Birthday Parties at the Academy
With a T. rex that has celebrated millions of birthdays, the Academy really knows how to throw a party!
Celebrate your child’s special day in a one-of-a-kind way! We offer theme parties for kids who love dinosaurs, butterflies, bugs, and animals. Basic parties and add-on encounters with fossils, live animals, or bugs are available. Members also save! Not a member? Join today.
All Birthday Parties:
-
Are for children ages 3 and up
-
Are two hours long
-
Are available at 10:30 a.m. or 2 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays
- Include a private party room and expert Academy Birthday Host
-
Feature all-day museum access and private party tour
- Offer printable party invitations
Book your party today! Call 215-299-1060 or email reservations@ansp.org
Theme Birthday Party
Throw your child the perfect theme party and let us take care of all the details. A theme birthday party at the Academy includes a private party room, a birthday party host to guide you on a tour of our hands-on exhibits, and experiences the party guests will talk about all year long.
Choose from the following themes:
- Dinosaur
- Butterfly
- Animal
- Bug
New! Theme party items were designed exclusively for the Academy.
-
Personalized themed birthday cake
-
Unique science-themed paper goods
- Brightly colored table covers and table decorations
-
Color changing mood cup for each child guest with matching party theme design
-
A special birthday gift for the honoree
Pricing for a theme birthday party, not including add-on encounters, is:
- $440 for members (fee is based on a group of up to 20 guests, including adults and children. The birthday child and their parents are free!)
- $470 for nonmembers
For parties larger than 20 people, an additional fee of $12 per additional guest will be added.
Basic Birthday Party
Want to keep it simple but still celebrate in the midst of Philadelphia's famous dinosaurs? Enjoy a private party room and a birthday party host who will guide you on a tour of our hands-on exhibits.
Pricing for a basic birthday party, not including add-on encounters, is:
- $335 for members (fee is based on a group of up to 20 guests, including adults and children. The birthday child and their parents are free!)
- $375 for nonmembers
For parties larger than 20 people, an additional fee of $10 per additional guest will be added.
Dino Brick Deluxe Party
Throw the perfect party for the brick-obsessed dino expert! What will you and your guests build? Your special day includes:
- Private party room and expert Academy Birthday Host
- Giant mega-brick dino room decorations
- Dino brick free play
- Personalized dino brick birthday cake
- Brick paper goods and centerpieces
- Dinosaur block and bricks party favor for each child guest
- Hands-on exhibits tour
- All-day museum access
- A special birthday gift for the honoree
Prices:
- $565 for members
(Fee is based on a group of up to 20 guests, including adults and children. The birthday child and their parents are free!)
- $595 for nonmembers
(Fee is based on a group of up to 20 guests, including adults and children. The birthday child and their parents are free!)
For parties larger than 20 people, an additional fee of $16 per additional guest will be added.
Academy Encounters
All Academy Encounters are $50 each and can be added to basic or theme parties. |
Fossil Encounter |
Handle REAL fossils and museum-quality fossil casts just like a paleontologist. Discover why T.rex’s teeth weren’t that great for eating birthday cake during this private fossil encounter. Have the chance to handle (and take once-in-a-lifetime photos with) REAL fossils. |
Animal Encounter |
Meet a live animal from the Academy’s Live Animal Center! Have the chance to catch up with an Academy teacher naturalist and get an up-close look at a furry, scaly, or feathered member of our Academy team!
|
Bug Encounter |
Encounter some REAL LIVE Academy creepy crawlies and discover what makes bugs so super cool! Meet a live “bug” (insect or arachnid) you and your guests will never forget, during this private bug encounter. |
Adopt-a-Critter Birthday Add-Ons
All Academy Adopt-a-Critter add-ons can be added to basic or theme parties.
|
Adopt-a-Critter Plaque Small ($75) |
Commemorate your child’s birthday at the Academy with a small Adopt-a-Critter plaque! Inscribe a message on one of the three fun critter shapes available: bunny, turtle, or fish. Then visit your plaque in Outside In for years to come, remembering your extra special birthday at the Academy. Learn more about the Adopt-A-Critter program and options for your plaque here. |
Adopt-a-Critter Plaque Large ($150) |
Commemorate your child’s birthday at the Academy with a large Adopt-a-Critter plaque! Inscribe a message on one of the three fun critter shapes available: bunny, turtle, or fish. Then visit your plaque in Outside In for years to come, remembering your extra special birthday at the Academy. Learn more about the Adopt-A-Critter program and options for your plaque here. |
Adopt-A-Critter Commemorative Animal Encounter ($100) |
Adopt a critter and meet one, too! Get up close and personal with one of the Academy’s live animal ambassadors and receive your choice of a small personalized bunny, turtle, or fish plaque to commemorate your child’s special day and love for animals! Learn more about the Adopt-A-Critter program here. |
Excite your guests with a one of a kind, personalized, T.rex profile cake.
T. rex Cake (Must be purchased during registration) |
Additional $40 |
|
Food Packages
Choose a delicious food package from 12th Street Catering, and we’ll take care of everything.
All prices are per person so you can mix and match from the menu.
Birthday Party Catering Packages |
Hot Dog Package |
Includes all beef hot dog, chips, and choice of milk, chocolate milk, or small bottle of water. Juice boxes can be substituted for an additional $1.50 per person.
|
$7.25 per person
|
Pizza Party Package |
Includes plain cheese or pepperoni personal pizza with choice of milk, chocolate milk, or small bottle of water. Juice boxes can be substituted for an additional $1.50 per person.
|
$8.95 per person
|
Chicken Tenders and French Fries Package |
Includes chicken tenders, fries, choice of milk, chocolate milk, or small bottle of water. Juice boxes can be substituted for an additional $1.50 per person.
|
$9.75 per person |
Adult Catering Packages |
Pizza Pies |
Plain Cheese - $13.95 per pie
Pepperoni - $14.95 per pie
Veggie - $14.95 per pie
|
|
Sandwich Platter |
Includes chips, sliced deli pickles, condiments, assorted sandwiches including turkey, ham, roast beef, grilled vegetable, chicken salad, or tuna salad on your choice of whole grain, pumpernickel, or white roll |
$12.95 per person |
Wrap Sandwich Platter |
Includes chips, sliced deli pickles, condiments, assorted wraps including turkey, ham, roast beef, grilled vegetable, chicken salad, or tuna salad on your choice of flour, wheat, or spinach wraps. |
$13.95 per person |
Beverages |
Coffee and Hot Tea - $2.25 per person
Bottled Ice Tea - $3.95 per person
Bottled Lemondae - $3.95 per person
Bottled Soda (assorted flavors) - $3.95 per person
Bottled Water (20 oz.) - $2.25 per person
Juice Boxes (assorted) - $2.25 per person
|
|
Additional Items |
Cookies and Brownie Tray - $2.95 per person
Ice Cream Cups (vanilla or chocolate) - $1.25 per person
|
|
Additional Snacks |
Soft Pretzel with Mustard and Cheese for dipping- $1.25 per person
Individual Bags of Chips - $1.25 per person
|
|
Additional Salads |
Potato Salad, Pasta Salad, or Garden Salad - $3.95 per person
Fresh Fruit Salad - $3.95 per person
|
|
Gift Bags
Send every guest home with a one-of-a-kind gift. Select a package with goodies from the Academy Gift Shop.
Grab Bags (Must be ordered at least five days prior to scheduled party and can be ordered at a per child basis) |
$3 |
Includes:
Academy Logo Mood Pencil, Eraser, and a collectable Silver Dinosaur Coin
|
$7 |
Includes:
Academy Logo Mood Pencil, Eraser, Collectable Silver Dinosaur Coin, and an Academy Logo popper toy |
$10 |
Includes:
Academy Logo Drawstring Backpack and collectible silver dinosaur coin |
Digital Invitations
Download and print special invitations for your child's birthday!

Call 215-299-1060 or email reservations@ansp.org to talk to our Reservations Office to set up your birthday party.