Planning a Party in Amarillo? One Venue Has a Big Balloon Ban

When it comes to planning a birthday party in Amarillo for a child, you go through many steps. You have to figure out a location. You will usually come up with a theme. That takes a lot of work. Once those two things are decided, then you hope that the child doesn't change their minds.

Our plan originally was for my granddaughter's fourth birthday to be at Chuck E. Cheese here in Amarillo. Oh, but boy did they find a way to ruin that for us earlier this year. So we had to punt. We had to find a new location.

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After much discussion and giving my granddaughter all of the choices, we decided to try out The Discovery Center. She loves playing there, so this was going to be a fun place for a party.

The theme was easy. She wanted a unicorn party. So we went out and found all sorts of decorations. We had to have plates, tablecloths, wall hangings, and balloons. Of course, what kind of party would it be without balloons?

We were going to get some helium-filled balloons at different places around town. We found some really cute options. We were ready for this party to get here. Until the email came in from The Discovery Center. We received a message we were not expecting.

We got the information for the party. We now knew when we could go in and decorate. We found out we could only use blue painter's tape to hang stuff up. That was weird, but ok, we located some.

 The Discovery Center’s Official Balloon Policy

The information we were not expecting was the rule on balloons:

• As environmental stewards, we do not allow helium-filled balloons or confetti on our premises. Any balloons or confetti found will result in a penalty clean-up fee of $50.

Parents Question the Irony of the Ban

No helium-filled balloons at a birthday party in Amarillo? I mean, what is a party without helium balloons? Isn't this the same place that has the Helium Monument out front nearby? It is? So where is the hate? I find this really ironic. I mean, Amarillo is the helium capital of the world on top of that, so no helium is funny to me.

Is the Rule Worth the Cost?

Was it worth spending an extra $50 just to have helium balloons and pay the penalty? No, it wasn't. Plus, I got to make a little money back by returning the helium tank, but really, no helium balloons right there where the Helium Monument is? Make it make sense.