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.

Birthday Story Times

Marty

Birthday Story Times are $75 each and can be added to basic or theme parties.

Marty the Moose, the Academy’s pun-ny storyteller, loves a good book and invites the birthday honoree and your party guests to celebrate science, a very special read-aloud, and a Marty inspired favor for all the child guests!

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
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.