Georgetown Mom Makes a Business of Creative Kids Parties

Renee Footer is one of those Georgetown moms whose kids' birthday parties make every other parent wonder whether she ever sleeps.

Petting zoo? Check. Iguanas? Check. A pirate AND Cinderella? Double check.

From hand-made invitations to personalized party favor tutus and sandwiches shaped like little animals, Footer said she loved getting the details just right to make each party special.

"My husband and all my friends kept telling me I was good at this and should do it for other people," explained Footer.

Not only was Footer great at planning creative parties, there's an unmet demand for such a service in Georgetown, she explained. You might recognize Footer and her kids at Rose Park or Montrose Park or the Intown Playgroup. She knows Georgetown. 

"There's really no good company out there that I've seen to help Moms plan these types of themed parties with their own faculty. Which means most Moms have to do it themselves. And it's a lot of work. And most Moms in Georgetown want the parties for their kids to be special. They want them to be memorable," she wrote to Patch in an email.

So she decided to fill that gap and has started her own business: Georgetown Parties. 

Footer partnered with Coach John Jenkins of Just for Kids to rent a portion of the former Little Folks School to host her specialty parties.

"I told her about the space I was leasing and how I was considering offering birthday parties in the fall. Renee showed me pictures of the party she did for her daughter and the rest was history," Jenkins told Patch.

Starting Sept. 1, Just For Kids and Georgetown Parties will begin offering custom, all-inclusive themed birthday parties in Georgetown above the Little Folks School at 3247 Q St. NW.

They will offer the space for 90 minutes for a party based on one of several themes to begin with, including: royal princess (Cinderella’s Ball), hooks and ladders firefighter party, superhero, Ahoy pirate! and craft creation.

"Planning these parties can be a lot of work - and it takes a lot of time - trust me! We want to make it easy for the parents so they can actually enjoy the party rather than worry about all of the little details that go into making it all come together," Footer told Patch.

Each basic package includes:

·      Premier party hostess

·      Themed party settings

·      Decorations

·      Themed activities, games, and crafts

·      Hand-Made Deluxe Party favors

·      Pizza and Juice

·      Themed Cake

·      Set-up and break- down

A party package starts at $700 for up to 15 children. Prices can run more than $1,000 if you add a photographer or a character appearance.

While Footer said they chose Georgetown for this new business because they live there, Jenkins is already setting his sites on new locations.

"My goal is to open multiple indoor locations in the DC area in order to reach a greater number of children, for classes, parties and a myriad of kid-focused activities," he told Patch.

Next stop: Capitol Hill.

Before then, though, Georgetown Parties has to open. The company will be offering deals in August and can begin hosting at the Little Folks School location in September. 

For information about Georgetown Parties, contact:

·      Renee Footer: 917 309-9456 ∙ bannisterrenee@aol.com

·      John Jenkins: 202 965-1382 ∙ john@coachjohnjenkins.com