Birthday Party Information Package
Get ready to celebrate your child’s birthday party at the Ontario Science Centre!
What’s included in your Birthday Party package?
All birthday parties include:
- Private party room
- Dedicated party staff
- Hands-on interactive science demonstrations and activities
- Discounted parking for you and your guests
- Free admission to the Science Centre for you and your guests
- 20% off OMNIMAX® Theatre tickets for you and your guests
- Pizza lunch and juice for children
- Coffee and tea for adults (large pizza available for an additional $21.25)
- Disposable partyware (napkins, plates and utensils)
- Special T-shirt for the birthday child
Food
The Birthday Party package includes 2 slices of pizza and an individual juice beverage (Tetra Pak) per child, plus coffee and tea for adults. Additional pizza for adult guests can be purchased in advance for an extra charge of $21.25 per large pizza.
Your pizza order will be confirmed on the day of the party at 10:30 a.m.
Although we recognize that some guests may have food restrictions, we cannot guarantee that food items will be free of specific allergens. However, we can provide refrigeration for special food brought from home for guests with allergies.
What to Bring
You’re welcome to bring birthday cake, candles and loot bags to personalize your party.
Birthday Cake
You are welcome to bring a birthday cake for your party. A Party Staff member will store your cake in a refrigerator until serving time. We will provide plates, utensils and napkins. Please keep in mind that you will need to transport your cake to the party room via the shuttle.
Please do not bring sparklers or trick candles, as these may cause the fire alarm to activate.
Decorations
The party room is bright and cheerful, and your package includes themed table décor items as well as colour-coordinated partyware (plates and napkins). Tied or weighted balloon trees may be brought to your party (they must be inflated in advance). For safety reasons, piñatas are not permitted at the Ontario Science Centre. We are not able to provide early access to the party rooms for decoration or other personalized set-up.
Parking and Check-In
Parking
Discounted parking of $6 (50% off) is available for all Birthday Party guests. Be sure to provide the parking attendant with the name of the birthday child to receive the discounted rate.
Arrival
Please arrive at the Science Centre at 9:30 a.m. to allow time to shuttle to the rear entrance. We are not able to accommodate an earlier arrival time, and a later arrival may result in a delayed start.
After parking or arriving at the front of the building by TTC or on foot, please take the shuttle bus to the rear entrance. Once inside, do not enter the exhibit halls (left of entrance). Instead, follow the “Happy Birthday” signs to the designated area. A member of our Party Staff will be awaiting your arrival to bring you to the party room.
Guest Information
Please send our Birthday Party Guest Arrival page to your guests to ensure they have the information they need for a timely arrival. Most of this information is also available on our downloadable invitation (PDF).
Late Guests
Guests arriving late must check in at the Retail Kiosk inside the rear entrance and provide the birthday child's name to the Desk Attendant. A Party Staff member will escort them to your party.
Please note: You will be charged the full amount for all guests regardless of when they arrive. There is no discount for late arrivals. All parties end on time, even if delayed due to a late arrival.
At the Party
Party Schedule
- 9:30 a.m. – Arrive in the parking lot (or at the front of the building, if walking or taking TTC). Take the shuttle to the rear entrance.
- 9:40 a.m. — Arrive at the rear entrance, where you will be greeted by a member of the Party Staff.
- 10 a.m. — Move to the party room with the Party Staff member.
- 10:10 a.m. — Complete an ice-breaker activity with the group.
- 10:15 a.m. — Participate in a hands-on science program.
- 11 a.m. — Eat lunch (pizza) and cake (if applicable).
- 11:30 a.m. — Open gifts (optional) and/or play games.
- 12 p.m. — Party ends. Guests may move to the exhibit halls.
Other Party Day Details
Visiting Exhibits, Live Demos + More
Admission to the Science Centre is free for all Birthday Party guests. Upon arrival, Party Staff will give each of your guests a wristband that grants them free access to all exhibit halls.
See our Schedule + Planner for more details about live demonstrations, special exhibitions, IMAX® films and more to make the most of your special day. Your wristband will also give you 20% off OMNIMAX® Theatre tickets. Remember to plan your film for after your party and exhibit hall exploration, as your group will need to take the shuttle back to the front entrance to access the OMNIMAX® Theatre.
Shuttle Bus
You can take our free and accessible shuttle service to travel between the front entrance and the rear entrance. Note that party access is only available via the rear entrance. Access to the OMNIMAX® Theatre is only available via the front entrance.
Lockers
All personal belongings must be removed from the party room at the end of your Birthday Party. There are a limited number of lockers available at the rear entrance on Level 6 where you can store your belongings. Lockers cost $1 for one-time use. We do not recommend storing valuables.
Frequently Asked Questions
What if the Birthday Party package doesn’t meet my needs?
Birthday Party packages are carefully created and cannot be altered or customized. Looking for a more personalized party event? Please contact our Facility Rentals department at 416-696-3146 to discuss room rental opportunities and catering options.
What if my child has siblings or guests who are under 4 or over 8 years old?
The Birthday Party activities are designed with specific age groups in mind. As such, we strongly recommend choosing a theme based on the age of the birthday child and most of their guests. Party guests who fall outside the 4–8 year age range will still have a great time!
Are discounts permitted?
No additional coupons, passes, membership cards/benefits, discounts or vouchers can be applied in place of payment for Birthday Party fees, add-ons or extra children or adults attending the party.
How many adults are required at the party?
A minimum of one adult is required per party, but up to 11 adults are welcome to attend (or 14 adults at an additional cost; see below). Please consider the group size and age of the children when determining how many adults should attend to safely manage your group.
Can I add extra guests to my booking?
Yes. All Birthday Party packages allow additional adult and child guests.
You may invite 11 children as guests. Additionally, you may invite up to 9 additional children at a cost of $25 each (i.e., to a maximum of 20 children).
You may invite 11 adults as guests. Additionally, you may invite 3 additional adults at a cost of $25 each (i.e., to a maximum of 14 adults). For Imagination Playground parties ONLY, you may invite an additional 9 adults at a cost of $25 each (i.e., to a maximum of 20 adults). Any extra adults over the party maximum are welcome to purchase a general admission ticket and explore the Science Centre until the Birthday Party is over.
How do I add extra guests?
Please call 416-696-3256 to add children and/or adults to your booking. Please confirm your final numbers for attendance and food orders by 4 p.m. on the Wednesday prior to your Birthday Party.
What if extra children show up at the last minute that I didn’t include in my Birthday Party numbers?
Party resources and activities are prepared based on the confirmed number of expected party guests, so it’s important that you provide an accurate count. However, in the unexpected event that extra children show up, we will do our best to accommodate them provided the group size does not exceed the maximum of 20 children. The credit card used to book your party will be charged the applicable amount for each additional guest.
Are guided tours of the Science Centre available before or after the Birthday Party?
Exploration of our exhibit halls is self-guided. There are Hosts on the floor who are happy to help and answer questions, but we do not offer guided tours. When visiting the Science Centre, please ensure you are able to adequately supervise the children in your group.
What if my child is sick and I have to cancel my party? Is my payment refundable?
If your child is sick on the day of the party, please contact us. We will work with you to reschedule the party at no additional cost. If there are no alternate party times available, we will grant a refund if you provide a written request and a doctor's note within one week of the missed party. Cancellations received 14 days or more prior to the Birthday Party date are fully refundable, less a $70 administration fee. For last-minute cancellations, please inform Party Staff at 416-696-3256.
Do you provide loot bags?
We do not provide loot bags. You are welcome to bring your own.
Do I need to clean up the Birthday Party room?
Leave the party preparations and clean-up to us! Relax and enjoy the party with your child and guests.
Contact Info
Address
Ontario Science Centre
770 Don Mills Road, North York, M3C 1T3