Once upon a time the typical child’s birthday party consisted of pizza, cupcakes, a sugary drink and pin the tail on the donkey. Those days have been replaced with children’s birthday parties that some say are extravagant.
In an article posted on www.thebash.com, Nora Sheils comments, “Kid’s parties today are so many levels above how they were in years past. It’s rare to see a birthday party without a theme, entertainment, and coordinating and over-the-top décor.”
Most fingers point at the parent for creating such an extreme event, but what little girl wouldn’t want to feel like a princess on her special day? What parent wouldn’t be moved by the joy in their child’s eyes when their storybook dream comes to life? And then there are the photographs, social media posts, and memories to last a lifetime.
Party with a Princess
Eleanor Jones, the owner of Storybrooke Princess Events in Colorado Springs, creates authentic character representations of children’s favorite fairytale heroines and brings them to life. “We are thrilled to be creating an affordable, immersive, and enchanting library of characters to make your celebration one to remember,” she said. Jones said it takes more than a beautiful costume and accessories to portray a character, it takes knowledge in acting, mannerisms, singing and dancing.
Jones has an extensive background in musical theater and portraying princess characters. She performs in local theater, and you can catch her on stage at www.lightbuldtheatre.com. In addition to parties, one of her favorite facets of her business is giving back to the community with charitable appearances at local children’s hospitals, charity walks and community outreach events.
Although Jones offers a long list of character options, Elsa and Anna from Disney’s “Frozen” seem to be the most popular right now. She is hiring someone to portray Mirabel from Disney’s “Encanto.” She averages four to five parties a month and the typical age for the birthday child is from 4 to 6 years old.
Guests are usually girls but boys, she said, do become interested in the character and ask questions. “I do get parties where parents get involved too,” she said. “They often sing along with the songs.”
Jones said she strives to make her parties affordable and accessible. “I offer a 30-minute party and that makes it affordable for many,” she said. “Parents add the rest to the party. There will be fancy cakes, decorations, and other touches to make the experience magical and centered around the character.”
While some may call this extravagant, Jones noted the positives of booking a magical party. “Princesses and even superheroes embody positive things,” she explained. “They are amazing role models, and that’s what I strive to emulate when I do this kind of parties. Life can be stressful, dreary and hard. Each character has a positive outlook on life no matter the hardships and they push through for what is good.”
Additional information about Jones and Storybrooke Princess Events can be found at www.storybrookeprincess.com.
Adding a Little Pop to Your Party
In 2009, Marc Feikert’s wife bought him a cheap package of balloons for twisting, and he began playing with it. Feikert said he learned the art on the spot with a book at a friend’s party and quickly got a feel for it.
With the help of YouTube videos, networking and conferences, the Colorado Springs resident has turned his hobby into a part-time career. Known as Marvelous Marc, the balloon artist entertains and provides décor for parties, weddings, corporate functions and more.
“Through the years I’ve delivered some high-end entertainment,” Feikert said. “My rates are not for those who want to throw an inexpensive birthday party. Lately, I’m seeing an uptick in people who want to go to extravagant on parties. People are seeing the quality of hiring a professional rather than doing it themselves.”
Feikert said he entertains those from ages 0 to 200. “The magic is there for anybody,” he explained. “I span the ages effectively.”
The most requested balloon designs at children’s parties, he said, are often a dog or an octopus. A sword, however, historically always comes out on top. In addition to balloon twisting, Feikert entertains with games, shows, tricks and other entertainment tailored to the event or theme. “My purpose is not to bring balloons to the party; it is to entertain with top-notch creations, clever interaction, and a performance people will talk about for years,” he said.
For additional information, visit www.marvelousmarcballoons.com.
Over-the-Top Children’s Birthday Parties
According to the article found at www.whatitcosts.com/kids-birthday-party-ideas-prices-cost/, about $250 or less will cover the cost of a first-class party with pizza, cake, activity or entertainment that will please the birthday child and guests. Many, however, don’t feel that’s enough.
“Over the past decade, the traditions have been changing, fueled by some particularly ambitious parents who are bent on planning the most elaborate, and also most expensive, events for even the very youngest celebrants,” the article notes.
The article discusses one creative mother who hired an actress to portray Cinderella to deliver the invitations. The party included 12 princess hostesses, a horse-drawn carriage, and the characters from Alice in Wonderland to entertain partygoers.
An article published in 2020 at www.businessinsider.com, states, “It’s not uncommon for wealthy parents to spend $50,000 or more on swanky soirees for their kids thanks to social media pressure to outdo one another.”
Some are Protesting
A group of parents from Minnesota who fear that splurging on a party is setting the wrong example for kids are stating their case. “Birthdays Without Pressure,” a national group, has been formed by a group of parents and professionals in St. Paul. The group encourages parents not to feel pressured to go overboard and not to feel guilty about it. Their vision is to launch a national conversation about birthday parties getting out of hand.
Led by Bill Doherty from the University of Minnesota’s Department of Family Social Sciences, the organization’s website https://innovation.umn.edu/birthdays-without-pressure.com discusses the topic in length. The website addresses what’s out of control about parties today, why birthday parties have gotten out of control, and how out-of-control parties affect kids, parents, and communities.
According to the website, the group feels out of control birthday parties contribute to a too much stuff culture, a me-first culture, an entitlement culture, an envy culture, and more.
