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Special Events

Birthday Party Packages

Package Description

Birthday parties have never been more fun for kids (or easier for you). Choose the Basic

or Deluxe package that’s perfect for your party! Both packages are designed for groups

of 15 children and include free museum admission for one adult. If you are planning a

larger party, we can accommodate up to 20 guests (including all children and adults).

One very special feature of all Tryon Palace birthday parties is the Pepsi Family Center

experience, where your party can travel back in time to 1835 New Bern! There, both

children and adults can experience a coastal North Carolina town and sail the Snap

Dragon, operate a turpentine distillery, help the shop keeper collect items for patrons in

his dry goods store, and help gather ingredients for an authentic 1835 recipe with our

resident cook.

To enhance your child’s birthday, Tryon Palace has also developed age-appropriate,

uniquely-Tryon Palace themed activities as part of the Deluxe party package. If you

reserve this party package, please select one of the six options listed in the “Deluxe

Package” section for your child’s party.

Also, you may add party options, including a kids-friendly lunch or treat bag, to your

Tryon Palace birthday experience. Pricing for each additional item is listed in the

“Party/Event Add-ons” section.

Give your child a birthday that’s historic… at Tryon Palace!

Available Packages

Basic Package: $275 (non-members), $250 (Council of Friends member)

Includes:

Party host, craft activity leader, staff set-up & clean-up

Birthday cake, ice cream, beverages, & paper products

Printable invitation (link to a downloadable PDF form)

Museum admission (Gardens and Galleries ticket) for 15 children plus one adult!

45 min. of fun, interactive activities in the Pepsi Family Center exhibit

45 min. private party in NC History Center Activity Room with age-appropriate

craft activity

Choose one activity from the following five options:

o Become a Planter – Good for all ages (especially the younger kids)

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Guests plant seeds to take home with them and watch grow. This activity

relates to the daily life of early settlers. Good for both boys and girls.

o Make Toilet Water (Toilet Waters) – Good for all ages.

Guests make perfume water in the fashion of what was done in the 18th

century. Kids love this craft because of the name. They get to design

their scent and decorate their bottle. Offers a great take-home party favors!

o Make a Time Capsule - Good for all ages.

This activity looks at how we learn things from the past and how we can

help people in the future learn about us. Guests can make individual time

capsules or create a group one. Once home, kids can pick items to put

inside it and then “bury” (in a closet, storage trunk, attic, or basement).

o Make a Lantern – suggested age: 9 and up (younger can do w/help)

Make a miniature tin lantern that can go around a tea candle. Guests

punch designs into the tin and make it into a take-home gift.

o Design a Pair of Colonial Shoes – suggested age: 9 and up

Boys and girls will both enjoy this activity because there is a male shoe

template and a female shoe template. Guests are given paper patterns that

they cut, fold, and color to look like a miniature pair of shoes. There are

two versions of the craft – one that focuses on the trade of shoemaking and

one that focuses on the fashion of shoes. This challenging activity is good

for older children.

Deluxe Package - $290 (non-members), $265 (Council of Friends member)

Includes:

Same features as Basic package (except 30 min. for private party in NC History

Center Activity Room with age-appropriate craft activity of your choice)

Plus… an additional 45 min. Tryon Palace-themed activity for guests!

Choose one uniquely-Tryon Palace activity from these six options:

o Quilting Bee for Me! – Can be adapted to suit most ages!

Quilting was a household activity passed down through the generations

from mother to daughter and involved using scraps of materials from old

clothing or blankets to produce bed coverings, leaving nothing to waste.

In the 1800s, quiltings (now commonly known as quilting bees) were

popular events that brought women together to work and socialize. They

were often held to mark special occasions! Kids of all ages and genders

will have fun creating a “quilt” of their own by learning the basics of quilt

design and color matching.

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o (Afternoon) Tea Time in the Parlor – suggested age: 7 and up

The custom of drinking tea was a long-standing English tradition in many

homes. Attended mostly by family and close friends, these social

gatherings were also a great way to teach children table manners and

proper etiquette! During this afternoon tea, different activities could take

place to entertain and educate kids: discussion of George Washington’s

“Rules of Civility & Decent Behaviour In Company and Conversation,”

reading a passage from Gulliver’s Travels or American Girls Liberty Tea.

o Be a Blacksmith’s Apprentice! – Big hit with kids of all ages.

From nails to cooking tools to weapons, the blacksmith played a critical

role in the early colonies. In the 18th century, the way most hand skills

like this were taught was by apprenticeship. You would sign an indenture

(agreement) to work within a particular business learning the basics of the

trade and how to operate the business. Once you turn 21, you’re free to go

out and earn wages. Spend time in the blacksmith’s shop as apprentices –

see him at work and learn more about this vital trade.

o Civil War Soldier for a Day! – Big hit with boys of all ages!

A Civil War soldier teaches kids how to hold toy muskets and practices

drilling with them. Your party guests will also learn how to make civil

war era cartridges for a musket.

NOTE: Limited availability as only a few staff members can lead guests

in this activity.

o Colonial Games on the Lawn – Can be adapted to suit all ages.

We have a wide variety of 18th and 19th century games that could be

played both indoors and out. Some games can also be adapted where kids

make their own to take home and enjoy.

o Explore the New World - Kids (and adults) of all ages will enjoy.

Take guests on an exploration of the New World! Enjoy a discovery game

in one of the gardens where kids win a prize for finding all the plants on

their “checklist” (bingo card). Dependent on weather, guests will also

make natural object impressions by using sunlight to take impressions of

things like sea shells, leaves, and feathers on special photo sensitive paper.

Party Add-ons:

Additional food - $5 per child (lunch items available from limited kids’ menu)

Additional guests - $10 per child/ $12 per adult (up to a total of 20 guests)

Additional craft activity (good for all ages) - $5 per child

Select from the five options listed below:

o Button Whirligigs – This popular kid’s toy is very easy to make and will

entertain your guests well after the party ends.

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o Thaumatropes – A popular optical illusion toy, also called a “turning

marvel,” this craft is one kids and adults will love to make and take home.

o Make a Piece of Pottery – Party guests make and decorate a little pinch

bowl out of quick-drying clay.

o You Be the Historian – A quick and easy activity where children have to

guess what three items are.

o Spice Sachet – This small, scented bag is quick and easy to make.

Treat bags - $3 per child (ordered/purchased through Museum Store)

o Some of the items included:

old fashioned crystal rock candy stick

George Washington’s rules of civility

locally-made hand-woven bracelet

(3) Tryon Palace postcards

Standard Procedures and Policies

Tryon Palace birthday parties are available for children ages 7 and older.

Both packages include free museum admission for 1 adult.

Maximum capacity is 20 guests, including children and adults, but not party staff.

Tryon Palace has limited capacity to host birthday parties and can only host two

parties a day, on Saturdays only, at the following times: 10am, 12:30pm, 3pm.

o Availability is based on prior room reservations & Tryon Palace calendar

“black out” dates for other prescheduled museum events would apply.

Reservation Policy

o May reserve up to 3 months in advance and at least 2 weeks prior to date.

Payment/Cancellation Policy

o Full payment is required at time of booking; Tryon Palace will send a

confirmation letter/receipt upon payment.

o Full refunds made if party is canceled more than 3 weeks in advance; no

refund if less than 3 weeks notice but option to reschedule within 1 year.

Parking and Guest Check-in

o Tryon Palace provides complimentary parking for all visitors and guests;

allow ample time for parking and check-in before your party begins.

o Guests should check-in upon arrival at the Visitor’s Desk in Mattocks Hall

and wait by the “clock tower” for the rest of the party guests to arrive.

o Once all are assembled, everyone will be greeted by the Tryon Palace

party host and escorted to the reserved activity room.

o Under NO circumstances are parents to drop off unescorted children

before the Party host or the birthday child/parents arrive!

Party host:

o Will greet guests and escort group to reserved activity room for party.

o Assists in conducting hands-on activity and serving food/beverages.

o Assists with storing children’s finished crafts and party gifts until group is

ready to leave the museum.

Additional entertainment is not allowed at Tryon Palace birthday parties

(Scheduled activities/exhibit time will provide guests with plenty of fun!)

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FAQs & Answers

How much does a birthday party cost?

o The basic package is $250 for Tryon Palace Council of Friends members (a 10%

savings to members) and $275 for non-members.

o Our deluxe package is $265 for members and $290 for non-members.

What does the party include?

o Our basic party package includes a reserved private party room, an age-

appropriate interactive activity of your choice, Museum admission for a total of

15 children and 1 adult, the birthday cake, beverages, paper products, and a

Birthday Party host!

o Our deluxe party package includes the same features as the basic package plus an

additional 45 minutes for a Tryon Palace-themed activity of your choice!

How long does the party last?

o Our basic parties run approximately 90 minutes. Forty-five minutes are reserved

for experiencing the Pepsi Family Center exhibit in the NC History Center, and 45

minutes are dedicated to a hands-on activity of your choice, cake and

refreshments.

o Our deluxe parties run approximately 2 hours. Forty-five minutes are given to

experience the Pepsi Family Center exhibit, and an additional 45 minutes are

dedicated to a uniquely-Tryon Palace themed activity of your choice! Then, 30

minutes are reserved for a hands-on activity of your choice and cake and

refreshments.

Are parties available any day of the week?

o No. Tryon Palace currently offers birthday parties only on Saturdays at the

following times (subject to availability): 10 am, 12:30 pm, and 3 pm.

What is the age range for party participants?

o Parties are available for children ages 7 and older. Most party activities can be

customized to fit any age level.

How many people can attend?

o Due to safety code and fire regulations, our activity room can comfortably

accommodate a total of 20 people (including children and adults). However, this

number does not include your Tryon Palace Party host or hands-on activity staff.

Can we come in early to add decorations?

o Yes, the room is available for personalized decoration 15 minutes prior to the

start of the party.

o You may do so if BOTH of the following conditions are met:

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No confetti, glitter, helium-filled balloons, and other devices creating

special effects and debris (ex/party poppers and piñatas) are used – as

prohibited on Tryon Palace property.

You assume full responsibility for the cost of your decorations, for putting

them up in the reserved activity room and for removing them immediately

after the party.

Can we bring in food?

o Guests are not permitted to bring in their own food (with the exception of a

birthday cake). However, a limited menu of kids-friendly lunch food items can be

chosen as a party/event add-on (at an additional cost). If interested, please ask to

add this option when booking your party.

What are the cake options?

o A regular sheet cake is included in the cost for both (basic and deluxe) party

packages. However, you are allowed to bring in your own cake.

Please note: Standard pricing remains the same whether or not you choose to

bring your own cake in addition to the cake included in your birthday package.

Where do I park and where does everyone meet?

o Tryon Palace has complimentary parking for all visitors and guests. Upon arrival,

your guests should check-in at the Visitor’s Desk and wait in Activity Classroom

for other group members to arrive. There, guests will be greeted by the Tryon

Palace party host and instructed in doing selected craft activity.

o Under NO circumstances are parents to drop off unescorted children before the

Party host or the birthday child and his/her parents arrive!

How do I schedule a birthday party?

o Call 252.639.3500. Party reservations can be taken up to 3 months in advance but

must be made at least 2 weeks prior to party date. Full payment is required at the

time of booking; Tryon Palace will send a confirmation letter/receipt upon

payment. Also, for your convenience, a printable invitation is available online for

use by birthday planners.

What if the party needs to be canceled?

o Cancellation with more than 3 weeks notice will receive a full refund. However,

no refund is available if less than 3 weeks notice is given, but you will have the

option to reschedule your party within one year.