Frequently Asked Questions

It depends on the party! Sensory Play Parties are especially great for toddlers and younger children, while slime and tie dye work well for a much wider range of ages—including teens and adults.

Not sure which party fits your group? Tell us the ages and what your guests are into, and we’ll help you choose.

Messy Play parties are mobile—we bring the fun to your home, party venue, community space, or other location.

Travel availability and any applicable travel fees depend on your location. We make messes in California across Santa Cruz County and the San Francisco Bay Area.

It depends on your party!

For Sensory Play Parties, our large sensory bins are generally set up on the ground inside approximately 5-foot foldable pools. These help define the play space and contain all that glorious mess.

Our science, art, and other activity stations are generally set up on 4-foot tables.

We can adjust the number and layout of stations based on your available space.

Backyards are fantastic for Messy Play, but they're not required. Parties can also happen indoors or at parks and other venues.

Don't think you have enough room at home? A local park can be a great option!

Parties start at $400. Pricing depends on the type of party, number of guests, location, and any add-ons you choose. Each party package includes the materials and supplies needed for the activity, setup, facilitation, and cleanup of our activity area.

For Tie-Dye Parties, our basic party price includes the tie-dye, gloves, take home instructions, and expert guidance. You can provide the items you’d like to dye yourself, or have us provide them for an additional cost.

We can accommodate everything from smaller gatherings to larger parties. The ideal group size varies by activity, and larger groups may require adjustments to the setup or party format.

When you inquire, let us know your approximate guest count—even if you don’t have a final number yet.

Most party activities are designed to take approximately one hour. Exact timing depends on the activity, number and ages of guests, and how quickly everyone moves through the experience.

Our activity time does not need to fill your entire party—you can plan food, cake, presents, or other activities before or afterward.

We bring all of the materials, tools, and supplies needed for your Messy Play activity. We’ll set everything up, guide your guests through the experience, and clean up our activity materials afterward.

If you have tables available at your party location, we’re happy to use them. If not, we can bring tables for our activity setup—just let us know ahead of time.

You provide the party space, chairs if needed, and any food, decorations, or other party activities.

For Tie-Dye Parties, we’ll bring the dyes and tie-dye supplies. You can either provide the items your guests will dye or have us provide them for an additional cost.

We design our setups to contain the mess as much as possible. That said, slime, sensory materials, dye, and other messy-play materials can occasionally end up somewhere unexpected.

We recommend wearing clothes that can handle a little creativity. Our materials are always washable, with the exception of tie-dye.

Absolutely! Outdoor spaces are fantastic for messy play, slime, sensory activities, and tie dye.

Weather matters, though, and some activities require access to water or other specific setup needs. We’ll talk through the details when you book.

Usually! We can often coordinate colors or small details with your party theme, depending on the activity. Tell us what you’re planning when you inquire and we’ll let you know what’s possible.

Yes. Messy Play Kits was created by a former preschool teacher with more than a decade of experience designing sensory and hands-on play experiences.

Our Sensory Play Parties are especially flexible because kids can move between activities, engage in the way that feels comfortable to them, and spend more or less time at individual stations.

Every child is different, so if your child has particular sensory preferences, sensitivities, or support needs, please tell us when you inquire. We’re happy to talk through whether a particular party format will be a good fit.

Not necessarily. Sensory parties are naturally open-ended, with kids moving between stations at their own pace.

Slime and tie-dye parties are more guided, but we know kids don’t all work at exactly the same speed. Our goal is to keep things organized without making the experience feel like a classroom.

Yes! For slime parties, guests take home the slimes they create. For tie-dye parties, everyone takes home their finished project—whether you provide the items to dye or purchase them through us.

Take-home items for sensory and adult messy play parties depend on the activities included in your package.

For children’s parties, the party host is responsible for general supervision of the children. Our staff are there to lead and facilitate the activity rather than provide childcare.

For younger groups, we may ask adults to stay nearby to help with things like bathroom trips, hand washing, or children who need a break from the activity.

We recommend reaching out as soon as you know your date, especially for weekends. Availability is first come, first served, and your date isn’t reserved until the required deposit is paid.

Last-minute party? Ask anyway! If we have staff available, we may be able to make it happen.

A 50% deposit is required to officially reserve your party date and time. The remaining balance is due before the event.

Your date is not held until your deposit has been received.

That’s completely normal! You don’t need an exact headcount when you first inquire.

Give us your best estimate when booking, and we’ll confirm your final guest count closer to the party. Additional guest charges may apply based on your package.

We understand that kids get sick, weather changes, and life happens. Cancellation and rescheduling terms will be included with your booking so you know exactly what to expect before paying your deposit.

We bring a fully stocked slime bar loaded with colorful ingredients, fun mix-ins, and endless possibilities! Kids get to mix, customize, and create their very own slime masterpieces, experimenting with different colors, textures, and add-ins along the way.

Each child makes multiple unique slimes to take home as party favors—so the fun continues long after the party ends!

If you need to cancel:

More than 30 days before your party: Your booking payment will be refunded, less a $50 booking/cancellation fee.

14–30 days before your party: A cancellation fee equal to 25% of your total event price applies. Any additional amount you've already paid will be refunded.

Less than 14 days before your party: A cancellation fee equal to 50% of your total event price applies.

Maybe! After more than a decade of creating messy, sensory, and hands-on activities, we have a pretty big bag of tricks.

If you have an idea for a party that feels very Messy Play but doesn’t quite fit one of our standard packages, send us an inquiry and tell us what you’re imagining.

We’re happy to work alongside other vendors who you book for your party.

Not much — that's the idea!

We'll discuss the specifics when we plan your party, but generally we need:

Access to water: Many of our activities involve water, and we'll need it for setup and cleanup as well. We can bring some water if the event is at a park.

Tables: We'll let you know how many are needed based on your party plan. If necessary, we can discuss table options when booking. We can provide our own tables (4x2', height-adjustable) but we don't provide chairs.

Adult supervision: Messy Play instructors facilitate the activities, help children use the materials, replenish supplies, and keep the stations running smoothly. However, our instructors are not childcare providers and are not responsible for supervising individual children. Parents/caregivers remain responsible for their children throughout the event.