Awesome Birthday & Special Event Parties at City's Community Centers
The City of Evanston can help you out when it comes to your next birthday party or special event. From Arts Camp Parties at the Noyes Cultural Arts Center to birthday parties at the Evanston Ecology Center or Levy Center, from ice-skating parties at the Robert Crown Ice Complex to preschool and sports party packages at the Chandler-Newberger Center, the city offers many opportunities to rent its facilities for your special occasion.
Arts Camp Parties
at the Noyes Cultural Arts Center
What’s included in your two-hour party? We will supply the room and the talent – you supply the cake and ice cream (or theme-related edibles; contact us for suggestions). Then we do the clean-up when your guests leave! The room will be decorated to suit your theme (see list below) and an entertaining character/arts teacher will lead your own private “camp.” Your home won’t have the wear and tear, and you can relax!
Arts Camp birthday parties are held at the Noyes Cultural Arts Center, 927 Noyes St. Our schedule is flexible; parties may be booked Monday through Saturday, between 10am-7pm and on Sunday between 10am-6pm. Questions? Ready to book? Please call us at 847/448-8260. Fee: $250 for up to 15 children Age Level: 6 years & up.
Choose your favorite Arts Camp theme!
Medieval Camp
Partygoers create a medieval village using Lincoln Logs® and our castle, complete a medieval craft, then learn busking skills to entertain the knights and ladies.
Pirate Camp
“Arg, me mateys!” Speak and eat as pirates! The Pirate GRRRL will tell you yarns and teach you a salty song. You’ll complete a pirate craft.
Renaissance Camp
Your party will be a slice of our best-selling summer camp theme! Your party friends will paint a miniature, engage in Shakespearean silliness and be on their best behavior dressed in “fynery.”
Princess Camp
Princesses were leaders in training. Pick a favorite Queen from history and we will immerse ourselves in her time and tales from her girlhood.
Your Favorite Story
Your birthday honoree may pick a favorite book, and guests will use props supplied by us to act it out. Bring your video camera to catch the world premiere adaptation!
Media Party
We will roll out the red carpet, practice our on-camera introductions, and the paparazzi will take our keepsake photo.
Ecology & Nature
Birthday Parties at the Evanston Ecology Center. New expanded days and hours!
The Evanston Ecology Center, 2024 McCormick Blvd., offers a 90-minute to 2-hour party program for ages 4 and older (15-child maximum). A staff member leads nature-oriented games and hands-on activities for 45 minutes, then the room is open for treats and activities of your own. You supply decorations and treats.
Parties held from Labor Day through Memorial Day are available daily between 10am and 4:30pm, while summer parties (June through August) are available on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays between 10am and 4:30pm. Reservations are required at least two weeks in advance. To book a party, call 847/448-8256. Fee: $170, Evanston Environmental Association (EEA) members; $185, Evanston resident and $215, nonresident.
Choose your favorite Ecology theme!
Animal Party Birds of a Feather Bugs, Bugs, Bugs
Rocks, Fossils & Dinosaur Bones Space Out Reptile Romp
Two other topics are limited to partygoers ages 8 and up:
Compass Course Nature Rubber Stamping
Ice-skating Parties
Host an indoor skating party for only $100 at the Robert Crown Ice Complex
The skating party package at Robert Crown Ice Complex, 1701 Main St. is for up to 16 people. It includes ice time during any public skate session, 16 skate rental tickets and two tables in the East Lobby. You just bring the guests and refreshments! Additional skating tickets may be purchased for $5 each. The maximum seating capacity is 20.
Advanced reservations are recommended and payment is required when you book your party. For reservations or more information, call 847/448-8258.
Parents: did you know that you can rent our studio rink for a broomball party? It’s a great way to celebrate any special occasion or just have fun!
Children’s Parties
at the Levy Center
A birthday party rental includes 90 minutes of party time (45 minutes of entertainment), set up of table and chairs in the party room and clean up. You supply the treats and tableware. The fee for each party listed below is $275 with a 15-child maximum, except the Mad Science theme ($275 for 1-12 guests; $290 for 13-20 guests). Also, there is an additional fee per project for the Craft Party.
Parties may be scheduled on Fridays between 5-9pm and Saturdays and Sundays between 9am-5pm. Please book your party at least four weeks in advance by calling Karen at 847/448-8250. Full payment is due within 48 hours after the party is booked. Cancellations within 10 days of party result in forfeiture of fee. The Levy Center is located at 300 Dodge Avenue (at Mulford St).
Choose your favorite theme!
Music & Movement: ages 2-6
Puppet Show: ages 2-8
Costumed Character: ages 2-8
Pirate Party: ages 3-7
Cowboy: ages 3-8
Princess Party: ages 3-9
Craft Party: ages 3-11
Dance Party: ages 5-11
Mad Science: ages 6 and up
The following parties are for ages 3-10:
Magician Story Teller Face Painting Clown Fun Person
Preschool & Sports Party Packages
Chandler-Newberger
2 - 4 - 6 - 8, are you looking to have a birthday party that’s great? Come make memories for a lifetime! We provide the space and equipment; you provide the cake and decorations. All party packages include the simultaneous use of a multipurpose room for two hours (for gift opening and treats).
Room and gym rentals at the Chandler-Newberger Center, located at 1028 Central St.) are also available for teens, who love playing volleyball or basketball! If you have any questions or need to book a party or rental, please call 847/448-8252. Full payment is due within 48 hours after the party is booked.
Preschool Party Packages
This package for ages 2-5 years includes a two-hour rental of a half-gym and use of our preschool play equipment. Equipment includes tumbling mats, climbing blocks, toddler merry-go-round, seesaw, teeter-totter, small slide, scooter carts and mini-basketballs. This set-up resembles an indoor tot lot ready for parent/child interactive play.
Fee: $169 R/$184 NR (includes two hours of room rental).
Sports Party Packages – Age 5 and older
The sports package includes two hours of half-gym rental and two hours of room rental. Fee: $149 R/$164 NR.
You choose three out of these four sets of sports equipment:
10 basketballs/2 goals 10 soccer balls/2 nets
Floor hockey sticks/2 nets 12 “NERF” dodgeballs