Types of Events

From water play to dinosaurs to Claude Monet, make it a party to remember! 

Planning a birthday party? Choose a theme from below and then let us do all the work. We’ll plan it, set it up and clean-up so all you have to do is enjoy the party. 

Birthday Parties include:

• 1.5 hours in the museum party room
• Museum admission for up to 20 guests (including adult chaperons)
• Birthday cake, refreshments and tableware
• Staff member to guide themed activities
• Playtime in the museum with a ratio of 1 adult for every 5 children.
• Catering is available only through Café Coteau, outside catering not allowed. More information available upon request. Catering request do at least two weeks prior to party.

Party Themes

Each birthday party theme invites guest to participate in a sing-a-long and to learn about cultural birthday traditions across the world. 

Grandparent’s Birthday Parties

Begin the party by sharing stories of favorite memories. Then create new birthday memories. Together, family and friends will draw pictures of their favorite things, their special activities with their birthday grandparent, and images of celebrations past. The pictures will be bounded together in a special book that will be presented to the birthday grandparent as a memento of their special day.

First Time Birthday Parties 

Celebrate that very special first birthday with a party at the Children’s Museum of South Dakota. Birthday building blocks will entertain the birthday boy or girl.  

Toddler Birthday Parties 

Water Party

Begin with a sing-a-long, then “jump in the water” for some creative movement. Pretend to be a fish. Are you a Beta Fish or a Clown Fish? Do you swim slowly to the top or do you wiggle near coral reefs? 

Exploring Dinosaurs

Sing-a-long to “All Around the Swamp” and “Oh I Want to Be a Great Big Dinosaur”. Pretend to be a dinosaur. Does your dino creep along or dash here and there? Gather in a circle for a game of Dino-Pokey before settling in for storytelling.  

Franz Marc

Introduce the works of Franz Marc to budding artists. Guests will explore his animal drawings and the style he used to make them. Guests will be provided an easel board and oil pastels to create their own animal drawings with strong, bold lines. 

Preschool Birthday Parties

Water Party

Begin with a sing-a-long, then pretend to be a fish, or read or act out a stories about water. Howl like the wind and wave your hands.  

Exploring Dinosaurs

Sing-a-long to “Going on a Dinosaur Hunt” and “The Dinosaur Movement Song”. Play a game of Dino-Pokey, Dino, Dino Where is Your Bone?, or make fossil prints.

Harvey Dunn Masterpiece

Introduce the works of Harvey Dunn to budding artists. Weather permitting, guests will go outside, lie in the grass and look at the clouds. Guests will be provided an easel board to paint their own clouds and sky. If needed, guests will gather in the art studio to paint their own masterpiece. 

Claude Monet Masterpiece

Introduce guests to one of the world’s greatest artists. Read “Claude Monet: Sunshine and Water lilies.” Then guests will go outside or gather in the art studio to explore their own creativity with tempera paint.

Franz Marc

Introduce the works of Franz Marc to budding artists. Guests will explore his animal drawings and the style he used to make them. Guests will be provided an easel board and oil pastels to create their own animal drawings with strong, bold lines. 

Elementary Birthday Parties 

Splash! Water Play

How do you think objects move on the surface of the water when there is wind blowing? How do you think water moves when it’s cold or warm? Guests participate in a number of water play activities explore the movement of water. 

Exploring Dinosaurs

Sing songs about dinosaurs; tell Dinosaur Jokes from Zoom Dinosaur. Dig and explore dinosaur bones.

Harvey Dunn Masterpiece

Introduce the prairie masterpieces of Harvey Dunn to budding artists. Weather permitting, guests will go outside, lie in the grass and look at the clouds. Notice how he painted clouds. What do you see? Guests will be provided an easel board to paint their own clouds and sky. If needed, guests will gather in the art studio to paint their own masterpiece. 

Claude Monet Masterpiece

Introduce guests to one of the world’s greatest artists and founder of French Impressionist painting. Impressionism uses visible brush strokes without a lot of hard lines. Guests will go outside to the garden area or gather in the art studio to explore their own creativity with tempera paint. 

Franz Marc

Introduce the works of Franz Marc to budding artists. Guests will explore his animal drawings and the style he used to make them. Guests will be provided an easel board and oil pastels to create their own animal drawings with strong, bold lines. 

Global Kids Birthday Party Option

A Global Kids Birthday Party is a unique opportunity to turn a celebration into an event that also celebrates and inspires kids helping kids. Change for Children is a non-profit organization that sponsors projects to improve children’s lives in many countries around the world. In lieu of presents or in addition to, consider helping to raise funds for children around the world. This option requires a two week notice. This is a possibility for all birthday parties.