3 Free Party Venues

 

… for when you can’t afford to have it here.

Birthday parties are expensive. Snacks and drinks and cakes and entertainment – who wants to pay for a venue on top of all that? (Hint: not me.) Here are three free venues to help ease your birthday budget.

1. Someone’s garden

Image credit: sxc.hu

For the first two years of Poppet’s life, we lived in a third-floor flat with a teeny balcony. Not the best party venue. By the time Pixie arrived, we were in a simplex with a small garden; better, but still not ideal. Fortunately, both sets of grandparents have houses with large gardens and swimming pools. All birthday parties thus far have taken place at either Oupa and Oumie’s or Nana and Grampa’s houses.

2. The beach

This obviously only goes for those living at or near the coast. Unless it’s Cape Town and winter, in which case: sorry for you.

Image credit: sxc.hu

I’m not much of a beach girl. Sand everywhere, eau du sunblock, a tan that always starts bright red before skipping brown and going straight back to white, and people, people everywhere. But I still think a beach party sounds like a lot of fun. For someone else.

3. A park

We love picnics. Hubby proposed on a picnic, we had a picnic engagement party, and we have picnic tea parties (indoors and outdoors) with the girls. Poppet’s first birthday party was actually a Teddy Bear’s Picnic theme in my in-laws garden.

Image credit: sxc.hu

Some parks charge an admission – Walter Sisulu Botanical Gardens, I’m looking at you. And you, Modderfontein Nature Reserve – but you can find plenty of parks that don’t. Horwood’s Farm is one. And the last time I checked, Gilloolly’s Farm and Emmarentia Botanical Gardens were also still free.

Plus, if it’s a picnic you can add “bring your own basket” to the invitation and cut your party costs.

Where is your favourite party venue?