Fernbank Children's Birthday Parties

Host your child's birthday party with the world's largest dinosaurs! Birthday Party packages are $400 for members (Family Explorer level and higher) and $450 for nonmembers. Not a member? Join today! 

Fernbank’s Birthday Party Package includes:

• Unlimited access to Fernbank exhibits, WildWoods, and Fernbank Forest
• Wristbands for 20 guests (Includes children, adults, members and host family) - $500 value)
• Two hours in the private party room set with guest seating (a $1,000 value)
• Use of the custom-made dinosaur throne for the birthday child

Availability: Parties are available for booking at 11:30am-1:30pm (access time at 11:00am) or 3:00pm-5:00pm (access time 2:30pm) on Saturdays and Sundays. Birthday parties must be booked at least two weeks in advance. Please be advised that we open bookings for parties 6-8 weeks out.

BOOK ONLINE

Additional Activities: Make your party special by adding on an additional activity! All activities are led by a Fernbank educator and must be booked at least three weeks in advance.

• Live Animal Encounter: $150. Participate in an up-close encounter with two live animals from the museum’s collection. Party guests will learn fascinating facts about amphibians, reptiles, or invertebrates! Animal Encounters are for children ages 5 and older.
• Cool Chemistry: $150. Learn fun facts about chemistry and see two live chemistry experiments. Cool Chemistry is recommended for ages 3 and older.
• Nature Tales: $100. Enjoy a special story and fun sing-along. Nature Tales is recommended for children ages 2 to 5.

Giant Screen Theater: Wristbands give guests access to one (1) movie showing the day of the party. They may not be redeemed on a different day. Specific showtimes vary by date and are subject to availability on a first-come, first-served basis. View exact showtimes online or when you visit the museum.

Catering/ Outside Food: Catering is available for purchase from our Fernbank Café. With the exception of a birthday cake or dessert, no outside food is permitted. Standard plastic plates, utensils and napkins are available upon request. Food and drink will be delivered to the party room at a designated time. Please note, Fernbank staff is not available to serve food and the Café closes at 4:00pm. If a child has a food allergy, you can inquire about bringing in food that is safe for them to eat.

Fernbank Catering Options:

FAQs

When do I order my catering? Catering orders must be received and paid for five (5) business days prior to the party date. Please keep in mind the earliest food can arrive is the party’s start time (11:30am or 3:00pm), and the Café closes at 4:00pm.

Can we bring alcohol for the parents? Alcoholic beverages are not permitted during birthday parties, and outside alcohol is not permitted inside Fernbank Museum under any circumstances.

How many guests comes with the party package? Fernbank’s Birthday Party Package includes twenty (20) guests. When confirming the total number of guests attending the party, please include the host family, museum members, adults, and children over the age of two. Should your party be over twenty (20) guests, each additional guest is $18.00 (plus tax) per person. There is a maximum of forty (40) total guests.

My family and I are members, do we get in for free? What about some of my guests who are members? Members must be included in the final guest count. Only children 2 and under get in for free.

Do I pay for all guests ahead of time? Our party attendant will check you out at the end of the party and confirm your final guest count. You will not be charged for any additional wristbands until your event manager reaches out after the weekend.

What time can we arrive at the museum, and when can we get into the room? The Museum is open daily 10am-5pm (WildWoods until 4:30pm) and the Birthday Party Package includes all day museum access. A Fernbank staff member will be on-site 30 minutes before the party to greet you and escort you to the party room—no exceptions.

Is there storage for personal items prior to the access time? There is no storage prior to the access time. If you arrive before the access time, you are welcome to bring it inside with you. Keep in mind you will be carrying all the items you choose to bring with you throughout the museum until you are allowed entrance to the birthday party room no more than 30 minutes before your party begins.

Can I bring decorations? You are welcome to bring in decorations such as tablecloths, centerpieces, decorative party hats, napkins, plates, and cups. Fernbank will provide tables, folding chairs and a dinosaur birthday throne.

Items that are not permitted:

• Décor that is hung from the walls or ceilings
• Glitter or confetti
• Balloons of any kind (including balloon arches)
• Piñatas
• Silly String

What is the room set-up? We have three 6ft tables in the back of the room for catering/gifts/cake, and comes with white, plastic one-use linens. For seating, we have five 36” round low cocktail tables with 4 seats at each table. Additional seating is set along the sides of the room, and parents are welcome to pull them up to the tables with their child.

Can we change the set-up? The standard floor plan will be what is set in the party room when you arrive. You are welcome to move tables and chairs how you’d like it to be, but we cannot change the set-up prior to the party.

Can I bring in vendors? We do not allow any vendors (i.e., artists, furniture, backdrops, balloon arches, characters, etc.)

Will the Fernbank Party Attendant help me decorate and hand out food? Our party attendant is not responsible for decorating or handing out food & drinks. They will greet you with a cart for all your items at the access time, bring up catering, check on you and the party periodically, and check you out at the end of the reservation time.

Where is the party room and how long do we have it for? Our private party room is located on the Upper Level of the Museum. The total time reserved for your group in the party room is two (2) hours. Your party attendant will check you out 10-15 minutes before your party time is over. If you have brought any decorations, or if you need to gather personal belongings, you should do so at this time so that your party is wrapped up at the end of your two-hour reservation.

Can we extend our time in the party room? We cannot extend party time. If you would like to book longer time in the room, please inquire about booking two party reservations well before the day of your reservation.

If we are late, do we still have two hours in the party room? Due to the availability of the room reservations, we are unable to extend time if you are late.

What if I need to cancel or postpone our party? In the event of a cancellation or postponement, 50% of the birthday fees are refundable.

What is the parking situation? When your guest arrives at the museum, we have 2 parking lots with no fees available on a first-come first-served basis.

What arrival instructions should we tell our guests? When they enter the building, they get in line for a ticketing agent, and let the agent know whose party they are coming for (full name) and how many wristbands they need. If they have a child 2 or under, they do not need a wristband. The agent will give them the wristbands, as well as directions to the party room.

Contact us online or send an email to SpecialEvents@FernbankMuseum.org for more information regarding children’s birthday parties. PLEASE NOTE: Office hours are from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday-Friday. Holiday hours may vary.