Ice Cream Parties in NJ

With the humidity rising and the dog days of summer ambushing us with stifling air, what’s the best way to cool down? If you have a child’s birthday party to plan in the next few months, you will definitely be interested in these “cool” local spots. Whether you go old-fashioned or avant-garde, ice cream somehow evokes memories of summers past and lazy days by the swimming hole. Here are some local NJ spots that truly put the scream back in ice cream.

 Ice Cream Party Locations

Ben & Jerry’s at Port Imperial in West New York, NJ, opened just one year ago. The basic party is $225 for a minimum of 10 kids ($14.99 each additional). They provide invitations and paper goods and decorate with balloons—all you have to bring are the drinks! The staff will also keep the kids busy with arts and crafts, face painting, games and dancing. If you do the 11 am slot you can order lunch with their approved caterers. That’s not all. Kids can take a store tour, make a waffle bowl and of course, make their own sundae with all their favorite toppings! Two things that could concern some parents about this location is the lack of parking and the fact that you would have to be open to their regular customers in the same area. There is no separate party room.

Little Scoops in Closter, NJ, is also known for hosting kids birthday parties. Step inside and you travel back in time to the 1950’s retro ice cream parlors. Parties here include invitations, paper goods, dancing, games, pizza, drinks, autographed T-shirt and make-your-own sundaes. You get four flavors of Edy’s ice cream and up to 12 toppings. They can accommodate from 15 to 40 guests. The cost is $370 for 15 kids and each additional kid is $18. Owner Rachel said that parents love them because they do everything—serve the food, bag gifts, clean up, etc. There are 90 parking spots in a municipal lot behind the store. This is a good option because you don’t have to share the store with regular customers but the choices in ice cream flavors are limited.

McCool’s is located in Madison, NJ, and they have a great deal for parties. They serve 35 flavors of Hershey’s ice cream. There is a 10-child minimum (20 to 25 max) and it will cost $13/child. This includes any flavor of ice cream and unlimited toppings, drinks, table settings and two games: ice cream bingo and pin-the-cherry-on-the-ice-cream sundae. They also decorate with balloons and tablecloth in a color you can pick. Parties are scheduled at 11 am—before the store opens at 12pm so you have privacy. You can also order pizza locally or add on a craft, spin art, piñata or clown/singer/magician. There is ample parking and owner Mary Ellen said she gets lots of new parties from parents who have attended a previous party.

Applegate Farm has parties only at its Freehold, NJ, location. What stands out is that in addition to making your own sundae, they have an ice cream making demonstration where kids can take turns on the churner to make vanilla ice cream. They have a separate party room for 10-20 kids that has a barnyard theme and small dance floor. Kids can play musical chairs, pin the tail on the donkey and limbo. The basic package (no sundae or pizza) is $9.95/child. There is also a $12.95 and $16.95 package; the $18.95 package includes everything. All packages include a 6-inch round ice cream cake and drinks.

(note: all of the above are 1 ½ hour parties)

 Ice Cream at Your Door

Say you are a big fan of ice cream but want to host it at your house. Another option is having the cart come to you! South Street Creamery in Morristown, NJ, will bring 4 tubs of ice cream of your choosing, 2 servers and around 10 toppings. They have over 100 different flavors to choose from and come supplied with spoons, napkins and tablecloths. They will stay for 1 ½ hours and will travel to a 30 mile radius around Morristown. There is a 40 person minimum and it costs $6.50 per person.

There aren’t many options for ice cream party locations in Essex county but there is an ice cream truck that you can have come to you. Mike’s Ice Cream truck of Verona will come to your house if you live in Essex or Morris County. Somehow the sight of an ice cream truck makes kids ecstatic…must be the Pavlovian instinct kicking in when they hear that familiar melody. He charges you what people take from the truck and a small service fee (which can be waived for large parties). For 20 kids it can come to about $40.

Do It Yourself

If you’re like me, you’re thinking, “Maybe I can do this myself?” Buy your favorite ice cream by the bulk and serve out of a dressed up cooler filled with dry ice. Rent an old-fashioned ice cream costume and have daddy serve it. Mini M&M’s and hot fudge are easy enough to buy. The Internet has great resources from party planners and every day “Martha-wannabe” moms:

Kids party blogger Peppers and Pollywogs has wonderful suggestions: http://tiny.cc/c0DUC. She starts with suggestions for tableware, invitations, favors, crafts/games, etc. and links to click on so you can buy them. I liked the decoration idea of using party hats upside down as “cones” and putting different colored balloons inside to be the “ice cream.”

If you are a bit more crafty, Dotcomwomen has a great decoration idea for ice cream cones: http://tiny.cc/5uPgp. I also liked their craft idea—using plastic sundae glasses (at dollar stores) and colored cotton balls to make fake ice cream bowls. For their favor ideas, I liked the cookies, berry-filled cones, mini scrapbook and Strawberry Shortcake book ideas the best.

I love this site’s centerpiece idea: http://tiny.cc/63GCF: she suggests carnations in sundae glasses and Ikea has the glasses for cheap (I happen to have them!). This site has a ton of games you can try and tips on how much ice cream you will need for the amount of people you expect: http://tiny.cc/scNFr

For the real do-it-yourself advice BirthdayPartyIdeas.com has real moms giving tips and they will blow you away: http://tiny.cc/xGy5g. The first honorable mention is Sara from Suffolk, VA, and she put a lot of work into making it a great birthday party. I love her games—“Cold Cone” and “Ice Cream Relay” are both easy to recreate. Charlotte, in Rochester, MI had a great game, too—having the kids catch the ice cream (balloons) with their cones (made of poster board). I also loved Lynn in Canada (Special Mention)’s idea of a favor: putting jelly beans in a wafer cone and tying it up  with cellophane.

Whether you go to a local spot or do it at home, there are wonderful options for throwing a yummy ice cream party for your child in NJ. You may have some sticky fingers and sugar high reactions but the smiles and laughter will make it all worth it. 

written for: www.newjerseynewsroom.com

Update: Maggie Moo's in Ridgewood, NJ also has parties at their location in the basement. They are sort of like Cold Stone Creamery--they mix in toppings into the ice cream. I wasn't that crazy about the taste, though. 

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