When it comes to planning a birthday party for kids, I’m always on the hunt for something fun, active, and stress-free—and Goldfish Swim School checked every box! This year, we celebrated Allie’s 8th birthday with a pool party at Goldfish Swim School in Portland, and it was truly one of the easiest (and most fun!) parties we’ve ever hosted. Here’s everything you need to know about planning your own party at Goldfish, plus a recap of our experience.
Why We Chose Goldfish for Allie’s Party
With so many birthday party options out there, we wanted something fun, active, and easy to manage. We chose Goldfish Swim School for a variety of reasons:
- We love Goldfish Swim School: We’ve been with Goldfish for almost a year now so we know the space and the staff really well at this point. The girls love swimming and being there so that alone made it a perfect fit.
- Indoor & Weatherproof: The weather here in Maine has been nothing short of disappointing so far this season so choosing an indoor option meant we wouldn’t have to stress over rain or chilly temps—it’s always a toasty 90 degrees in the pool area!
- Private Facility Access:Â Our party had the whole facility to ourselves, with lifeguards and instructors supervising so all the kids could swim safely. Â After pool time, we had the main room to enjoy snacks, cake, and photo ops (we did gifts at home). The facility itself also has plenty of bathrooms, changing rooms, hair dryers, etc. so it just makes for a very easy day.
- Built-in Entertainment: No need to plan games or activities—the kids were busy swimming, splashing, and jumping in for nearly the entire party.
- Easy and Stress-Free: Our kids’ birthdays are one day apart so we’re in the midst of the busiest time of year in our home. Goldfish staff handles all of the set up and clean up in addition to providing us with the vast majority of the items we needed for the party. It left us with very little to do/bring which we really loved and appreciated
It was the perfect mix of fun for the kids and low-stress for the adults. Goldfish made everything feel seamless from start to finish—and we couldn’t have asked for a better way to celebrate Allie’s special day.
What’s Included in a Goldfish Birthday Party Package?
One of the best things about hosting a party at Goldfish Swim School is how much is already taken care of for you. From setup to clean-up, they make the entire process incredibly easy for parents—so you can focus on enjoying the day right alongside your child.
Every location may vary slightly, but here’s what our package included:
- 2 hours of private access to the facility.
- Certified lifeguards on duty to oversee all pool activities.
- Access to life jackets, pool noodles, the slide, etc.
- Centerpieces, balloons, and decorations to create a festive atmosphere.
- Disposable items such as forks, napkins, cups, plates, and table coverings.
- A spacious party room capable of accommodating large groups (up to 24 kids).
- Goldfish snack, mini water bottles, and juice boxes
- Special visit from Bubbles
- Set up and clean up handled by Goldfish staff (a lifesaver!)
Again, this could vary slightly from location to location so always check with your local school for details! Overall, we were seriously impressed by how hands-off the planning process was. It felt like everything we needed was already thought of, and the staff went above and beyond to make the day special.
What to Bring
While Goldfish Swim School takes care of most of the logistics, there are still a few essentials you’ll want to pack to ensure a smooth and splashy celebration.
- Towels and swimsuits for all swimmers (we totally forgot adult towels)
- Goggles and life jackets (they also have life jackets on site for those who need them)
- Change of clothes
- Cake and food (our Goldfish location provided the drinks)
- Birthday candles and a lighter
- Decorations or themed items if you want to personalize the space
- Bags for gifts — I bought a couple of sturdy Hannaford bags to make it easy to carry things out at the end
That’s it! Keep it simple, and you’ll be all set for a fun, stress-free party. Goldfish truly takes care of the rest.
Our Thoughts
Both kids rated this party a 10/10.
Our party was from 4-6pm and we were able to access the space at 3:45 to check in with our party planner, Sarah and take some photos before guests arrived. I loved walking in and having everything already set up and ready to go. There was very little I had to arrive with and it just made for a very easy and stress free arrival.
We could have up to 24 kids in the space, but Allie wanted to keep it smaller and a bit more exclusive to the friends she really wanted to celebrate with. We had three guests cancel at the last minute, leaving Allie with 6 friends, 1 sister, and 2 cousins. Allie was a little disappointed by the last minute cancelations, but all around, we really loved the smaller guest size. It allowed her to interact with each and every guest so no one felt left out and I was better able to touch base with each and every parent at some point as well.
Once guests arrived, the kids gather in the pool room to go over safety guidelines and complete a quick little swim test to determine the level of support needed in the pool (independent, pool noodle, or life jacket). They also had lifeguards on duty throughout the party. As someone who has anxiety around water, I really appreciated the safety measures in place to ensure everyone was safe at all times.
The kids had about an hour of swim time before we regrouped for some photo ops. Bubbles made his guest appearance during this time so we snapped some photos with him and then moved into pizza and cake. We opted to do presents at home so the kids didn’t feel rushed through their meals and could have time to chat and hang out together and this worked really well for us.
All in all, the staff made it so easy, and I actually got to enjoy the party instead of running around stressed. I hardly have any pool photos because I was able to get into the water with the kids and have fun with everyone.
Final Thoughts: Would We Do It Again?
Absolutely! If you’re looking for an easy, exciting, and memorable way to celebrate your child’s birthday, I can’t recommend Goldfish Swim School enough. The kids had a blast, the parents were impressed, and I didn’t have to lift a finger when it came to clean-up. Total win.
Want to Learn More?
Visit Goldfish Swim School’s website to find a location near you and learn more about their birthday party packages!
