Der Joe:

My son's 4th birthday is coming up in June. We would like to hold it at a park this year. Do you know of any good parks to hold my child's birthday party in The San Jose area?
Sara T., San Jose, CA

 

Dear Sara:

I have done dozens of kids birthday parties in San Jose parks, There are a few factors to consider before you reserve the location. The park location should be easy to find, avoid far away parks that are hard to find. Even if the park has all that you want in it. For the park to be considered kids friendly, it needs to be easily accessible. The parking should be close by. Trails to the picnic area should be easily accessible by strollers. A handicapped sign is usually a good guarantee that access is build into the park layout. Is there a playground that is age appropriate for the kids age group that you are inviting to your party? If not, would the park permit you to rent a jumpy house, set up a volleyball net etc. Shade is big factor in the south bay, San Jose parks can get very hot in the summer months. Shade should always be considered year around. Here are a few links to some San Jose parks that you may want to consider for your kids birthday party. Please click here to reserve our shows or to get more information about our sevices.

When planning a birthday party you have to choose the perfect venue where everyone can have loads of fun. Choosing perfect birthday party places is not easy.

Below is a series of useful links. I have carefully collected to facilitate the research process.

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	San Jose Lol Parties Mailing Address: 800 Embedded Way San Jose, CA 95138 Phone: (408) 225-1709 Website: www.lolparties.com
	San Jose Cucina Bambini Mailing Address: 1041 Lincoln Ave. San Jose, CA 95125 Phone:(408) 564-7773 Website: www.cucinabambini.com
	The Jungle Island Fun and Adventure Mailing Address: 5401 Camden Ave San Jose, CA 95124 Phone:(408) 448-4386 Website: www.thejungleisland.com
	San Jose Birthday Party Specials Mailing Address: 2445 Fontaine Road San Jose, CA 95121 Phone:(408) 238-9110 Website: www.chuckecheese.com
	San Jose Happy Hollow Park and Zoo Mailing Address: 1300 Senter Road San Jose, CA 95112 Phone:(408) 277.3000 Website: www.hhpz.org
	Raging Waters San Jose Mailing Address: 2333 South White Road San Jose , CA 95148 Phone:(408) 238-9900 Website: www.rwsplash.com
	San Jose Color Me Mine - Just For Kids Mailing Address: 5337 Prospect Road. Westgate West Shopping Center San Jose, California Phone:(408) 865-1833 Website: www.sanjose.colormemine.com
	San Jose Birthday Parties Cake Works Mailing Address: 2891 S Bascom Ave San Jose, CA 95008 Phone:(408) 377-6808 Website: www.cakeworks.com
	Evergreen Acres Petting Farm in San Jose Mailing Address: 4140 Cadwallader Ave San Jose, CA 95121 Phone:(408) 677-9557 Website: www.petstouch.com
	San Jose Party Place for Kids Mailing Address: 181 Martinvale Lane Suite A San Jose, CA 95119 Phone:(408) 930-FEST (3378) Website: www.themefest.com

If your kids are fond of animals, then you can arrange for a garden jungle safari theme to celebrate their birthday. This multipurpose birthday theme appeals to kids of all ages, and these types of themes are worth remembering.

Here are some things you can arrange for in a jungle themed party to make it more interesting.

You can ask your birthday guests to join you in the Jungle Safari Walk. Those guests who arrive late can also join in. You can decorate the walls and the floors with the pictures of animals and while music is on, make the kids walk around over top of the animals. And when the music stops make everyone shift to the animal space. In order to add more fun to it, draw the animal’s name and say it loud. Whoever is positioned on that animal has to quit and try to continue it till only one child remains.

Try to adapt that classic story of “The Tail on the Donkey” in the birthday party. Paste the image of a tree on a large cardboard. Then cut images of bananas out of paper and place a piece of tape on the backside of all. Blindfold all the kids and let them put their banana on the cardboard. Whoever is able to get their banana wins a prize.

Paste images of animals in the safari cap. Make the kids imitate the animals in front of the group of kids and make the other kids know what animal they are. You can have kids attempt to sketch the animal as well.

You can hide small plastic jungle animals and make the kids search those wild animals while on their way to the safari and tell them to get one of each species. Make the party theme as interesting as possible. You can also arrange a game of shoot out to add to that party theme. You can have the kids enjoy shooting the animals with a toy arrow.

Do whatever you can to turn your birthday party into an event worth remembering; don’t just let it pass you by. Celebrate your birthday with the people you love. Just go for it – and have a really happening happy birthday!

The Cinderella Castle Birthday Cake

The birthday cake is the center of appeal for any birthday party. Cakes are like a birthday gift for all your guests to enjoy. Every kid or even their parents who come to the birthday party look forward to some delicious well made birthday cake; it’s an expected birthday gift for all.

But for you as the host the first thing to decide upon before selecting the type of gourmet birthday cake is to select a party theme and the design for the birthday cake would fall into place automatically.

Many people opt for online cake ordering. Online cake ordering has been made easier with interactive online cake ordering tools. A cheaper alternative to online cake ordering is to make the cake yourself. It’s simple enough that you can involve the birthday child in the process. What gives a cake its style, look and taste is the icing. So make sure you choose a proper icing technique based on the theme of the party. Birthday cakes come in a wide variety of shapes and sizes and some of them can be made at home easily with the minimal effort.

An all time favorite for most children especially the girls is the princesses Castle Cake. So let’s go ahead and get one ready for the occasion in a matter of minutes. Now you too can make your own gourmet birthday cake.
Once you are all set to bake a princesses castle cake at home, take a square shaped sponge cake and place it on a large platter. The next thing you need to do is frost it. As you may already know frosting helps to seal the moisture in cake and adds additional flavor and texture to it as well.

Ok once the square cake is frosted, layer it with a second square cake. Now how do we get the look of a castle? It’s simple. Place one cup cake each at the four corners of the square cake. And then to give each of the four corners the look of a turret top each one with an ice cream cone turned on its head.

Now its time to frost the cup cakes as well as the cones. Once that is done give the castle walls a textured look by scratching them with a fork. Go ahead and spray some green sugar on the cones and then top each cone with some nice chocolate sauce. To give it a much better outline arrange some wafers on the cake to make them look like doors and windows.

To add the final touches enfold the cake with some colorful jelly and green shredded coconut. Its now time to sing the birthday rhyme and let the party guests take their fill from your gourmet cake.

Goodie Bags

Offering children goodie bags may be expected in your circle of family and friends. These party favors have become very popular over the years, so much so that some kids maybe somewhat disappointed for not leaving the party with a goodie bag.

If you do decide to include party favors at your party, here are a couple of tips you may want to consider:

If you are doing a particular theme for your kids party, then the goodie bags should preferably match your party theme.

Always prepare the goodie bags ahead of time.

The bags are better placed when visible by the exit door.

Always hand the party favors before the kids leave the party, and never before. This gives a very nice close to your party and makes it memorable. It also helps the kids for whom goodbyes are a little difficult. Favors given during the party may create hard feelings if they are not identical. I have seen many party favor toys trampled underfoot. These favors were usually given out too early during the party.

You can always purchase pre-packaged goodie bags online. But purchasing the favors and putting the bags together yourself can be a lot of fun and will almost certainly save you money.

A great way to maximize the fun and the savings on goodie bags is to get the small bags from your local grocery store for very little money. And have the kids decorate them as part of the party activities. You can also easily decorate them yourself before hand. Stock up on small toys, trinkets and sweets from you dollar store. This option is local and gives you plenty of flexibility.

Please always consider age range when buying small toys. I hope that your next party is filled with fun and joy. All the best…

I am often asked by parents about how to best  choose a party supplies company for their child'sbirthday party.
Everyone wants to get a great deal from the jumper rental company or the party supplies rental. Whether you are renting a hot dog machine, popcorn machine, or a cotton candy machine, or even a tent and chairs. You deserve to get your money's worth without any compromise on quality or safety.

Avoid ordering  any products by simply filling up an online form. It is  best to  pick up the phone and call the company directly or send an email asking specific questions. Ask  if the company is insured and licenced. Make sure to ask if you will be receiving the exact products that are pictured on the website.

If renting a bounce house make sure it is made of Vinyl not nylon. If renting a tent also make sure that it is of professional quality and that it is fire retardant as required by many states. There are specific safety rules for tent and canopy rentals. Ask the rental company about their cleaning procedures. Most rental products need to be cleaned and sterilised before getting rented out again. 

Food concession equipment rentals are of particular concern. Especially meat cooking devices such as hot dog and pizza cooking machines. A professional rental company will usually volunteer their cleaning procedures to emphasize health and safety issues. If they don't volunteer that information, then you should ask. Please be vigilant and visually inspect the machines before use. No matter how careful the company is, mistakes can happen. I am not a huge fan of cotton candy machines. They can easily ruin a good planned party. With all that sugar, the kids can't help but run wild. Sometimes in circles. Cotton candy machines should never be rented for indoor parties in particular. 

With that said, go out and have a safe and wonderful time at your next party!

I get asked often from many of my customers about Jump house rentals. Which bounce house or jumper should I get for my child's birthday party?

Bounce houses are now offered in numerous forms.
So much so that it can be hard to choose which one to have at your kids' birthday party. moon bounces are offered now in many different themes, shapes, sizes, colors, and styles.

You can rent bouncers that have slides in them. Some even come with water slides or built in inflatable characters.

Make sure that the jumper you choose will be set up for you by the rental company. Some kids like their jumpers so much that some parents may decide to buy one. Buying a jump house can be burdensome as you must set it up, store it and maintain it. Setting up these heavy jumpers can be back-breaking. Commercial jumpers are made from vinyl, consumer jumpers are made from nylon. Vinyl is much more durable than Nylon. Some party rental places will try to rent you the consumer units as commercial units, so make sure that you ask if the jumper is made from vinyl or nylon?. It certainly makes a big difference, not only in safety but also in product quality.

Almost every cartoon character around is represented in jumpers now. Most kids like the characters that are popular for their age group. check out this jumpers list from a small local rental company

Jumper

Castle#1, Castle#2,Castle#3, Castle#4,& nbsp;Tropical, Jungle, Blue Clues, Dora Spiderman, Sponge Bob, Superman, Batman, Princes,&nb sp;Tigger 

Waterslides

16ft Waterslide, 12ft Tropical Waterslide and the list can go on and on...

No matter what you do, your kids will love a jumper at their party. It lets them be very imaginative and jump to their heart’s desire. You simply can not go wrong with renting an inflatable jumper for your kids birthday party!

When planning a birthday party you have to choose the perfect venue where everyone can have loads of fun. Choosing perfect birthday party places is not easy.

Below is a series of useful links. I have carefully collected to facilitate the research process.

 

Funderland Park
Mailing Address: 1350 17th Ave
Sacramento, CA 95822
Phone: (510) 632-9525
Website: www.funderlandpark.com

 

San Jose Kids Park
Mailing Address: 2858 Stevens Creek Blvd.
#100 Across from Valley Fair Mall
San Jose, CA 95128
Phone: (408) 260-7929
Website: www.kidspark.com

SadieDey's Cafe
Mailing Address: 4210 Telegraph Ave.
Oakland, CA 94602
Phone: (510) 601-7378
Website: www.sadiedeyscafe.com

Lemos Farm
Mailing Address: Lemos Farm
12320 San Mateo Road. (Hwy. 92)
Half Moon Bay, CA 94019
Phone: (650)-726-2342
Website: www.lemosfarm.com

Children's Fairyland
Mailing Address: Children’s Fairyland
699 Bellevue Avenue
Oakland, CA 94610
Phone: (510) 452-2259
Website: www.fairyland.org

The Sacramento Zoo
Mailing Address: 3930 West Land Park Drive
Sacramento, CA 95822
Phone: (916) 808-5885
Website: www.saczoo.com

Habitot Children's Museum
Mailing Address: 2065 Kittredge Street,
Berkeley, CA
Phone: (510)-647-1111
Website: www.habitot.org

Bay Area Kids Discovery Museum
Mailing Address: Bay Area Discovery
Museum Fort Baker
557 McReynolds Road
Sausalito, CA 94965-2614
Phone: (415) 339-3931
Website: www.baykidsmuseum.org

Children's Museum in Silicon Valley
Mailing Address: Children's Discovery
Museum of San Jose
180 Woz Way
San Jose, CA 95110 Phone: 408-298-5437
Website: www.cdm.org

Oakland Zoo
Mailing Address: Oakland Zoo
9777 Golf Links Rd
Oakland, CA 94605
Phone: (510) 632-9525
Website: www.oaklandzoo.org

Jungle Safari Kids Birthday Party Themes

Safaris are a unique look at wildlife and animals in their natural habitat and often called the adventure of a life time. Because animals are loved by children and they are so easy to find everywhere, a Jungle Animal Safari is a terrific party idea.

Follow thest 6 simple steps to throw a fabulous jungle safari birthday party theme for your kids.

Step 1

Create a Jungle atmosphere by hanging vines and jungle decorations from the ceiling or off branches out in the backyard. Use some animal print decorations to add a sense of wild adventure to any party venue. Visit your favorite party supply store and load up on the wide variety of Jungle Safari supplies. From Safari plates and napkins to vinyl inflatable jungle animals.

Step 2

You can adapt just about any game to fit your jungle theme. Instead of pin the tail on the donkey, make it pin the tail on the monkey. Musical chairs with jungle music or kids taking turn drumming. Hide little jungle animals throughout your yard or your party venue. And lead the kids on a wild safari adventure to discover all sorts of hidden animals for them to keep. Don’t forget to get some little plush monkeys or birds that you can hide in the branches or in high places. Make sure that there is enough loot for everyone present. Safari or animal Hats are great fun to distribute as the kids first arrive to the party or for them to take home just before they leave.

Older kids like to think of themeselves as cool and very independent. Kids from 10 to 12 usually have an opinon on what kind of party they want. Make sure that you plan with them all activities of the party, as they will be more inclined to participate. Make sure that you have enough adult supervision for all age groups and limit your party to a particular area of your home.

Step 3

Each child can choose a different animal hat. They can attempt to draw or color that animal, and then have them take turns and act out the animal they have chosen. Go wild with the animal sounds. Start out having all the kids make simple animal sounds all together, like a chicken or a dog. That would usually bring them out of their shell. Then move on to the jungle animal sounds.

Step 4

There are plenty of Jump houses to rent that carry a jungle theme. A simple search for a safari jumper, safari jump houses, jungle bounce house or any related term would lead you to a local party rental company.

Step 5

There is a wide variety of Jungle Music and sound backgrounds widely available on the Internet as well. A Lion King Music track can be looped for great musical adventure. You can have the music in the background while playing games with the kids or during lunch or snack time.

Step 6

The Internet is a great resource for getting Safari Birthday Party Ideas. Here are just a few keywords that may aid you in your search. Just copy and paste these search terms onto your favorite search engine like Google, Yahoo or MSN:

Animal birthday Parties
Animal Parties
Animal Party
Animals Birthday Party
Party Animals Birthday Parties
Party Animal show
Animal show
kids Animal show
funny kids Animal show
party jungle
Jungle Birthday Party
Party jungle characters
Jungle Theme Birthday Party
Jungle Animals Birthday Party

Birthday Party Themes Planning Tips

The most important ingredient to a succesfull kids birthday party is organaization. Like most projects, birthday party planning obviously requires some planning. Good planning can save you time and money, but most importantly it will save you from last minute panic. One of the simplest tools to aid you in organizing your children's party is party themes. Themed parties bring harmony to your party atmosphere. It's not only a load of fun, it aloso gives you a premise within which to plan your birthday party invitations, costumes, food, games and even entertainment. So let's dive in and you too, can produce a successful children's party. Let you creativity soar and you'll produce a fabulous party that would be memorable to children and adults alike.

Choosing a kids party theme:

Older kids like to think of themeselves as cool and very independent. Kids from 10 to 12 usually have an opinon on what kind of party they want. Make sure that you plan with them all activities of the party, as they will be more inclined to participate. Make sure that you have enough adult supervision for all age groups and limit your party to a particular area of your home.

The children birthday party themes are used to help you and your child have a successful birthday party. The birthday theme should in no way restrict you. You could take the birthday party activities form one theme, buy the birthday party supplies from onother theme and adapt them to your own unique party. Use the suggestions that are most helpful to you and the ones that are most suitable for your child.

Bee a creative Monkey @ your Library this Summer

" Thinking Outside the Box "

Let your Library patrons show their creative side this summer with our puppet shows. Jungle Joe is back with a brand new show aimed at your library summer reading program. The show is called:
"Bee a Creative Monkey @ your library".
A hilariously funny show, full of interaction and creative learning.
What does it mean to be creative and think outside the box?. These ventriloquist
dummies really know how to think outside of their box, let them tell you how they
learned to unleash their creative side. Your young readers will also put together two
professional puppets from scratch. These funny puppets are a work in progress with
a real humorous editorial opinion. Original, interactive, educational and tremendously entertaining puppet shows. Our shows will amaze your Library patrons and staff alike.

Sacramento Library Puppet shows dates and Locations:

June 25 @ 3:30 pm – McKinley Library
July 8 @ 4 pm – North Sacramento Library
July 2 @ 3:30 pm – Sylvan Oaks Library
July 16 @ 4 pm – North Highlands Library
July 29,  @ 4 pm – Del Paso Library