If you’re planning a birthday party for your 6, 7, or 8 year old in Chicago, everyone tells you the same thing. “Just do it in June. Backyard party. Easy.” Sure. If you enjoy competing with graduation parties, company picnics, soccer tournaments, and the first warm Saturday of the year when the entire Midwest decides to be outside at once. April is the quiet hero. And if you know how to use it, it’s magic. April Is Prime Time (Without Prime Time Stress) Here’s what most paren

Cub Scout events are fun because they are a little bit of everything at once. Interactive comedy magic for Cub Scout pack meetings, Pinewood Derby celebrations, Blue and Gold banquets, and special events in Chicago. You have Scouts who are excited to see friends, siblings who want to be included, parents arriving after work, leaders keeping the evening on track, awards to hand out, announcements to make, and usually some food somewhere in the room. That is a lot for one pack

Edd Fairman performs for a family at a children's birthday party Nobody remembers the napkins. Nobody grows up saying: “You know what made my seventh birthday unforgettable? The excellent table runners.” Kids remember feelings. They remember: • laughing uncontrollably • getting picked to help • hearing adults laugh too • feeling celebrated • being part of something exciting That’s what actually sticks. Parents are under a lot of pressure now to create “perfect” birthday parti

Edd Fairman, Wizard of Sorts will be at Families on the Fairway June 12, 7-9pm Bittersweet Golf Club, Gurnee, IL One of my favorite things about summer in the Chicago area is how quickly parks, patios, golf courses, and community spaces fill up with families looking for reasons to spend time together outdoors. That’s why I’m excited to be part of Families on the Fairway in Gurnee this summer. I’ll be bringing my interactive comedy magic show to the event, along with plenty of

The internet has convinced parents that children’s birthday parties now require: • custom signage • matching dessert tables • handcrafted party favors • enough balloons to interfere with air traffic Meanwhile, most kids are thrilled if: • their friends are there • something funny happens • they get cake • somebody acts silly • they feel important for a day After years of performing birthday parties, here’s something I wish more parents understood: Kids care way more about ene

Summer birthday parties have a very different energy than school-year parties. Everybody’s outside more. Schedules are looser. Kids are running around barefoot and sticky for reasons nobody fully understands. The good news is that a few small adjustments can make a HUGE difference. 1. Start the show before food. This is probably the single biggest party tip I give parents. Once pizza arrives, attention evaporates into the atmosphere. Magic first. Pizza second. Trust me. 2. Be

Chicago Backyard Birthday Parties can be amazing Backyard birthday parties sound simple. Then reality arrives: extension cords, folding chairs, melting cupcakes, somebody crying because another kid touched their bubble wand, and at least one adult wondering if they should have just rented a room somewhere. The good news? Backyard parties can actually be some of the BEST parties for kids when they’re planned around flow instead of perfection. After performing hundreds of famil

When you’re planning a kids party, you want the entertainment to be just right. Not too dull, not too wild, but perfectly fun and engaging. That’s where a funny kids party magician comes in! These entertainers don’t just perform magic tricks; they bring laughter, joy, and a sprinkle of wonder that makes the whole event unforgettable. Let me walk you through the top traits that make a funny kids party magician stand out and why they’re the perfect choice for your next celebrat

Can a Magic Show Work for Mixed Ages (Toddlers to Grandparents)? If you’re planning a birthday party with a wide range of ages, you’re probably wondering if one activity can actually work for everyone. Short answer: yes, but only if it’s designed that way. Recently, I performed at a first birthday party with guests ranging from 1 year old all the way up to grandparents. Afterward, one parent told me: “He managed to keep everyone entertained the entire time.” That’s not an acc

Plan your June Birthday Party Now Let me guess. Your child's birthday is in June. You've got a few months. Plenty of time to figure out the venue, the entertainment, the cake situation. No need to start making calls just yet. I hear this every single year. And every single year, I watch the same thing happen. By the time May rolls around and parents start searching for kids' birthday party entertainment in Chicago, the dates they actually wanted are already gone. Not "limited