Craft Activity Birthday Party

Craft Activity parties lasts 1.5 to 2 hours (depending on the age of the children and the party activity selected) and include a building orientation/tour, a hands-on craft activity (each child takes home their project), and a birthday celebration. Parties can be held for children turning 3-11 years old on Saturdays at 10:30 am or at 2:00 pm or on Sundays at 2:00 pm. 

Party Details

• For children turning 3-11 years old  
• Length of Party: 1.5 hours for children aged 3-6, 2 hours for children aged 6-11  
• Available Days and Times: Saturdays 10:30 am and 2:00 pm, Sundays 2:00 pm  
• Child Guest Limit: 15 or 30, depending upon the space available 
• Party Space: Museum Classroom 224 or 221   
• Party Favors: 
  • Train Party: Train Sticker Book, Box of Crayons, Train Engineer's Hat
  • Rowhouse, City by Design, and Crazy Construction Parties: Construction Coloring Book, Box of Crayons, Plastic Construction Hat 

 Program Fees

• Family level Museum members: $250 (up to 10 children including birthday child)
• Non-members: $330 (up to 10 children including birthday child). This fee includes a family level membership for one year.
• Additional children will be paid for on the day of the party. The fee for each additional child (up to a maximum of 15 or 30) is $15. 

Party Schedule

The party space is open 30 minutes before the party for set up and 15 minutes after the party for clean up. Parents are responsible for all set up and clean up of any food and birthday decorations.

• For children 3 to 6 years of age (1.5 hours)
  • Welcome activity and building orientation—20 minutes
  • Hands-on project—45 minutes
  • Birthday Celebration—20 minutes
• For children 6 to 11 years of age (2 hours)
• Welcome activity and building orientation—35 minutes
• Hands-on project—65 minutes
• Birthday Celebration—20 minutes

Activities for Children turning 3-6 years old (1.5 hour party)

Experiment with design and build a Rowhouse! Photo by Museum staff

Rowhouse Design Act as an architect and design a rowhouse! During this birthday party, guests explore the shapes and details found on the outside of homes. Guests then create their own rowhouse by decorating foam silhouettes with craft materials. A stand is added so the houses stand upright and can be displayed at home.

Trains from the All Aboard Train Construction Birthday Party

All Aboard! Train Construction Become an engineer and design a train! Guests participate in interactive storytelling about trains and are introduced to the different types of objects trains transport. After discovering all the different trains, each child constructs his/her own train using a variety of craft materials. A ribbon is added to each train so children engineers can “drive” their train around a floor map to the sounds of real trains.

Activities for Children turning 6-11 years old (2 hour party)

City by Design Build a dream city! Children become city planners and construction workers as they explore the different types of buildings found in a city. Guests work together to identify buildings that are needed and wanted in their city. Each child then plans and constructs a building using colorful craft and recycled materials. When the buildings are completed, children place them on a city map creating their own miniature city.

Use your imagination to create some wild buildings! Photo by Museum staff

Crazy Construction Create an extraordinary structure using shiny craft materials! Guests get a little silly during this party as they look at images of famous “crazy” buildings like those of Gaudi and Gehry. Children investigate what makes a building crazy then use an assortment of shiny craft materials to create their own crazy buildings. When the buildings are gathered, everyone giggles to see their unique and zany city.

 
List of Available Dates

Before booking a party, please check our calendar of available dates and times. We are currently accepting reservations through June 2010.

Book a Party

To schedule a birthday party program, please complete the registration form below, preferably at least two months in advance. After you fill out the registration form, the availability of your selected date and time will reviewed by Museum staff. If the date and time you selected are available, you will receive an email with payment instructions. Upon payment, your party will be confirmed. 

Click here to request a party.

Frequently Asked Questions about hosting a birthday party at the National Building Museum.

Additional Questions? Contact us by phone at 202-272-2448, ext. 3404 or by email at skravetz@nbm.org.