12 Adorable 3rd Birthday Party Ideas For Your Little One

Searching for the cutest 3rd birthday party ideas? Then Peerspace has you covered! Your child’s first and second birthdays were of course a big deal for you. However, it’s fair to say that most one- and two-year-olds don’t really understand the significance of birthdays. But their third birthday might be the first one where they actually understand what’s happening and remember it, so it’s kind of a big deal!

If you’re planning your little one’s 3rd birthday celebration and are looking for inspiration, here are 12 adorable 3rd birthday party ideas to help you get inspired as you start planning. Along with fun, easy-to-pull-off ideas, we also share birthday party venues that can make your little one’s big day that much more special. You can book any of these spaces (and thousands more besides!) on our platform.

As the largest online marketplace for hourly venue rentals, Peerspace makes it easy to discover and rent hidden gem spaces in cities across the globe. The setting is everything when it comes to a birthday party, and with Peerspace, finding the right one for your style and budget will never be an issue again.

Now, let’s get to our adorable 3rd birthday party ideas without further ado!

1. Fairytale-themed party

If your kid begs you to read their favorite fairytales to them every night, then this 3rd birthday party idea is a great choice. One of the activities at this party might be making magic wands of your own out of cardboard. In fact, you can follow this tutorial from the Craft Train to do so.

You can also get a fairytale-themed piñata, like this unicorn-shaped one. Looking for a great venue for this type of party? Then check out this small cute kids’ event space in Snellville, Georgia. The host allows decorations so you can make the venue a true fairytale setting. You can also utilize the space’s tables, chairs, projection screen, and speaker, all the better for playing your kid’s favorite movies!

2. Cupcake-decorating party

Kids love to decorate things before they gobble them up. First, buy some sprinkles and icing, bake a bunch of cupcakes, and lay down a big plastic tablecloth. Then, let your child and their friends decorate their cupcakes however they want. This one is sure to be a hit and as a bonus, in addition to the entertainment value of decorating cupcakes, it means you won’t have to bake a cake!

And if you love this 3rd birthday party idea but don’t want to host it at home (we can’t blame you – it could get messy!) then rent a suitable space for it on Peerspace. For example, this cute suburban bakery dining room and kitchen in Broomfield, Colorado can be perfect. It boasts a commercial kitchen with all the baking equipment you could need as well as private use of the on-site dining room. Talk to the host about the available catering services, too.

As one reviewer commented, “This was such a cute and perfect venue for our little get-together.”

3. Picnic party

Lucky for you, most 3-year-olds probably don’t have huge expectations surrounding birthday parties. They’ll appreciate something as simple as a party where they get to eat delicious snacks outside with their friends.

Is your yard not up to snuff? Never fret! Simply book a stylish outdoor event space near you on Peerspace. Then, pack their favorite foods and be sure to bring sunscreen and plenty of napkins.

Does your 3-year-old love Cocomelon? Then check out these adorable Cocomelon party ideas!

4. Face-painting party

Hire a face painter to come to your house or if you have the skills to do so, buy some face paint and do it yourself! Kids love to run around “in disguise” as animals like tigers, butterflies, and lizards, and it’ll make for some seriously great photos.

5. Pool party

Especially if your child has a summer birthday, you can buy a few small inflatable pools and some pool toys and you’ve got a ready-made pool party. What a great way to stay cool in the heat!

Peerspace offers you access to countless venues with pools near you! As an example, check out this exquisite apartment in Upper Marlboro, MD. Its spacious private yard boasts a swimming pool with kid-friendly floaties and a basketball court. Indoors, take advantage of the full kitchen and movie theater room!

6. Crafting party

If your kid has a creative streak and loves to make things with their hands, a crafting party is one of the most awesome 3rd birthday party ideas. You can set up a variety of different crafting stations with kid-friendly activities like the ones on this list by Kate Decorates.

If you don’t want to host a party like this one in your own house, consider holding it at a space like this studio with a full kitchen and rooftop patio in Dallas, Texas! There is plenty of tables and chairs for your guests, while parents can create mementos with their kids at the customizable selfie wall.

To quote one happy reviewer who booked a party here, “Great place with ample space to host a party. I celebrated a farewell party and was able to use the beautiful space to decorate, set up a dj stand, set up a food stand, and still had sufficient space for people to sit as well as dance”. The outdoor space makes this an especially great location for a group of kids. 

7. Bouncy house birthday party

Rent out a bouncy house for the afternoon and your 3-year-old and their friends will have the time of their life! This one is a classic for a reason – there’s not much that’s more fun for a little kid than jumping up and down in a bouncy house. Your kid will remember this one fondly for years.

If you’re anywhere near New York City, then you can rent this bouncy house event space in Brooklyn for a few hours. It’s a safe and colorful environment for kids to run around and release some of that ceaseless energy!

8. Petting zoo

For this idea, take a trip to a petting zoo, or hire one to come to you. There are probably some traveling petting zoos in your area, like Squeals on Wheels or Animal Craze. If your kid is an animal lover, this idea is sure to be a winner!

9. Beach party

Get your 3-year-old and a few of their friends together for a trip to your nearest beach! They’ll love splashing in the waves. Discover how to rent a beach house by the hour on Peerspace here!

One thing we would recommend is that you ask a few of the invitees’ parents to come with you, to make sure there’s enough supervision for everyone in attendance.

Need more inspiration? Then check out our other fun kid’s birthday party ideas!

10. Dress-up party

Halloween isn’t the only day you can dress up! Your kid can host a costume party for their 3rd birthday and dress up as their favorite animal or their favorite character from a book, movie, or TV show.

11. Dance party

If you’ve noticed that you have a kid with a penchant for dancing, a dance party is a really fun 3rd birthday party idea, and it’s easy to do, too. All you have to do is put together the right playlist (what are your kid’s favorite songs?) and put up some fun decor like streamers, balloons, and even a disco ball if you can get your hands on one.

Don’t feel like your house has enough space for this kind of party? Then you can always rent a dance studio for a few hours on Peerspace. We love how this spacious dance studio in Atlanta, Georgia is a great example of how this type of venue works. It’s a 1,400-square-foot professional dance studio with tall ceilings, mirrored walls, and speakers. All perfect for a kid’s dance party in our book!

12. Scavenger hunt party

Your 3-year-old’s birthday party doesn’t have to just involve the usual food and games. Why not let your little one explore an outdoor safe space with their friends by throwing a toddler-perfect scavenger hunt? Raising Children explains how to pull it off perfectly for your little one, while this large, enclosed backyard in Santa Clara, CA provides the ideal setting.

3rd birthday party ideas: conclusion

We hope this list of 3rd birthday party ideas has inspired your party-planning journey! You can adapt any of them to your child and their party needs.

But remember, ideas are only part of the fun. Be sure to browse Peerspace for all the best kid-friendly spaces near you! After all, the perfect setting is paramount to creating all those lasting memories you will cherish of your little one’s one-and-only 3rd birthday.

Find unique kid’s birthday party venues on Peerspace