Wow, do you guys really love your birthday parties! I thought the Best Family-Friendly Restaurants in town generated a lot of attention. Over the last two weeks, more than 1,000 votes were submitted for your favorite venues, bakeries and entertainment providers. Thank you so much for all your input and support… all the votes have been tallied and the results are in! Here is your go to list for the Best Birthday Parties in Milford and Orange, CT.
Best Birthday Parties in Town
Best Birthday Party Venues
With voting split across three categories, birthday party venues tallied the most – representing more than half of all the submissions! If you’re looking for a place to host it all, these are the places to go…
#1 The Giggling Pig
472 River Road
Shelton, Connecticut 06484
(203) 919.1153
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The Giggling Pig, founded in 2005, is owned and operated by Hannah Perry. She opened her first Studio in Shelton in 2011. The Giggling Pig offers four different, 90-minute birthday party options for kids, starting from $199 and featuring a craft for every attendee. In addition to birthday parties, The Giggling Pig hosts regularly scheduled craft events, Paint, Sip & Giggles, Summer Camps, art classes and more!
Congratulations to The Giggling Pig, winner of Playground Parkbench’s 2015 best birthday party venue!
#2 Trixie’s Cuts for Kids
1400 Boston Post Road – Turnpike Square (Next to Michael’s, Behind McDonald’s.)
Milford, CT 06460
203-301-4268
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Many of you may be familiar with Trixie’s as the #1 Children’s Hair Salon in Connecticut. But did you know they also host Glamour & Spa Parties in the salon, or will bring the party to you with their Glamour & Spa Parties To Go! You choose the theme: Glamour or Spa. In salon parties start at $225 for 90 minutes of festivities, and include activities, juice and cupcakes. To Go parties start at $300.
#3 Beardsley Zoo
1875 Noble Avenue
Bridgeport, CT 06610-1646
(203) 394-6565
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The Connecticut’s Beardsley Zoo is a great regional zoo, perfect for little kids. Even toddlers can walk it on their own, and there’s a great area to sit and enjoy your own picnic lunch or pick-up food from the cafe. One of my girl’s favorite features – the carousel, which is also where they host their birthday parties! Full disclosure: we had Big M’s 2nd birthday party at the zoo. It was great – you get free admission to the zoo and carousel rides for your guests, they facilitate pizza delivery, and you can choose an animal encounter, animal craft or both. Parties start at $325 for up to 30 guests, and members save $25 off party cost.
Best Birthday Cakes and Treats
With the venue set, all you need to complete the party is the cake! These three took the most votes in our poll for Best Birthday Cakes and Treats.
#1 Sweet Cupcasions
107 River St.
Milford, CT 06460
203.283.9455
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This local gourmet cupcake shop opened for business just across from City Hall in 2013. They jumped to not only local notoriety, but the national scene, when they won the Food Network’s Cupcake Wars the same year! Sweet Cupcasion’s goal is to be the local, neighborhood boutique cupcakery that comes to mind for all your special “cupcasions”! Owner Sue Schowerer offers a unique and amazing design and taste experience, handcrafting all her batters, frostings and fillings from scratch using the finest and freshest ingredients.
The clear favorite in our poll, this preggo may not be able to wait for our next family birthday and have to stop in for a snack this afternoon! Congratulations to Sweet Cupcasions, winner of Playground Parkbench’s 2015 best birthday party cakes and treats!
#2 Carvel of Milford, CT
1081 Bridgeport Ave
Milford, CT 06460-3147
203-874-1427
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At my old office, we used to celebrate birthdays once a month with Carvel ice cream cakes… and if you shared a month with someone, you had to come to agreement on the great debate: Fudge the Whale or Cookie Puss, the famous Carvel signature cakes. Now, the offering is far broader, with traditional sheet and round cakes, as well as a full range of specialty holiday and occasion offerings. For my husband’s 30th surprise party, I had Carvel make a custom ice cream cake made with a Giants helmet on top. You can check out all the options, and even order, online!
#3 Costco
1718 Boston Post Road
Milford, 06460-2718
(203) 882-8881
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We all know Costco is a great discount warehouse, and awesome for stocking up on paper goods, snacks and other party supplies. But did you know they also make custom cakes for birthdays? You can place your order at the bakery counter or by phone. You do have to be a Costco member to order.
Best Birthday Party Entertainment Vendor
For those who choose to have their parties in the comfort of their home, or maybe you are looking to add an entertainment to a children’s school event or gathering, there are a lengthy list of entertainment vendors. These three were your favorites…
#1 Ellie’s Entertainment
Serving parties and events across Connecticut
Online Contact Form
Email: [email protected]
Follow Ellie’s Entertainment on Facebook!
Ellie’s Entertainment not only won as best birthday party entertainment vendor, they did it as a write-in vote in the Other category! Ellie’s will attend your party as the Frozen princesses, Sofia the First, a super hero and many other characters. In addition to characters, Ellie’s Entertainment also provides face painting, balloon animals, party sing-alongs and more! Contact them for details.
Congratulations to Ellie’s Entertainment, winner of Playground Parkbench’s 2015 best birthday party entertainment vendor!
#2 Trixie’s Cuts for Kids
1400 Boston Post Road – Turnpike Square (Next to Michael’s, Behind McDonald’s.)
Milford, CT 06460
203-301-4268
Follow Trixie’s on Facebook!
Our only winner in two categories… Many of you may be familiar with Trixie’s as the #1 Children’s Hair Salon in Connecticut. But did you know they also host Glamour & Spa Parties in the salon, or will bring the party to you with their Glamour & Spa Parties To Go! You choose the theme: Glamour or Spa. In salon parties start at $225 for 90 minutes of festivities, and include activities, juice and cupcakes. To Go parties start at $300.
#3 Erica’s Princess Parties
Online Contact Form
Follow Erica’s Princess Parties on Facebook!
Princess parties are all the rage, taking two of our top 3 entertainment vendor spots. Erica’s Princess Parties offer a range of services and customizable party packages. All packages include photos with the princess, storytelling, sing-a-long (if character has music in their movie) and more! Princess party appearances start at $125. Erica, founder and owner, is a certified make-up artist, who also previously lived and interned at Disney World, launching her passion for princesses!
Thank you again for all your input and support – we were blown away by the interest and vote totals. We hope you will support these fan favorites, as well as our Best Family-Friendly Restaurants in Town! If you enjoy these posts, you can find all our local content here and on our Connecticut board on Pinterest.
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Stay tuned for our next Best of Milford/Orange, CT round-up – we will be seeking your votes soon for the best ice cream in town! Want to make sure your family favorite is up for consideration? Leave me a comment below or shoot me an email with your local favorite to make our nomination list! For more details on how you can work with us to reach our followers, please see our Sponsors page.
7 comments
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You guys missed the best one! My Gym in Orange (maybe it’s Milford). Best party hands down!
We agree – we had our oldest’s first birthday there. It was nominated on our list, but didn’t make the top 3 vote getters!