilling rooftop walk 17 storeys high, or to keep your feet firmly on the ground with some GAA games.
Ballyhass Lakes, Cork
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Outdoor fun for kids aged 8+ is guaranteed at Ballyhass Lakes. From aeroball to zip lining, and abseiling to wakeboarding, you can choose up to four activities to enjoy. Bring along BBQ food and use one of the free BBQs to cook up your birthday tea — or try your hand at catching your own!
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Escape Rooms, Nationwide
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How about locking your party guests in a room, bus or boat and asking them to escape? Escape rooms have become very popular in Ireland, with options nationwide catering for both younger groups and older kids and teens.
Trinity College Sports Centre, Dublin
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From climbing parties to trampoline parties, dance parties to swim parties, and soccer parties to multi-sport parties, you can put together a tailor-made party experience at Trinity College Sports Centre.
Eile Mental Activity Park, Galway
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One mum’s daughter had her party at Eile Mental Activity Park when she turned 13 — they played laser tag on a damp day and declared it the best party ever! You can also try paintballing, archery, disc golf and orienteering. You’ll need to organise your own food, and be warned it’s not near any facilities, so unless you plan on taking part, pack your walking shoes and enjoy a stroll with stunning views.
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SkyPark, Louth
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Based in Carlingford, SkyPark is the largest zipline and sky-trekking park in Ireland. It offers a choice of four courses where you can swing, climb and zip from suspension bridges, tightropes, cargo nets, base jumps and more.
Wildlands, Galway
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At Wildlands Galway, you can book a group activity through their website and pre-book seating in the party room overlooking The Olive Tree Kitchen. Enjoy the Zip ‘n’ Trek course, imaginative play in An Baile Beag, or scaling new heights on the Fun Walls. All you need to bring is your birthday cake and a healthy sense of fun!
Art & Mór, Kerry
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One mum told us about Art & Mór in Kenmare, where you can book a table and let your party guests get creative. They can choose the paint-and-take-home option, or leave their masterpieces to be glazed and fired.
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Fort Lucan, Dublin
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Fort Lucan offers a world of splashing, jumping, climbing and sliding for kids of all ages. They have special group rates for birthday parties and a bookable party room. It must be booked in advance, and you can bring your own food and drinks for guests to enjoy.
The Circus
If the circus happens to be in town, check whether they offer party packages. One family booked in 18 kids for a trip to the circus and arranged pony rides and face painting as part of a party package. They brought along a cake, and the ringmaster presented it to the birthday girl in the centre of the ring, where she got to blow out her candles in front of everyone!
Atlantic Air Adventures, Clare
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Take your party guests out of this world with a trip to Atlantic Air Adventure for an aviation-themed birthday party. Plan your flight course before taking to the skies in the flight simulator.
King John’s Castle, Limerick
King John’s Castle is a historic 13th-century castle on King’s Island in Limerick city, offering tours and exhibits that bring the site’s history to life. It can make an atmospheric setting for an unusual party, though families should contact the castle directly to check current party packages, group rates and booking arrangements before planning your celebration there.
Bubble Soccer
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Bubble soccer parties are available nationwide, including in Galway, Cork, Dublin, Mayo, Offaly, Roscommon, Leitrim, Westmeath, Limerick, Longford and Kildare. Great fun for both boys and girls, they usually combine a football game with other fun elements. One family attended a party at Astrobay in Renmore, Galway, where food and a party room are also provided.
Kids Party Bus
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Absolute Limousines offer a stress-free party option with their play bus. Each double-decker bus comes with ball pits, cargo nets, bash bags, climbing ladders, slides and more — it arrives at your home, opens its doors, and lets the kids pile in for some fun.
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OWLS Outdoor Survival Parties, Dublin
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OWLS is a children’s nature charity running outdoor survival parties where your child and their friends can learn how to survive in the wilderness. Guests learn to make an outdoor shelter, build a fire and toast marshmallows, with sites in Donabate and Dundrum, Dublin.
Reptile Zoo, Kilkenny
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The Reptile Zoo in Kilkenny lets kids get up close to a wide range of reptiles in the animal encounter zone, tropical walk and other areas of the zoo. They also offer a “Zoo Comes to You” service, where staff bring some of the reptiles to your party venue.
TeePee Slumber Party, Dublin (and Surrounding Counties)
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How about a slumber party with a difference? Companies such as Little Laughs offer a tailored service, so party guests have their very own teepee complete with bunting, fairy lights and cushions to make staying over even more fun.
Atlantaquaria, Galway
The Galway Atlantaquaria, set in the heart of Salthill on the Wild Atlantic Way, offers party fun for children including an exciting treasure hunt and the chance to hold starfish and crabs and feed fish, before party food and games.
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Bridgefield Buggies, Cork
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How about a quad bike safari for your next party? Kids aged 8+ are welcome at Bridgefield Buggies for an off-road experience they’ll never forget. No driving experience is needed, and all participants get a full safety briefing and training before the party starts — pack a change of clothes!
Pizza Making Party
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Whether you decide to host at home or head to a local pizzeria or restaurant, kids will love creating their very own pizza. Instead of a birthday cake, you could even make a chocolate spread and marshmallow “pizza”! Some pizza chains run pizza-making parties, so it’s worth asking your local branch.
National Wax Museum, Dublin
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One mum recommended the Wax Museum — you can book a birthday party at The National Wax Museum Plus, with options to suit all budgets and ages. The party includes a museum tour and a group Waxfactor video, and birthday cake can be enjoyed surrounded by the stars in the Hall of Fame. Extras like wax hands, face painting and party bags can be added, and the birthday child usually goes free.
Kidisco, Various Locations
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Kidisco provides DJs and dancers for kids’ parties. They travel to your home or venue and set up a mini disco, with dance-trained entertainers keeping the kids engaged with dance routines, games, singing and more. They take bookings for parties in Dublin, Galway, Cork, Limerick and surrounding areas.
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Airfield, Dublin
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Get back to nature with a party at Airfield Estate. There’s a barn full of toys for imaginative play for young ones, and Naturescape — an outdoor adventure playground with climbing frames, scramble nets, slides, swings, balance beams, tunnels and a zip wire. It’s also a working farm, so you can meet the animals too. They recommend bringing a picnic to make the most of the 38 acres in the heart of Dundrum — check with the Airfield team for group rates for your next kids’ party.
The Sing Factory, Dublin
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Have the ultimate superstar recording birthday party at The Sing Factory. Record your favourite song in a real recording studio, and afterwards a copy will be sent to you to keep.
Squirrel Scramble, Wicklow
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For something a bit different, how about a birthday celebration at Squirrel Scramble at Killruddery House and Gardens, where kids can experience the wonderful natural forest with more than 40 different challenges to climb, balance, slide and crawl, plus zip lines through narrow woodland passages for a thrilling adventure.
Sheltered party areas with wooden seats and tables are provided. While food and drink aren’t catered for on site, you can pick up nibbles at the food stalls at Killruddery Farm Market (Saturdays only), order pizza for delivery, or bring your own food if you prefer.
Next Level Gaming, Nationwide
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Gamers of all ages will love their own personal gaming van, like this one from Next Level Gaming. Complete with multiple screens, a variety of consoles, and accessories like VR headsets, this is guaranteed to be a hit!
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Frequently Asked Questions
What are some unusual party venues for kids in Ireland?
Ireland has plenty of options beyond the usual soft play or cinema trip — think adventure centres with zip lines and canoeing, escape rooms, science parties, pottery painting studios, quad bike safaris, reptile zoos, recording studios and outdoor survival parties. Many are listed above, organised by county.
How do I choose an unusual idea for my child’s birthday?
Think about your child’s interests and energy levels first. Adventurous, outdoorsy kids might love zip-lining or a quad bike safari, while creative kids might prefer pottery painting or a recording studio session. Age and group size also matter, as some venues have minimum age limits.
Do I need to book these venues in advance?
Yes — most of the venues and party providers featured here require advance booking, especially for group rates and party rooms. It’s best to contact them directly as early as possible, particularly for weekend slots.
Can I bring my own food to these parties?
It varies by venue. Some, like Fort Lucan and Wildlands, are happy for you to bring your own food and drink, while others such as Squirrel Scramble suggest ordering from nearby food stalls or delivery services. Always check the venue’s food policy when booking.
Are outdoor adventure parties suitable for younger children?
Many outdoor centres set minimum ages (commonly 4+ or 8+) for activities like zip-lining, coasteering or quad biking, so check age and height requirements before booking. Venues with canopy walks, farm visits or nature play, such as Airfield or Lough Key, tend to suit younger children better.
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- 15 Guilt Free Healthy Party Food Ideas for Kids
- 20 Highly Entertaining Party Games for Tweens and Older Kids
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Loved These Ideas?
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