Have a Happy HAPPY Birthday Party with Vista Parties

Celebrate and enjoy your child’s special day without all the fuss

It’s officially your little one’s birthday month and you know what that means; initiate perfect party planning mode. You’ll need to: find a venue, pick a theme, invite the guests, bake a cake, decide on food and snacks as well as organise party games with cool prizes –and that’s just the pre-party work. On the actual day, it’s a whole other story. If you’re not decorating the location or setting up the games, then you’re making sure everyone, parents included, are having a good time or are grabbing more eats for the tables. Oh, and then don’t forget about cleaning up.

You probably don’t need us to tell you that throwing an unforgettable birthday bash for your child can be a bit overwhelming and more often than not it becomes challenging as a parent to actually enjoy your kid’s celebration with everything that you need to do.

And so, to help minimise all organising-stress and party-hassles, in steps experts in the children’s parties biz, Vista Parties.

“When you organise your child’s birthday party you end up stressing for a full week [at least] prior, you’ve baked the birthday cake four times and had to arrange everything. On the day you then have to make sure that everyone – kids and parents – are okay and you still have to clean up afterwards,” exclaims Vista Parties manager Colleen Rens, who runs the event planning company with her assistant, Moeshfiqah Theunissen.

“We [Vista Parties] take care of everything, from all the bookings and details to the setting up and cleaning up”, continues Colleen, who has been organising children’s parties and events for over five years. “Once the parents have picked a party package, booked a time slot and all is confirmed with us, they don’t have to worry about a thing until the week before the party when we just need to confirm numbers.”

Offering four party packages – Under the Sea, Tommy Tugboat Combo, Ocean Adventurer Combo and World of Birds – Vista Parties strives to make your little ones birthday bash fun-filled (for the kids) and stress-free (for mom and dad), not to mention, packed to the brim with many happy memories, activities and adventures that will have partygoers – and parents – talking for years to come. From discovering the big blue and all its inhabitants at the Two Oceans Aquarium and taking a road trip to Hout Bay to see some of the country’s most majestic feathered friends to sailing the Atlantic Seaboard and enjoying a round-about harbour cruise, every Vista Parties party package ensures to maximise your kid’s birthday experience.

“Every single package has an education undertone – something about the damages of plastic or water and tides – to it,” elaborates Colleen. “The kids don’t even realise that they’re learning something they’re having so much fun.”

Furthermore, each package includes a party pack (Lays chips, Smarties, Fizzers, juice and more – parents can bring additional items to add should they wish) per child, a light meal (seasonal fruit, jelly cups and an option of either wraps, hot dogs or beef burgers) each as well as entrance into the venues for all of the children attending the party. Vegetarian, Halaal as well as any other dietary requirements can also be arranged (at an additional cost). As no outside catering is permitted, Vista Parties also offers a selection of sweet and savoury platters (serving eight – 10 adults) and refreshments (at an additional cost) for parents to nibble on.

What’s more, at every event either Colleen or Moeshfiqah will be present as well as other staff members ensuring the safety and well-being of your child and their friends at all times. And while parents are welcome to join in on the birthday fun (the birthday child’s mom and dad are included in the packages while additional parents will have to pay accordingly), Colleen and Moeshfiqah’s onsite presence ensures that everything will run smoothly, efficiently and securely, so there is seriously no need to worry.

“Our parties are stress- and hassle-free for parents,” concludes Colleen. “They don’t need to do or worry about anything before or on the day. All they need to do is sit back, relax and enjoy the party. How often does a mother or father get to do that at their kid’s party?”

PACKAGE 1: Under the Sea (Two Oceans Aquarium)
Marine lovers (between the ages of two and eight years) are in for an absolute treat as they’re taken on an exciting guided tour through the Two Oceans Aquarium. The aquatic entertainment land gives little ones the unique opportunity to come face-to-face with various rainbow-coloured fish, meet the predators of the deep as well as touch some of their favourite sea friends in the touch pool. Furthermore, depending on the party time, partygoers will also be able to enjoy one of the aquarium’s in-house activates (a puppet show, arts and craft workshop or watching the penguins being fed). After the excursion, the celebrations will continue in one of the aquarium’s function rooms, aptly decorated in the ‘under the sea’ theme, where kids will enjoy a light meal, sing ‘Happy Birthday’ and cut the cake. What’s more, the aquarium tickets are valid for the entire day so parents and children are welcome to enter again after the party has concluded to continue their underwater adventure!

PACKAGE 2: Tommy Tugboat Combo (Harbour tour and Two Oceans Aquarium)
Ideal for little ones between the ages of two to seven years, Vista Parties Tommy Tugboat party package combines the joy of chugging around the harbour with a fun and exciting tour of the Two Oceans Aquarium. Beginning with the aquarium visit, partygoers will be led on guided trip through the establishment where they’ll be able to see, meet, and even touch, some of their favourite sea creatures. Furthermore, depending on the party time, the group will also be able to enjoy one of the aquarium’s in-house activates (a puppet show, arts and craft workshop or watching the penguins being fed).

From there, the party (and parents) will hop on board Tommy Tugboat, situated just outside the aquarium, for an exclusive leisurely harbour cruise while they enjoy refreshments and a light meal on board as well as sing ‘Happy Birthday’ to the birthday child and eat some yummy cake. NOTE: All children are required to wear a life jacket on board.

PACKAGE 3: Ocean Adventurer Combo (Atlantic Seaboard tour and Two Oceans Aquarium)
Well-suited for slightly older children – between the ages of seven and 15 years – this party package gives the birthday child and their friends the awesome opportunity to experience some time out to sea on board the Ocean Adventurer where they will enjoy a light meal and refreshments (and maybe even spot a dolphin or two) before heading back to shore and into the Two Oceans Aquarium for a self-guided tour.

Only the parents of the birthday child are included in the package, all additional adults will be charged for accordingly. NOTE: All children are required to wear a life jacket on board.

PACKAGE 4: World of Birds (City Sightseeing bus tour and World of Birds)
This party package sees partygoers take a fun-filled and enlightening road trip on board the City Sightseeing bus from the V&A Waterfront to the World of Birds in Hout Bay. Ideal for kids of all ages, the package includes the bus ride and entrance into the bird park as well as an exciting treasure hunt to “find our national bird” and an opportunity to feed the monkeys before ending off with a magical picnic, complete with birthday celebrations and cake, with the park’s flamingos before heading back to the V&A Waterfront.

Birthday parents travel for free on the bus as well as receive free entry into the World of Birds park. Additional parents will be charged accordingly. Parents wishing to meet the party at the World of Birds can also be arranged and costs will be adjusted accordingly. NOTE: The Two Oceans Aquarium is NOT included in this package.

If the above packages don’t tickle you or your kid’s fancy, be sure to let Vista Parties know as they’ll be happy to discuss and tailor-make a package for you. “I’m not closed off to any ideas,” confirms Colleen. “If you want something we’re not offering, let us know and I’ll see what we can do!”  

Party Package Info and Prices:

*Package 1: Two Oceans Aquarium members will receive a 10% discount on the Under the Sea (only) package cost (please send Vista Parties the valid membership number no less than 72 working hours prior to the party). Additional parents (limited to one adult per child) will also receive a 50% discount should the birthday child’s parents or legal guardians make a block booking and pay at least 72 working hours prior to the party. All additional parents will be charged the full ticket price. No balloons are permitted in the Two Oceans Aquarium as they can be harmful to the sea creatures. No discounted tickets will be issued on the day of the party (Package 1) and no refunds will be given for NO SHOWS.

NOTE: Vista Parties packages are very popular and fill up quickly, it’s best – once you have selected your party package – to book immediately and pay the deposit to secure your date, timeslot and package.

Birthday Cake Top Tip: Order your little ones birthday cake through Vista Parties. Themes will run in conjunction with the party package purchased (for a water-themed party, think mermaids, pirates or ocean creatures) and Vista Parties will supply the knife and birthday candles. Alternatively, parents are most welcome to bring their own birthday cake to the party (please bring your own candles).

Contact Details: Colleen Rens | +27 (0) 21 434 1946 | +27 (0) 83 768 3709 | colleen@vistaparties.co.za

Website: www.vistaparties.co.za

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Read more here about Vista Parties Ocean Adventurer Combo and World of Birds party packages. Alternatively, check out these 50 Super Cool Things to do for Kids and 10 Top Adventures for Kids.

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