Any ideas where to have a 3 year old girls winter birthday party without spending a small fortune?

I had my daughters 3rd birthday at the McDonalds play land. It only cost 50 bucks for 8 kids and that included happy meals drinks and an ice cream. They also provide a cake.

3 year olds don't need much. There's little that they could really understand what a birthday is all about.

Invite one friend her age for her. Several friends can overwhelm a toddler.

Make a pretty cake, hang a few streamers, give everyone a party hat, and blow up a few balloons and you just turned your home into a three year-old's party-land.

You could have some party activities planned, but if your child and guest are busy having a good time without the activities, let them play. If they start getting bored of their game before the party is over, try a few of the planned activities.

Keep the party short, like no more than an hour or two. Birthday baby can get over-partied and cranky.

I had a party for my 8 yr. old daughter. Her birthday is in winter so we made a snowman cake. I frosted 3 different size cake rounds with white frosting, then spread coconut all over them. I made a black construction paper for the hat, black round candies for the eyes, a short carrot for the nose, and raisins for the mouth. I used more black rounds for the buttons, and pretzel rods for the arms. It looked great!! For the activity, we brought snow into the house in wide rectangular plastic containers. I had them ready outside, all filled with snow. I had the kids bring their mittens and gave them little toys they would play with in the sane box and let them play in the 'snowbox'! I had a towel down on the floor and put it on our little tykes table! They had a blast!! This was the hit of the party! For opening of the presents, I sat them all in a circle, played Frosty The Snowman and when the music stopped, the birthday girl got to open that present! The kids loved this! It's also a good way to keep everyone happy since they all want the birthday girl to open their present first! Another game was to set out chairs like musical chairs. Put dress up clothes on each chair in a bag or box. Play music and when the music stops, the child has to put 1 thing on. Then they keep going around and putting more and more things on each time the music stops. After all the dress up clothes are gone, all the kids look so silly! We had a parade and a contest of who looked the silliest. Took pictures. We also played "Pin the Nose on the Snowman", using a paper carrot for the nose. They had a great time!!

We have a local marionette puppet theater that hosts parties. Or, how about a local children's musem. How about a dress up party at a friend's house? Is there a commons area at your apartment complex? Good luck

My step son's b-day is in the winter, and we rented the pool at a local hotel for his b-day. It has a big heated pool, a hot tub, and a kiddie pool! It was great!

Chuck E. Cheeze - they have an indoor play area for small children.

You could look for a local tea room. They often offer packages for all ages that include dress up, tea and you could provide your own cake.

What about your church?? Most church's have a multi purpose room that they allow their members to have parties, showers, etc in at little or no cost.

McDonalds Playland if you have one in your area. Also if you have an ACmoore craft store in your area they have all kinds of projects.