Birthday Parties
It’s not just a birthday party, it’s an adventure!
Celebrate your child’s big day in the great outdoors. Our professional educators will lead your child
and their guests in your choice of program. Check out our theme options below!
Party Information
Birthday party programs take place on Saturdays from September to May, with two available time slots each date:
- AM Program – 10:00am – 12:00pm
- PM Program – 2:00pm – 4:00pm
Birthday Party packages include:
- Exclusive use of our indoor and/or outdoor classroom spaces
- 60-minute educator-led program (choose from themes listed to the right)
- 45 minutes to celebrate with friends and family
- 30 minutes of set-up time before the program
- 15 minutes for clean-up after the program
- A day pass for all attendees to explore the Arboretum before and after the program
Materials we cannot provide:
- Decorations
- Party favors
- Food and drinks
- Dining ware (cups, plates, utensils, etc.)
- Candles or matches/lighters
- Invitations
Party Themes
Fairies, Gnomes and Homes
A world of imagination and forest fun invites your child to share this special outdoor adventure with their friends and family! A professional outdoor educator leads the way as we delve into a fantastical world in miniature- where acorn caps become bowls, leaves and twigs become building materials and kids will delight in building forest fairy houses and gnome homes. Participants will take a short hike to collect their materials and enjoy exclusive time in the Arboretum’s outdoor classroom to build their creations.
Fur, Feathers and Scales
Calling all animal lovers! If your kid loves finding critters and learning more about their amazing abilities this is the party for you. Our professional outdoor educators offer programs that dazzle and delight as we go on a forest safari with binoculars in hand to search for animals that call the Arboretum home. A visit from some of our animal ambassadors (turtles, snakes, and hissing cockroaches, for example) will be sure to be a highlight for your child and their guests!
Outdoor Adventure
Adventure, here we come! Your child and their guests will join a professional outdoor educator in your choice of several outdoor activities. These may include offerings such as fire building, survival shelter building, map and compass and/or geocaching. Children will sharpen their observational skills on a short hike and demonstrate skills in our woodlands with exclusive use of one of the Arboretum’s outdoor classrooms. This is not your average birthday party!
Bugs and Beyond
Get ready for a bug-tastic birthday celebration! Join our professional outdoor educators on a hunt for the amazing bugs that call the Arboretum home. We’ll search high and low for these fascinating critters, meet a live insect from our collection of ambassador animals, and learn all about some of nature’s smallest wonders. Exclusive use of one of our beautiful outdoor classrooms will ensure this bug-filled birthday will be one to remember!
This program is only offered March-May and September-October.
Pricing and Available Spaces
| Maximum # of Children Per Group | Available Spaces | Total Price | |
| Groups up to 30 people* | 15 |
Tupelo outdoor classroom, EcoLab classroom |
$270 for members $300 for non-members |
| Groups of 31- 40 people* | 20 |
Tupelo outdoor classroom, EcoLab classroom** |
$324 for members $360 for non-members |
*Children under 2 years old are not included in the total or child headcount.
**Due to limited seating, the EcoLab is best used as a back-up space for groups over 30 people in case of inclement weather.
Tupelo Outdoor Classroom
The Tupelo outdoor classroom is situated just down the hill from the Education Center and offers a beautiful outdoor program space featuring:
- A large covered shelter (uncovered during the winter)
- A fenced-in natural space to explore safely
- Up to two folding tables for food and drinks
- Tree-stump stool seating
- Two fire pits (only available for certain Outdoor Adventure programs)
EcoLab Indoor Classroom
The EcoLab is located in the basement floor of our Education Center and boasts ample seating and table space. This space offers:
- Twelve large tables
- Seating for 30 people
- A large rug for story-readings and animal meet-and-greets
- An interactive touch table stocked with fascinating natural artifacts
- Viewing of ambassador animal enclosures
- Coloring supplies (upon request)
Fall 2026 Available Dates
We are offering birthday party programs on the following Saturdays this fall:
September: 26th
October: 3rd, 10th, 17th, 24th, 31st
November: 7th, 14th, 21st
December: 5th, 12th
Winter and Spring 2027 Available Dates
We are offering birthday party programs on the following Saturdays this winter and spring:
January: 9th, 16th, 23rd, 30th
February: 6th, 27th
March: 6th, 13th, 20th
April: 3rd, 10th, 24th
May: 1st, 8th, 22nd
Frequently Asked Questions
- Can I bring food (cake, snacks, drinks, etc.) from home?
Yes, you are welcome to bring food and drinks for your party guests! However, alcoholic beverages are strictly prohibited.
- Are there any prohibited decorations or materials?
In order to preserve the health and integrity of our outdoor spaces, materials including rice, party string, balloons, bubbles, birdseed, confetti, and pinatas are not allowed in our outdoor classroom.
- Can I switch program themes if my child changes their mind?
Yes! Please let us know at least one week in advance of your program if you would like to switch themes so that our staff have time to adjust plans and gather new materials.
- What if I would like to invite more than 40 people?
If you would like to book a program for more than 40 people (adults and children over 2 included), please reach out to youtheducation@ncarboretum.org for more information.
- What is your cancellation policy?
If you choose to request a refund more than 30 days prior to the program start date, you will be refunded the full program price. If you cancel your program 30-11 days prior to the program start date, half the total fee is refundable. If cancellation occurs 10-0 days prior to the program date, none of the total fee is refundable.
In the case of severe weather or other conditions where the Arboretum is unable to provide programming safely and we are unable to reschedule your program, we will provide full reimbursement of the program fee.