Messy Play Parties!

We bring the messy fun to you!

Looking for a birthday party that's a little different?

Messy Play parties are hands-on, open-ended experiences designed to let kids explore, create, experiment, and — of course — get a little messy!

We bring everything needed for the activities, set it all up at your home, park, or party venue, facilitate the fun, and clean up when we're done.

Choose from two party styles depending on your child's age and interests:

Sensory Play Parties

Best for ages 1–6

Perfect for toddlers, preschoolers, and younger elementary-aged kids, our Sensory Play Parties include multiple activity stations for kids to explore at their own pace.

Instead of asking a group of little kids to all do the same activity at the same time, children are free to move between stations, revisit their favorites, and play in the way that works best for them.

A typical party might include:

• Large sensory bins
• Messy science experiments
• Process art or coloring
• Playdough or other tactile play
• Scooping, pouring, mixing, building, digging, or washing activities
• Other open-ended activities designed around your theme

Most parties include 3-5 stations, depending on the number and ages of the children, your space, and the activities selected.

Pick a theme — almost any theme!

Dinosaurs? Under the Sea? Construction? Rainbows? Bugs? Outer Space? Trucks? Unicorns? Something completely unique to your child?

We love designing activities around kids' interests!

We'll work with you to choose activities that fit your child's age, party space, group size, and theme.

DIY Slime Station Parties

Best for ages 5+ — and just as much fun for tweens and teens!

Let every guest become a slime scientist!

At our DIY Slime Station, kids make their own slime from scratch and customize it with colors and fun mix-ins.

We bring all of the slime-making ingredients, supplies, containers, mix-ins, trays, and cleanup materials. Our Messy Play instructor walks kids through the process and helps troubleshoot along the way.

And the best part?

The slime they make IS the party favor!

Each child gets a container to take their creation home, and most kids make multiple slimes during a party!

Slime parties can be set up buffet-style or as individual workstations depending on your group size and available space.

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How Much Does a Party Cost?

Parties start at $400 for up to 15 participating children.

Our standard parties include:

• All activity materials and supplies
• Party setup
• Facilitation by a Messy Play instructor
• Cleanup and breakdown
• Approximately 1–1.5 hours of activity time

Larger groups, additional stations, extended activity time, parties requiring additional instructors, and especially elaborate setups are quoted individually.

Additional children for standard parties are $20 each.

Travel fees may apply depending on the party location and will always be included in your quote before you book.

Have a BIG party planned? No problem! We've created Messy Play experiences for large groups, too. Send us your estimated number of children and we'll design an experience that works for your group.

How Long Does a Party Last?

We typically recommend 1–1.5 hours of activity time.

We've found that's the sweet spot: enough time for kids to explore everything, go back to favorite activities, and really get immersed in their play — without stretching the activities beyond the point when they're ready to move on to cake, food, presents, or whatever comes next!

We'll work with you to coordinate the Messy Play portion with the rest of your party schedule.

How Much Space Do We Need?

It depends on your party!

For Sensory Play Parties, our large sensory bins are generally set up on the ground inside approximately 5-foot foldable pools. These help define the play space and contain all that glorious mess.

Our science, art, and other activity stations are generally set up on 4-foot tables.

We can adjust the number and layout of stations based on your available space.

Backyards are fantastic for Messy Play, but they're not required. Parties can also happen indoors or at parks and other venues.

Don't think you have enough room at home? A local park can be a great option!

What Do You Need From Me?

Not much — that's the idea!

We'll discuss the specifics when we plan your party, but generally we need:

Access to water: Many of our activities involve water, and we'll need it for setup and cleanup as well. We can bring some water if the event is at a park.

Tables: We'll let you know how many are needed based on your party plan. If necessary, we can discuss table options when booking. We can provide our own tables (4x2', height-adjustable) but we don't provide chairs.

Adult supervision: Messy Play instructors facilitate the activities, help children use the materials, replenish supplies, and keep the stations running smoothly. However, our instructors are not childcare providers and are not responsible for supervising individual children. Parents/caregivers remain responsible for their children throughout the event.

How Messy Is "Messy"?

Well... there's a reason we're called Messy Play!

Our materials are selected with kids and cleanup in mind, and the vast majority are washable. We also bring materials to help protect the activity areas and contain the mess.

That said, please let your guests know that messy activities will be happening and dress children accordingly.

We recommend play clothes and shoes that families won't be devastated to see covered in slime, paint, oobleck, bubbles, or whatever else we're playing with that day.

The amount of mess also depends on the activities you choose. We're happy to help you choose activities based on your comfort level and party location.

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What About Party Favors?

For DIY Slime Station Parties, you're all set! Each child takes home the slime they make.

For Sensory Play Parties, we don't currently sell party favors directly — but we have a favorite recommendation.

Squishy Dough makes absolutely adorable individual playdough jars using some of the BEST playdough we've ever used. They can even customize the labels for your party!

Order directly from Squishy Dough if you'd like to add them to your celebration.

Booking Your Party

Ready to get messy?

Send us a party request with:

• Your preferred date and approximate time
• Party location
• Estimated number of participating children
• Children's approximate ages
• Whether you're interested in a Sensory Play Party or DIY Slime Station
• Your party theme or child's interests, if you have one!

We'll confirm availability and send you a quote based on your party.

Reserving Your Date

A 50% booking payment is required to reserve your party date.

The remaining balance is due before the event.

Your party is not officially reserved until the booking payment has been received.

Cancellation & Rescheduling

We understand that plans change — especially when kids are involved!

If you need to cancel:

More than 30 days before your party: Your booking payment will be refunded, less a $50 booking/cancellation fee.

14–30 days before your party: A cancellation fee equal to 25% of your total event price applies. Any additional amount you've already paid will be refunded.

Less than 14 days before your party: A cancellation fee equal to 50% of your total event price applies.

Within 72 hours of your party: Cancellation fees may be up to the full event balance depending on materials already purchased or prepared, staffing commitments, and other nonrecoverable event costs.

Need to reschedule instead?

Whenever possible, we're happy to transfer your booking payment to another available date rather than cancel your party altogether. Please contact us as soon as you know you need to make a change.

Where Do You Travel?

Messy Play Kits is based in the Santa Cruz Mountains and serves parties throughout the surrounding Bay Area.

Travel fees vary based on location and are included in your individual quote.

For events farther away, reach out! Depending on the size and type of event, we may be able to travel beyond our usual service area.

Let's Plan Your Party!

Tell us a little about your child, your guest list, and what you're imagining.

You don't need to know exactly which activities you want — that's our job!

We'll help you create a party that's age-appropriate, engaging, memorable, and wonderfully messy.