Send one form and you'll get a quick reply from a real person (usually the same day) and a clear quote. You decide from there, with no pressure at all.
Planning around a three hour hall slot
The council-run community centres in Kettering are booked online with a three hour minimum. That's actually a handy shape for a party: half an hour to set up, two hours of party, half an hour to tidy and pack the car.
So a typical plan might be guests arriving at 2, the show starting straight away, food at around 2.45, then games and balloons until 4. Your entertainer will usually help you work out the running order, and they've done it enough times to know where the wobbles happen.
One tip. Get someone else in charge of the food so you're not missing the show while you butter rolls.
Where Kettering parents hold parties
Melton Street Community Centre is the one council centre listed as suitable for a bouncy castle, which matters if you're planning one. Corn Market Hall in the town centre also takes children's birthday parties and has rooms for different sized groups.
Wicksteed Park runs its own party packages at Wicky's Play Factory. Those are a complete package in themselves, so check with the park before assuming you can add anything extra.
For a hall party built around a magician, the community centres are usually the simpler route.
Your children's entertainer in Kettering, sorted
Most of our entertainers bring a magic show, music, party games and prizes, and many add balloon modelling at the end. It's a full afternoon rather than a quick turn.
But it's your party. If a 45 minute show while the kids are fresh suits you better, tell us and we'll quote for that instead. Have a look at our kids party magician page for more on what a show involves.
A lot of Kettering parents tell us the games are what the kids remember most. Musical statues, pass the parcel with a twist, that sort of thing, all run by someone who knows how to keep 25 children in check without shouting.
A quick word on numbers
Whole-class invites can mean 30 children turning up. That's no problem for an experienced entertainer, but let us know so they bring enough prizes and balloons.
And count the little siblings too. They always end up joining in, usually right at the front.
Same goes for adults. If lots of parents are staying, warn the hall about chairs, and maybe stick the kettle on before the show starts so the grown-ups have something to hold.