Birthday Parties

Make your child’s birthday a memorable day by celebrating at the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences.

Dinosaur with a birthday cakePlanning Your Party

Each party includes:

  • A printable invitation (.pdf* 180k)
  • 45 minutes of interactive activities, crafts and live animal presentations led by a Museum educator
  • 45 minutes for your celebration, which includes cake, ice cream and beverages
  • Additional food and beverage items may be purchased
  • Set up, clean up and all paper products
  • A private party room
  • Gift bags for each participating party guest


Package Price

$245 for non-members; $210 for current Friends of the Museum members
Become a member today!

Planning Guidelines

  • Maximum of 12 children, including the birthday child
  • Parties are offered on Saturdays at 10 am, 1 pm and 3:30 pm and on Sundays at 1 pm and 3:30 pm.
  • Parties may be reserved up to three months in advance of the current month and must be reserved at least one week prior to your party date.
  • Check, cash and credit card may be used to make your payment. Parties must be guaranteed by credit card at the time of booking. Full payment is due one week after making reservations.
  • To schedule a party, contact Traci Veenstra, birthday party manager, at 919.733.7450 x514.

Cancellation Policies

  • 100% refund if cancelled at least four weeks prior to party date.
  • 50% refund if cancelled at least three weeks prior to party date.
  • 25% refund if cancelled at least one week prior to party date.
  • NO refund if cancelled less than one week prior to party date. You may reschedule. Additional cost of second cake if rescheduled.
  • Inquire about our inclement weather cancellation/refund policy.


Party Themes

Young Naturalists

Ages 3–4: Participate with your young explorers as they meet live animals, create an animal, dig in a “back yard” for hidden surprises and take home a crazy animal mask. (One legal guardian must accompany each 3-year-old.)

Dino Detectives

Ages 4–6: Uncover hidden dinosaurs, search for fascinating fossils and meet dinosaur-like reptiles in this larger-than-life party.

Radical Reptiles and Awesome Amphibians

Ages 4–10: See and feel the differences between these two intriguing animal groups. Experience our high-jumping frogs and take home reptilian-like crafts.

Color and Camouflage

Ages 5–10: Search for hidden animals, learn how animals use camouflage and color in their habitats and make a rainbow of art works to take home.

Weird Science

Ages 6–10: Come and be a mad scientist for a day. You’ll see some awesome demonstrations and do some crazy chemistry yourself. You’ll also meet some of our animals that many consider weird.

Dino Bones and More

Ages 7–10: Build a wall-sized T. rex; examine what skulls and other bones reveal and learn possible causes of dinosaurs’ extinction.

For more information about any of our parties contact Traci Veenstra, birthday party manager, at 919.733.7450 x514.