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Parents buck recession and book birthday parties for kids

Rashanda Doxey and her husband celebrated their daughter Kaci’s first birthday at home. Nothing fancy. Just a little cake with friends and family.

When Kaci turned 2, though, they wanted to do something bigger — but within reason.

“I didn’t just book the first place I found,” said Doxey, a 28-year-old social worker. “I called around and checked prices.”

She settled on The Wild Child Fun Center, a new party and indoor play area in the southwest where she could have about 20 guests for under $500.

As Bakersfield has grown, birthday party options here have swelled, as well, including two new ones in just two months. The Wild Child Fun Center opened in December, and Monster Mini Golf opened in the southwest last month.

There’s certainly no shortage of children here. And parents are suckers for a tiny pair of batting eyelashes.

The question is, do you still go all out with a recession on?

For Rhonda Beyeler, 43, the answer is yes.

For son Craig’s 11th birthday, she rented time at Skull Harbor, a party place in East Hills Mall where children can pretend to be pirates, complete with sword fighting lessons on a fake pirate ship.

Parties there are $325 for up to eight children, and $25 for each additional child.

“I was excited that there was finally something different than the usual pizza and skating parties, so I think it’s worth it,” Beyeler said.

Evidently a lot of people do.

Rachelle O’Reilly, who owns Skull Harbor and neighboring Halle Rose’s Fantasy Tea Parties with business partner Erika Dixson, said the stores had record months recently, despite the economic downturn. Or maybe because of it.

“Really, at the end of the day you can end up saving money because everything is included,” O’Reilly said. “If you do it at home, by the time you buy the decorations and the paper plates and party favors and all that, you’ve spent about the same money, maybe even more.

“And you still have to clean up afterward.”

Mike Williams, owner of American Kids Sports Center, said a lot of parents prefer parties away from home because they’re structured.

“You don’t have to entertain the kids,” he said. “They have activities.”

In the case of the sports center, that’s dance, gymnastics, cheerleading, martial arts or an indoor swim party.

Birthday parties aren’t entirely recession-proof, however.

John Parlet, owner of John’s Incredible Pizza Co., says party bookings have dropped over the last two years, but only very slightly.

“We still do a fairly brisk birthday business,” he said. “I think people feel like the children shouldn’t suffer, so if at all possible they’re going to do something.”

The Wild Child was originally supposed to open over the summer, but construction delays and other problems delayed the opening until the end of last year, owner James Acton said.

“In just that short time between June and December, the economy totally changed, so we were really nervous,” he said. “We thought we were really going to be in trouble.

“But so far, we’re getting parties.”

The good news is if you don’t want a herd of boys stampeding past your antique crystal collection, there are more local options than ever before. So shop around.

“They’re all a little different,” Kaci’s mom Doxey said. Prices, she found, were all over the place, and there’s just about every theme or activity imaginable.

Likewise, if you don’t want to spend a lot of money, or just find big, over-the-top blowouts distasteful, you can get ideas for simple celebrations at www.birthdayswithoutpressure.org.

William Doherty, an education and human development professor at the University of Minnesota, founded Birthdays Without Pressure with a group of parents two years ago.

Doherty’s suggestions for toning it down a bit include asking for food pantry donations instead of gifts, or books to donate to a shelter library.

Birthday costs are skyrocketing, he said. And parents are stressed out. “They feel guilty if the party was below community standards that they don’t really agree with.”

And children rarely appreciate all that effort.

“They feel envious of friends who get more — and someone will always get more,” Doherty said.

READY TO PARTY?

Here are some kid-friendly venues in Bakersfield:

American Kids Sports Center3622 Allen Road, northwest, 589-2100; and 4401 Ride St., southwest, 833-3986. Basic: $170 for up to 10 children, $17 each additional child. Instruction and play time in gymnastics, dance, cheerleading or martial arts. Deluxe: $220 for up to 10 children, $22 each additional child. Activity time plus T-shirt for birthday child, party favors, pizza, drink, cake, paper products (plates, napkins, etc.)

American Sound Recording Studios 2231 R St., Bakersfield, 93301. 864-1701. $299 up to 10 kids, one hour of recording time for three songs, one hour to socialize and eat, if applicable. Each child goes home with a CD of the group’s music. $14-$20 extra per large pizza. Drinks are $5 per pitcher, unlimited refills. The $799 package includes a limo ride, invitations and goody bags.

Camelot Park1251 Oak St., Bakersfield, 93304. 325-5453. Pizza, soft drink, paper products, game tokens, gift for birthday child, $10.99 per child, minimum six guests, to $20.99 per child, unlimited outdoor attractions, 20 tokens per child.

CALM10500 Alfred Harrell Highway, Bakersfield, 93306. 872-2256. Rent a picnic table at the covered bear pavilion for $25 to $60, depending on seating capacity. Birthday child gets free admission. Guests are charged at group rates with reservation: $4 per adult and $2 per child 3-17 years old. Children under age 3 free.

Chuck E. Cheese's3760 Ming Ave., Bakersfield, 93309. 397-7855. $47.96 for four-child minimum, $11.99 per additional child. 20 game tokens per child. Two slices of one-topping pizza per child, paper products, unlimited soft drinks. Birthday show with Chuck E. Cheese.

City of Bakersfield Recreation and Parks Department326-3866. Reservations for picnic table areas at city parks are $45, or $75 for one with a shelter cover. The Park at Riverwalk costs $100 to $150, depending on seating capacity.

Color Me Mine9000 Ming Ave., Bakersfield, 93311. 664-7366. $18 to $36 per painter, depending on pottery piece, minimum eight. Some packages include ice cream cake, pizza, paper products.

Halle Rose’s Fantasy Tea Parties3000 Mall View Road, East Hills Mall, Bakersfield, 93304. 872-5110. $295 for up to eight children, $25 per additional child. Dress up dresses, hair and makeup makeovers, fashion show, photo, party favor, gift for birthday girl, tea party and cake.

John’s Incredible Pizza Co.3709 Rosedale Highway, Bakersfield, 93308. 859-1111. Party packages range from $155.88 to $239.88 and include an all-you-can-eat buffet, unlimited soft drinks and game tokens. There is a 12-child minimum. Additional guests are $12.99 to $19.99 per child, depending on the package.

Monster Mini Golf4751 White Lane, Bakersfield, 93309. 397-8400. Packages range from $150 Tuesday-Thursday, $175 Friday-Sunday for up to 12 children, redemption tickets for birthday child and guests, paper plates and cups, private room, 18 holes of golf to $350 for all that plus unlimited guests, toys for birthday child and guests, free return passes and more.

Pump It Up2841 Unicorn Road, Bakersfield, 93308. 392-8800. $165 Monday through Thursday before 2 p.m., $195 after 2 p.m., for up to 15 children; or $215 Monday through Thursday and $255 Friday through Sunday for up to 26 children. Includes use of bounce houses, paper products and invitations.

Shabby Girls1920 F. St., Bakersfield, 93301. 325-2558. $21 per child, add $5 per child for food. Hair and makeup makeovers, Karaoke, nail polish, lip gloss, each child chooses two favors from either wand, tiara or boa. Food is heart-shaped sandwiches, choice of cupcake or doughnut.

Skull Harbor3000 Mall View Road, East Hills Mall, Bakersfield, 93304. 872-5110. $325 for up to eight children, $25 per additional child. Three pieces of pirate booty for each guest, photo souvenir for each guest, invitations and thank you cards, two deck hands/hosts. Guests don costumes and board a “pirate ship” where they get sword fighting lessons, then dine on fish, fruit, grog and skull cake.

The Wild Child Fun Center8500 Harris Road, Bakersfield, 93311. 747-3626. $90 weekdays, $125 weekends for up to 10 children, $8 each additional child. That’s for use of three bounce houses, Karaoke machine and indoor toddler playground. Or $200 weekdays, $250 weekends, $10 each additional child for all that plus souvenir animal cups, pizza or sandwiches, party favors and drinks.