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
- Setup and cleanup
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 its 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 Florida Fossils exhibit 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) - 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)
Dates & Times
Birthday parties are available the last week of August through the first week of June.
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 Themes
| Members | Non-members | |
| 1-10 children | $225 | $250 |
| Each additional child | $15 | $15 |
Fees - Butterflies Theme *
| Members | Non-members | |
| 1-10 children | $275 | $300 |
| Each additional child | $19 | $19 |
| Each additional adult | $9 | $9 |
A $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 University of Florida), Visa, MasterCard or American Express 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. Extra adult admissions to the rainforest are the responsibility of the birthday party host. Refunds will not be given for weather-related cancellations.
Cancellation Policy
If the host provides the Florida Museum written notice of cancellation more than 10 business days prior to the event, the rental fee paid, minus a 20 percent administrative fee, shall be refunded. If the host cancels within five business days of the event, a fee of $50 plus 20 percent administrative fee will be charged. Rescheduling upon the host's request within five business days of the event is considered a cancellation and will incur the same fee. Refunds will not be given for weather-related cancellations.
Food, Supplies & Clean-up
- You may bring your own beverages and ice chest or cooler, but no refrigeration or freezer is available.
- The Museum provides paper goods and plastic ware.
- Birthday leaders will setup and cleanup 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.
- The Museum will provide theme-related decorations. Additional decorations may be attached with masking tape, Scotch tape, or Velcro (to our carpet-covered walls). Balloon centerpieces are allowed, but no individual balloons, please.
- The Museum Collectors Shop is a great place to shop for inexpensive party favors! As always, Museum Members receive a 10 percent discount at the shop.
Reservations
You may request a date and time for your party online or by phone:
Online: 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 five business days.
By Phone: 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 five business days.
Within the five 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 than 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. You may 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. Monday-Saturday or 1-5 p.m. Sunday, and leave the form and check at the front desk in an envelope addressed to "Birthdays."
IMPORTANT! Registrations are not final until we receive the deposit or full payment if the party is less than two weeks away. The date you request is reserved for five business days only. Walk-in or mail this form with payment to the Museum. Full payment is due 14 days before the party date. Address envelopes:
Florida Museum of Natural History
Birthday Parties
PO Box 112710
Powell Hall on Hull Road
UF Cultural Plaza
Gainesville, FL 32611
Need More Information?
Call 352-273-2061