Photo from: Sent/n2photos
Eventful, a new Lawrence business, hosts slumber parties for kids, like the Minecraft theme shown above.
If Instagram inspired people in my family to start a business, I shudder to think what it would be. (The family’s Boston Terrier bowtie would probably be the CEO, since he’s in all the photos.)
But a pair of Lawrence moms think they’ve hit on an Instagram idea that will be a big hit locally. It includes tents in your living room.
More specifically, it involves a slumber party in your living room, or basement, or any other space you think your insurance agent wouldn’t mind.
Events, co-owned by moms Lawrence, Heather Hall and Nancy McCready, will come to your home and set up all the sleeping arrangements for a children’s slumber party. This includes air mattresses to sleep on, canopies to cover the air mattresses and a whole host of extras such as bedside tables, night lights, bunting, balloons and a party favor bag.
All items come in a variety of themes – about 20 in total – that the customer can choose from. If you have a group of kids who love a video game party, you can choose a Minecraft, Super Mario or Fortnite theme, for example. Or maybe there is a group that likes flowers and decorations. There is a thread about this. There are many sports themes, ranging from KU to K-State, plus basketball, football or soccer options. There are princesses, unicorns, Lego, outer space and even a TikTok theme. (I’ve found that a one-person tent — tightly closed — is the best place to dance TikTok.)
Hall and McCready are friends through their young children. Both had seen companies creating themed slumber parties showing up more often on social media. There are several companies in Kansas City, but the couple had yet to see one in Lawrence.
“We thought, why not?” McCready said.
Photo from: Sent/n2photos
Eventful, a new Lawrence business, offers tents, night lights, bedspreads and other accessories to create themed slumber parties for kids.
The business, which is not part of a chain or franchise, opened earlier this month. The company has started taking bookings but has yet to host its first event, as events are usually booked several times in advance. But they are optimistic about how the idea will be received.
“I think families are looking to do fun things coming out of the pandemic,” Hall said. “Being able to create magical memories that come from the last three years has been really important to the families we’ve spoken to.”
Women have talked to a lot of people, especially moms, as they often end up in charge of planning slumber parties. Hall and McCready said they got their topic ideas from other moms who shared what their kids are most interested in right now.
It was during those conversations that they learned about another selling point they think their business will offer: slumber party hosting and demolition. Event staff will spend time inflating mattresses, setting up the tent, hanging banners and putting other finishing touches on the theme.
Prices start at $175 for a two-tent party and are $300 for a four-tent party. Additional tents cost about $75 each. The crews come back at the end of the party and pack everything up while you rent the tents and decorations. However, campers may keep certain items, such as a themed sleep mask or flashlight, which is given as a party favor.
Not even mother has had such a business before. Hall is a lawyer and McCready spent years in the marketing world, where she did event planning. This has come in handy, as a slumber party is definitely an event.
But what both have found most helpful is simply being around children. McCready said the key to creating successful themes is to embrace your inner, childlike mind.
“When you’re surrounded by baby stuff, your brain is very much in that state anyway,” she said. But one of the best things about it has been that it’s really fun to think about what kids would have fun with.”
The business does not have a storefront location, but operates online under the name Eventful Lawrence.