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🎉 Party Planning FAQs – Things to Think About Before You Book

How long are children’s parties usually?

Most children’s parties last around 2 hours, which keeps children engaged without becoming overtired.

1-Hour Entertainment

The entertainment runs straight through for the full hour, with no scheduled break.

This option works particularly well for:

  • Younger children (especially ages 3–4), where attention spans are shorter

  • Shorter overall parties

  • Parties where you plan to include another activity alongside the entertainer (such as a bouncy castle, crafts, or free play)

If you are planning a longer party overall, food and cake are usually served after the entertainment has finished.

Example party structure:

  • 1 hour of entertainment

  • Food, birthday cake and free play afterwards

1.5-Hour Entertainment

The entertainment runs continuously, with a short drink break (around 5 minutes) built in to allow children a quick reset.

This option works well for:

  • Children aged 4 and over, whose attention spans allow for longer structured entertainment

  • Families wanting more entertainment time without extending the party too long

Food is usually served at the end of the party.
However, it’s important to think carefully about your start time, as 1.5 hours without food can be challenging if children are likely to arrive hungry.

2-Hour Entertainment (Most hassle-free option)

This is the most structured and stress-free option for parents, with the entertainer present for the full duration of the party.

The party typically runs as follows:

  • First half: approximately 60 minutes of entertainment

  • Break: around 20 minutes for food and singing Happy Birthday

  • Second half: approximately 40 minutes of entertainment

Why parents often choose this option:

  • Children eat at a natural point in the party

  • The entertainer manages the overall flow and timing

  • No need to plan additional activities

  • A clear end to the party, helping guests leave on time

This option works especially well if you want a smooth, well-paced party with minimal organising on the day.

Yes. We are mobile children’s entertainers, so we bring the party to you.

Suitable venues include village halls, community centres, church halls, function rooms, clubs, school halls, or your own home or garden.*

*Home & garden parties are absolutely fine, but please ensure there is enough space for children to sit, dance, and play. For outdoor parties, a covered backup (e.g. marquee, gazebo, or indoor space) is essential in case of rain. And please see notes below about outdoor parties.

Key things to consider when choosing a venue:

  • Easy access and nearby parking for guests and entertainers

  • Enough space for children and any adults staying

  • Facilities such as toilets, kitchen access, tables, chairs, and acoustics

No – we provide the entertainment only.

Venues, food, decorations, party bags, cake, and room setup are organised by you.

The best party times usually fit around children’s normal meal times:

  • 11:00–13:00 (lunch parties)

  • 15:00–17:00 (tea parties)

These timings allow families to attend without losing the whole day.

Why we don’t recommend mid-day start times (around 12:30–1:30pm):

  • Children arrive hungry rather than ready to party

  • Parents aren’t sure whether to feed children beforehand

  • It can clash with nap times for younger siblings

  • It takes up the whole day for guests

  • It’s very difficult to arrange replacement entertainers if cover is ever needed

Most entertainers work with two booking windows per day (morning & afternoon), with travel and setup time in between. Midday bookings often overlap these slots, making them hard to schedule.

Yes, it’s really important to allow extra time either side of your party. We recommend booking your venue:

  • 30–60 minutes before the party start time to allow for decorating, setting up tables and chairs, preparing food, and for the entertainer to set up.

  • 30–60 minutes after the party end time to allow time for packing away, clearing up, and resetting the room if required by the venue.

The entertainer will usually need approximately 15–25 minutes to set up and 10–15 minutes to pack down, but allowing yourself a little extra time makes the whole experience far more relaxed.

The best arrival time really depends on how you want the party to flow. Here are some points to consider:

  • Having guests too soon before the entertainment can feel like a long wait unless you have other activities planned for them.

  • Most of our entertainment packages include a starter activity, usually a 1:1 meet-and-greet (balloon modelling, hairspray, etc.), which naturally acts as a window for guests to arrive. In this case it’s usually best to have the party start time the same as the entertainment start time.

  • If you’re booking 1 hour of entertainment, or a quick starter like a bubble machine, or if your venue is tricky to access, or your guests skew towards being fashionably late, it’s usually best to advise guests on the invites to arrive 5–10 minutes before the entertainment start at X time. 

  • For longer packages or starters that take a bit longer (balloons/hairspray), the activity itself provides a natural meet-and-greet, so a slightly staggered arrival is fine.

Yes! However, it is ESSENTIAL:

  • you let us know in advance as certain modifications will need to be made.
  • you have a backup in case of poor weather on the day.
  • It’s useful for us to have power but not absolutely essential, so please do let us know if this is/isn’t going to be available. Please be aware that although we have battery sound systems, certain elements of the party may not be available if power is not available (disco lights, snow machine etc.)

  • Toddler parties: max 25

  • Most parties: max 35 (depending on activities chosen)

  • Glitter and Dazzle/Facepainting party options –

    • 20 for both glitter tattoos AND mini facepaints. 
    • OR you can have up to 35 guests if you choose either tattoos OR mini facepaints.

Not including non-participating siblings/toddlers/babies etc.

However, this upper limit depends on the chosen starter activity, with the following guidelines – 

  • Glitter tattoos (10 max)
  • Balloon modelling (25 max)
  • Colourful and glitter hairsprays (30 max)
  • Bubble machine (35 max) 

Yes, entertainers can adapt activities for mixed-age groups, though very young children may engage differently or different sections of the party may better suit certain ages than others. 

  • Under 7s: most parents stay

  • 7+: most parties are drop-off

Yes, we do! 

We provide both electronic and paper options for invitations and thank-you notes to suit your party style.

  • Electronic options are quick, easy to send on class Whatsapp groups or similar, are eco-friendly, and make RSVP tracking simple. These will be sent out on your party booking auto-confirmation (once you have completed your booking form, or can be found here.

  • Paper options add a personal touch, create keepsakes, and build excitement for little guests. If you would like paper invites/thank-you notes sent out, then please just reply to your booking confirmation email and once you’ve paid your deposit, we will post these out to you. 

📅 Booking & Payment

How far in advance should I book?

As early as possible, especially for weekends and busy periods.

Email us (fairyparty@gmail.com):

  • Your date

  • Preferred entertainment start time

  • Chosen package and duration

A £59 deposit secures your booking, with the balance due 3 days before the party. Payments are made by bank transfer.

🎈 Party Activities - What's Included?

Tell me about your starter activities

All of our parties begin with a starter activity, the perfect way to welcome guests as they arrive. These activities are designed as a meet-and-greet, giving our entertainer a chance to chat with each child, break the ice, and get everyone excited before the main entertainment begins. One-on-one activities take a little longer but have the added benefit of allowing the entertainer to meet every guest individually. Starter activities work especially well when the party start time coincides with guest arrivals.

You can choose from the following options:

    • Glitter Tattoos (max 10 guests) – One-on-one activity taking 1–2 minutes per child. Requires an extra table and two chairs set up at the start.

    • Balloon Modelling (max 25 guests) – One-on-one activity where we usually make a “one balloon wonder” for each child (e.g., dog, rabbit, flower, sword). Takes about 30–45 seconds per balloon.

    • Colourful & Glitter Hairsprays (max 30 guests) – One-on-one activity where kids get stripes of vibrant colour sprayed into their hair, topped with sparkling glitter for a dazzling party look.

    • Bubble Machine (max 35 guests) – Group activity for everyone to enjoy together. If an alternative starter activity is chosen, then bubble machine hire can still be added on as an extra (+£10).

Our starter activities are:

  • intended as a meet and greet activity for the opening of the party as people arrive.
  • designed to allow the entertainer to have a little chat/meet the children in a bit of a quieter way before the main entertainment starts.
  • 1 on 1 activities (with the exception of the bubble machine).
  • intended just for the initial part of the party.

 

Due to time restraints, we wouldn’t recommend choosing more than 1 starter activity, as it would result in a delay in the collective entertainment getting started. 

 
The exception to this is if:
  • there are a small number of children and you have a 2hr booking and therefore more time.
  • parents have booked a bouncy castle, in which case the starter activities can work well as side activities and we do offer specific bouncy castle accompaniment packages for this purpose.
 
Here is a reminder of the options, with the recommended maximum guests:
  • Glitter tattoos (10 max)
  • Balloon modelling (25 max)
  • Colourful and glitter hairsprays (30 max)
  • Bubble machine (35 max) 

Yes, we do!

However, if you’ve booked a 1hr or 1.5hr package you may want to consider bringing your own sounds system and music too – for when the entertainer has finished their set. 

Yes, of course! We carry all the usual disco, pop, and current favourites. If you’d like something specific, please send a shared Spotify playlist to fairyparty@gmail.com at least 3 days in advance so the entertainer has the correct music.

It’s helpful to note which songs are for dancing and which work better as background or food-time music, as this helps the entertainer pace the party correctly.

We bring everything required to keep the children entertained for the duration of the entertainment set. This includes music, sound system, party equipment, pass the parcel (where included), prizes, stickers and certificates.

Please refer to our individual party pages or info sheets to see what each party actually includes:

Party Packages

 

All of our party packages are run by one entertainer.

The only exception is our Glitter & Dazzle or Face Painting parties. These packages include one entertainer plus a separate face paint artist, who is set up to the side of the party and provides one-to-one face painting while the main entertainment is taking place.

Yes, we do. These are usually sweets, and each child will get a sticker and certificate too. 

Any allergies or special requirements should be shared in advance. The sweets we generally use as prizes are:

  • Starburst – dairy-free, gluten-free, vegan
  • Fruitellas – dairy-free, gluten-free, vegan
  • Maoams – dairy-free, gluten-free

Clients are welcome to provide alternatives if they prefer.

Unfortunately, it would take too long and the children would begin to lose interest. We usually include around 10 layers, with a sweet in each layer and a mini glitter tattoo kit in the middle for the birthday child.

Don’t worry though — the game is played in a way that keeps everyone involved, and while not every child will win a sweet during the game itself, every child will receive a sweet, sticker, and certificate by the end of the party.

We provide everything required for the entertainment, leaving you to sort out:

  • venue
  • food
  • decorations
  • party bags
  • birthday cake
  • organising the party room arrangements – set up and clearing away.


Here’s a link to our handy list of what to remember to take on the day: Party Checklist.pdf

🎈 Party Communication and Logistics for the Day

When will you contact me?

Once you’ve completed your booking form, here’s what you can expect:

  1. Auto-confirmation: You’ll receive an automatic email with all your party details. Please check carefully, especially the party venue – make sure it’s correct and not your home address unless the party is taking place there.

  2. Deposit Invoice: Your deposit invoice will be sent automatically after booking. Once you’ve paid, just let us know and we’ll confirm receipt.

  3. The Monday Before Your Party:

    • Party Confirmation: We’ll send a reminder with all the details – please double-check everything is correct.

    • Balance Invoice: We’ll also send your balance invoice. Let us know when it’s paid, and we’ll confirm receipt.

  4. Ready for the Party: Once you’ve received and checked your party confirmation and balance invoice, we’re all set – we can’t wait to see you on the day!

  5. Emergency Contact: Your entertainer will have your name and phone number for emergencies. Luckily, this is rarely needed, but it’s there just in case.

Your entertainer will arrive approximately 20 minutes before the start time of the party to greet you, set up and meet the birthday child. 

The only things the entertainer will require on arrival are:

  • access to a standard power point. If the party is outside/power is not available please let us know in advance.
  • use of a table. If the party is in a hall and a table is easily available, that’s perfect – if not, no worries at all, we’re happy to improvise.

  • This depends on the length of entertainment you’ve booked.

    • 1-hour and 1.5-hour parties: We recommend doing the cake and singing Happy Birthday after the entertainment has finished. This keeps the children fully engaged during the party and avoids interrupting the flow.

    • 2-hour parties: We recommend singing Happy Birthday during the food break, once the children have finished eating. This works really well, as the entertainer is then ready to continue with the second half of the party afterwards.

🍰 Party Food – Things to Consider

General food tips

  • Food breaks are usually shorter than expected (often 10–20 minutes)

  • Food boxes are quickest; buffets take slightly longer

  • Avoid putting food out too early, as it can disrupt the party flow

  • Think carefully about food timing if you’ve booked shorter entertainment

Buffet

  • ✔ Most popular and familiar

  • ✔ Good variety

  • ✖ Possibly more waste

Party Boxes

  • ✔ Easier for allergies

  • ✔ Possibly less waste

  • ✖ More planning and packaging

  • ✖ Children eat quickly – where food is served after the entertainment, this may mean that families start drifting off/leaving before the end of the party once their child has finished eating 

Takeaway (e.g. pizza)

  • ✔ Very convenient

  • ✔ Popular with children

  • ✖ Limited choice

  • ✖ Delivery timing can be stressful

Eating at Tables vs Picnic-Style

At tables

  • ✔ More structured and organised

  • ✔ Easier to manage mess and allergies

  • ✖ Requires tables, chairs, and setup

Picnic-style on the floor

  • ✔ Relaxed and informal

  • ✔ Works in smaller venues

  • ✖ Messier – often drink spills

  • ✖ Can delay restarting entertainment – often need to clear floor

🏰 Bouncy Castles

Can we have a bouncy castle alongside the entertainment?

Yes! Our parties are fully interactive, so extra entertainment isn’t required, but we regularly run entertainment alongside bouncy castles without any problem. 

However, please read this section in full to understand everything regarding bouncy castle + entertainment before booking. 

From the entertainer’s perspective, the main challenges are noise (they may need to turn their microphone up slightly) and distraction (children may move between the entertainment and the castle). To keep everyone engaged, we usually recommend switching the castle off during the opening section of the entertainment, then turning it back on later.

If this isn’t possible, the party can run more free-flow, with children moving between both activities. The entertainer will adjust accordingly.

Yes – families often either:

  • Split the party into sections (e.g. entertainment first, bouncy castle later)

  • Run entertainment and the castle concurrently

  • Alternatively, if you’re planning a bouncy castle–focused party with extra activities, we also offer bouncy castle accompaniment packages, designed to run alongside a castle without competing with it (bouncy castle not included).

 

Either option works; just let us know your preference.

 

😱 I’m Panicking! What If…?

How do I know you'll turn up?

Your party booking is very important to us, and so is our professional reputation. Non-attendance is not an option. We confirm all party booking details in writing and provide replacement cover (subject to availability) in the unlikely event of a last-minute accident, illness, or emergency.

For extra peace of mind, don’t just take our word for it – see what our clients have to say.

We will implement replacement cover (subject to availability) in-house and failing that we will implement replacement cover from a different party provider. We have lots of local connections in this event.

However, ensuring that your party is booked in the morning or afternoon slots hugely increases chance of emergency cover being available both in-house and externally. Most entertainers work with two booking windows per day (morning & afternoon), with travel and setup time in between. Middle of the day bookings often overlap these slots, making them much harder to find emergency cover for.We always aim to provide replacement cover if needed, using our in-house team first, and if that’s not available, we can call on our network of trusted local entertainers.

Booking your party during morning or afternoon slots significantly increases the likelihood of arranging cover quickly if required. Most entertainers work with two booking windows per day (morning and afternoon), with travel and setup in between, so midday bookings can be more challenging to cover. By choosing a morning or afternoon slot, you maximise the chance of smooth, stress-free arrangements.