Planning a children’s party takes a bit of budgeting and thinking ahead if you want things to go smoothly. As you’re thinking about your theme, your decor, and the cake, don’t forget about the most fun part of the celebration! There are kids’ party entertainment ideas for any budget, and we can help you find the perfect performer for your child’s big day.
Note: The prices below are nationwide averages based only on GigSalad’s booking data. Your personal event quote may differ based on the vendor’s experience, length of performance, travel distance, and other factors.
Children’s party characters
Nothing makes a little one’s eyes light up like a visit from their favorite character! Children’s party characters can pose for photos, lead sing-alongs, play games, read stories, create balloon animals, and more.
Be sure to book early because the popular characters’ schedules fill up fast! And remember that kiddos’ attention spans may not last past an hour, so many children’s character bookings are between 30 minutes and 1 hour.
$200-$400
- Costumed character
- Cartoon character
- Princess party
- Superhero party
- Pirate entertainment
- Mermaid entertainment
🤹 Read this: Top 5 Questions to Ask When Booking a Children’s Party Performer
Animal entertainment
What child doesn’t love animals? Whether the kids love fuzzy farm friends or are fascinated by all things scaly, animals can be a creative choice for birthday party entertainment. Even the older kids will enjoy it!
Most vendors who provide animals for kids’ birthday parties prefer an outdoor spot (except for smaller animal shows) and generally stay 2 hours to ensure all the kids have time to interact with them.
Many animal shows have special circumstances to consider when quoting, such as loading the animals, traveling to the event, and setup, breakdown, and clean-up. These hourly prices will give you an idea of what to expect for your budget.
$350-$500
$500-$700
🐇 You may also like: 4 Birthday Party Themes That Include Animal Entertainment
Children’s party shows
If you want to captivate your little audience, a children’s show may be the way to go. The kiddos will gather around the performance area to be wowed by a magic show, laugh at puppets, or sing along at a dance party with silly music! Sometimes the guest of honor even gets to participate in helping with a part of the show.
Most kids’ party shows last 30 minutes to an hour, depending on the age of the children and the type of entertainment.
$200-$400
$400-$500
☑️ Get organized: Top 5 Checklists for Planning a Kids Party
Children’s party performers for all ages
For events with little ones, teens, adults, and everything in between, you might need a performer who can please everyone. From face painting to balloon twisting, we have some timeless choices that work for all age groups and may even bring out the kid in the adults at the event!
Since the following services are individualized for each attendee, providers tend to stay around 2 hours. The prices below reflect a 2-hour booking covering 25 guests or so.
$200-$300
$300-$400
👨👩👧👦 Pro tip: Be sure to have an accurate guest count so your vendor can give a proper quote! The number of people attending will determine how long the artist should stay.
Children’s party event services
Kids’ birthday party entertainment is important, but so is having someone else to take photos during the event, help keep drinks and plates full, and ensure everything goes off without a hitch. Consider hiring a photographer, caterer, and party decor company to alleviate the stress of being the event host.
Pay to stay in the moment
Don’t chase the kids around all day with the camera! Instead, enjoy the party and hire a local photographer to capture high-quality photos of all the special moments. They don’t need to be hired for the entire shindig, so booking someone for a couple of hours should be plenty. The vendors may even offer photo party packages to help with costs.
📸 Photographer: $200 an hour
Preparing a great menu of snacks and desserts can be daunting, especially for picky little eaters. A caterer or candy and dessert buffet specialist will ensure you’re offering your guests the cutest and sweetest treats and take the pressure of cooking and presenting off your plate.
🍽️ Caterer: $500 an hour
Along the same lines, you can hire extra hands for the prep work. A party decorator or balloon decor artist can make sure your celebration is as adorable as can be without you having to lift a finger.
🎈 Decor: $175 an hour
🥳 Get inspiration for planning your child’s special day: Children’s Birthday Party Ideas for Kids in Every Age Group
Don’t forget the tip!
Last but not least, remember when creating your budget to consider the price of an appropriate tip for your vendors and performers! They worked hard to make your little one’s birthday bash a big success.
You can base the tip on the entire fee, and using 10-20% is adequate. If you have hired multiple kids’ entertainers, consider tipping $15-$20 per performer.
We hope this guide helps you plan the perfect celebration for your favorite kiddo. And remember, no matter your budget, you can find a children’s party entertainer that will make the day unforgettable! :🎉
Megan is the Director of Customer Experience at GigSalad and has gained 9+ years of insight on what makes a great event on both sides of the booking process. Her favorite things include books, true crime podcasts, coffee, hiking, puns, and making people laugh.