Pasadena is a city in the foothills of the San Gabriel Mountains, just northeast of Los Angeles. Its unique history dates back to 1874, upon its founding as part of the original California gold rush. It boasts many beautiful parks, trails, and cultural attractions, including the famous Rose Bowl Stadium, the Huntington Library and Gardens, world-class museums, and art galleries.
When hosting remarkable celebrations, Pasadena sets itself apart from others. This vibrant city has a renowned cultural scene with its annual New Year's Day Rose Parade, Rose Bowl Football Game, and vibrant theater district. And if you are celebrating a special occasion, Pasadena's unique features provide memorable experiences for all special occasions, particularly birthdays.
There is something for everyone in Pasadena, whether you want to be outside in one of the city's lovely parks or botanical gardens or inside a florist shop or an old house on Colorado Blvd. or Lake Ave. There are many restaurants offering tasty food, so it won't be hard to find a great place for your birthday bash.
Photobooths
Photo booths allow guests to capture moments of joy in real-time. Guests can also print photos onsite, providing attendees with physical memories they can take home, making them smile every time they look back on it for years to come!
Decorations
Ready-made decorations such as balloons, streamers, banners, and table centerpieces can add atmosphere and color to any setting for a birthday party. Professional decorators can also create custom backdrops for event space or photo opportunities and other elements that make the venue look spectacular and unique.
DJs/Entertainers
Having some form of live entertainment at your birthday party can be fun and exciting for guests. Good DJs can mix music that fills the room with energy and creates an atmosphere for people to let loose and enjoy themselves. Entertainers can range from clowns or magicians to animal shows or interactive games.
Cake Bakers
A professional cake baker ensures that your cake looks and tastes delicious while still being delicious. By consulting with them about what kind of design you prefer, they can customize it perfectly for you.
Mannys Party Rentals and Catering
When it comes to private parties, corporate parties, holiday parties, and baby showers in the Los Angeles area, Manny's Party Rentals and Catering has top-notch event rentals and catering services. They have a huge selection of party supplies, such as chairs, tables, stages, cocktail tables, heaters, canopies, and different-sized wooden dance floors. They also sell china, glassware, chafing dishes, cutlery, and tools for concessions. For your event to be truly memorable, their Mexican cuisine catering uses the freshest products and traditional family recipes cooked in new and exciting ways.
Butter-Lab
Butter-Lab is a unique bakery founded by professional baker and Butterologist Annie Chapman. With over a decade of baking experience, Annie has honed her craft at acclaimed establishments such as Spago Beverly Hills by Wolfgang Puck and Broken Spanish in downtown Los Angeles. At Butter-Lab, she offers custom cakes with intricate designs and details, pies, cookies and tarts, custard bread pudding, seasonal curds and jams, blondies, bars, cheesecakes, brownies, and tres leches.
Stay Golden Photo Booth
As a family-owned business that rents out modern photo booths, Stay Golden Photo Booth is the right place for any event that needs a private rental. With a variety of stylish backdrops, props, custom themes, boomerangs, and GIFs, they upgrade the photo booth experience. Different packages are available to fit various budgets, and all of them come with endless prints. Stay Golden Photo Booth’s LED cube, red carpet setup, flower walls, and certified event planning skills make events more exciting and make sure everyone remembers the event.
The City of Pasadena offers a unique and exciting backdrop to celebrate any special occasion, especially birthdays! Here are the pros and cons of hosting a birthday party in Pasadena, CA, to help you make a fully informed decision.
The nearby San Gabriel Mountains, Rose Bowl, and Colorado Street Bridge provide active group-friendly activities.
Because of the mild year-round temperatures in Pasadena, you do not need to worry about extreme conditions during your party planning process.
Pasadena offers unique venues, with its proximity to Hollywood, that make great backdrops for photoshoots and memorable selfies.
Since Pasadena is close to Los Angeles, traffic can be an issue during peak times, which affects travel time.
Event venues may require special permits or licenses when serving alcohol or hosting large groups.
Limited parking is available throughout the city streets, and expensive public garages/lots make finding space challenging.
Planning a successful birthday party in Pasadena can be challenging, as there are many details to consider and manage. Here are some tips to help you create the perfect special event with ease:
Choose the Right Venue: A great venue is the foundation for any good birthday party. When choosing your venue, consider the number of guests you plan to invite, the type of activities you want to organize, and other amenities, such as access to public transportation or parking. Popular venues in Pasadena include beachfront hotels, local parks and beaches, and private villas.
Create a Memorable Theme: To add an extra flair to your event, choose a theme that ties together all the elements of your birthday party, including decorations, music choices, and guest costumes, if desired. Popular options include Hawaiian luau parties or anything related to popular movies or TV shows.
Prepare Delicious Food: Serve snacks like chips or veggie platters with some finger foods and main dishes such as chicken parmesan or tacos al pastor for dinner options. For dessert, consider having ice cream bars where guests can customize their sundaes or cupcakes with colorful sprinkles.
Public Art "Fork In The Road"
Located at the intersection of Old Pasadena and St. John Avenues in Pasadena, Southern California, the "Fork in the Road" public art installation is a clever visual pun that has become a beacon of philanthropy. Locals Ken Marshall and Bob Stane placed the 18-foot wooden fork without consent from city officials. After a temporary removal, the builders purchased insurance and reinstated it after receiving blessings from city officials. Since then, the giant fork has become a site for charitable efforts, such as food drives, emphasizing its role as an inspiration for altruism in the community.
Rose Bowl Stadium
The Rose Bowl Stadium is a distinguished landmark representing a significant piece of Los Angeles history. Sitting 93,000 people, it is home to the famous post-season college football game, the Rose Bowl. When not hosting the Rose Bowl, the UCLA Bruins play their home games here, and the stadium also serves as a venue for concerts, special events, and a monthly flea market. The stadium showcases the Southern Californian appeal to Mid-Westerners looking for warmer weather, and the surrounding Brookside Park offers visitors the opportunity to engage in various outdoor activities.
Wrigley Mansion
Once a winter home to chewing-gum magnate William Wrigley, the Wrigley Mansion is now known as the Tournament House, headquarters for the annual Rose Parade organized by the Tournament of Roses Association. The Wrigley family gifted the elegant Italian Renaissance–style design to the City of Pasadena in 1958. The surrounding Wrigley Gardens spread across four and a half acres, featuring blooming flowers of more than 1,500 varieties, including roses, camellias, and annuals. Tourists can explore the intricate interior of the mansion, showcasing Rose Queen crowns and a range of related memorabilia.