Birthday Party Details
What's Included:
- Theme of your choice
- A private decorated room
- Birthday party leader
- Theme-related exhibit tour, activities and crafts
- Invitations
- A goodie bag for each child
- Plates, cups, napkins and utensils
- Set-up and clean-up
Party Themes
- Butterflies
What's a butterfly's favorite color? How hungry are caterpillars? Get up-close and personal with these amazing creatures on an insect expedition through the Butterfly Rainforest. Enjoy the beauty and science of butterflies. (Ages 4-12) - Cave Explorations
Come caving with us! Explore a North Florida Cave and it's surrounding Hammock. From bats to fossils, you never know what you'll find in our North Florida cave. (Ages: 4-10) - Fossil Hunt
Hunt through our Fossil Hall and unearth Florida's geologic history. See a baby alligator, a giant sloth, and animals of every size in-between. You'll even make your own take-home fossil! (Ages 4-12) - Megalodon (through Jan. 6, 2008)
Travel back in time, nearly 16 milllion years ago, on an underwater adventure. Discover the Megalodon, a 60-foot-long shark that roamed these seas, and see how it compares with sharks today. (Ages 4-12) - Something Fishy
Join us for a museum journey as we explore Florida's marine life. Make a model fish and "swim" through our larger-than-life estuary. Discover a whole new world in this underwater adventure! (Ages 4-12)
Times
Saturdays: 10:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. OR 2 - 4 p.m.
Sundays: 2 - 4 p.m.
Fees - Fossil Hunt, Cave Explorations, Something Fishy, Megalodon Themes
| Members | Non-members | |
| 1-10 children | $213 | $250 |
| Each additional child | $15 | $15 |
Fees - Butterflies Theme *
| Members | Non-members | |
| 1-10 children | $253 | $290 |
| Each additional child | $19 | $19 |
| Each additional adult | $7.50 | $7.50 |
The $50 deposit (refundable) is required three weeks in advance to reserve your date and time. Payment in the form of cash, check (made payable to UF) or Visa/MasterCard is accepted. Full payment is due 10 business days before the party.
Your damage deposit will be refunded if no special cleaning is necessary and no damage is found after your party.
* Butterflies party fees include Butterfly Rainforest admission for 10 children and two adults.
Cancellation Policy
If the host provides FLMNH with written notice of cancellation more than 10 business days prior to the event, the rental fee paid, minus a 20% administrative fee, shall be refunded. If the host cancels within 5 business days of the event, a fee of $50 plus 20% administrative fee will be charged. Rescheduling upon the host's request within 5 business days of the event is considered a cancellation and will incur the same fee.
Food, Supplies & Clean-up
- You can bring your own beverages and ice chest or cooler, but no refrigeration or freezer is available.
- The museum provides paper goods and plasticware.
- Birthday leaders will set-up and clean-up the room.
- Your damage deposit will be refunded if no special cleaning is necessary and no damage is found after your party.
Tips for Parents
- Our best suggestion is to keep the plans simple, reduce your stress, and let the museum setting be the excitement. Take the opportunity to make this the easiest, as well as the best, party ever.
- Kids enjoy planning for their big day, so let them design invitations and help choose the theme. If you choose Creature Feature, be sure to let guests know you'll be outside, weather permitting.
- The museum will provide theme-related decorations. Additional decorations can be attached with masking tape, scotch tape, or Velcro (to our carpet-covered walls). Balloon centerpieces are allowed, but no individual balloons, please.
- The Collectors Shop at the Museum is a great place to shop for inexpensive party favors! As always, members receive a 10% discount at the shop.
Online Reservations
NOTE: Parties not available May 18 - August 23, 2008.
You may request a date and time for your party by completing:
Birthday Party Reservation Request Form
- You will be contacted within 5 business days to confirm if your date and time are available. After you have been contacted, your reservation will be held for 5 business days.
- Within the 5 business days, you must come to the Museum, pay the deposit, and sign the Terms and Conditions. Full payment is due at least 10 business days before the party. You may pay in full at the same time the deposit is paid. The deposit is for damage or extra cleaning at the Museum. The deposit check will be returned if no damage is done and no extra cleaning is needed after your party.
- If the reservation is made less that two weeks before the party date, payment is due in full (damage deposit and party fee).
Can't get to the Museum during the week?
- Our Terms and Conditions and Reservation form can be faxed to you. Then you can fax the signed form and drop off the check on the weekend.
- You can download our Terms and Conditions form here in PDF format.
- Come to the Museum 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. on Saturday or 1 - 5 p.m. on Sunday, and leave the form and check in an envelope addressed to "Birthdays."
IMPORTANT! Online registrations are not final until we receive the deposit or full payment if the party is less than 2 weeks away. The date you request is reserved for 5 business days only. Walk-in or mail this form with payment to the Museum. Full payment is due 14 days before the date of the party. Address envelopes:
Florida Museum of Natural History - Powell Hall
Birthdays
PO Box 112710
Gainesville, FL 32611
Phone Reservations
NOTE: Parties not available May 18 - August 23, 2008.
We can take a tentative reservation by phone. We'll check the calendar and reserve a date for you. Call (352) 273-2061.
- If an acceptable date is available, you will be asked to:
- Complete the phone registration form
- Listen to some rules
- A phone reservation is held for 5 business days.
- Within the 5 business days, you must come to the Museum, pay the deposit, and sign the Terms and Conditions. Full payment is due at least 10 business days before the party. You may pay in full at the same time the deposit is paid. The deposit is for damage or extra cleaning at the Museum. The deposit check will be returned if no damage is done and no extra cleaning is needed after your party.
- If the reservation is made less that two weeks before the party date, payment is due in full (damage deposit and party fee).
Can't get to the Museum during the week?
- Our Terms and Conditions and Reservation form can be faxed to you. Then you can fax the signed form and drop off the check on the weekend.
- You can download our Terms and Conditions form here in PDF format.
- Come to the Museum 10-5 on Saturday or 1-5 on Sunday, and leave the form and check in an envelope addressed to "Birthdays."
IMPORTANT! Phone registrations are not final until we receive the deposit or full payment if the party is less than 2 weeks away. The date you request is reserved for 5 business days only. Walk-in or mail this form with payment to the Museum. Full payment is due 14 days before the date of the party. Address envelopes:
Florida Museum of Natural History - Powell Hall
Birthdays
PO Box 112710
Gainesville, FL 32611
Need More Information?
Call (352) 273-2061