Too cold for kids bday party outside in mid-Dec? (Austin: house, park)

[ail]

I am fairly new to Austin, and was wondering if people have kids birthday parties outdoors in mid-Dec? I'd like to have my 3 yr old's bday at a park (w/ a shelter), at 3:30 p.m. but I hear that it can get really cold at that time of the year. Should I look for indoor venues instead?? Thanks!

[centralaustinite]

It can be gorgeous in mid-December in Austin! Really amazing!!

But there is always the risk of a cold front coming through. It could be drizzling and 45 degrees or 75 with a beautiful blue sky . . . so, I'd go with the park but have a backup plan too. 3 year old aren't hard to satisfy, so you should be fine.

[cBach]

Personally I would think twice. If it's cold and rainy, you'll really regret being outside in nippy conditions for 3 hours.

[robino2001]

It can be hit and miss. We've had two outdoor parties recently in early/mid December. One was gorgeous and in the 70's, the other was also a pretty day but in the 30's. You just never know here.

[tfresca]

These kids will whine. People in Austin can't handle any cold.

[cBach]

Originally Posted by tfresca

These kids will whine. People in Austin can't handle any cold.

A good reason not to have an outside party in December.

[cBach]

Originally Posted by robino2001

It can be hit and miss. We've had two outdoor parties recently in early/mid December. One was gorgeous and in the 70's, the other was also a pretty day but in the 30's. You just never know here.

How did people handle the party with temps in the 30's? Was it at night? It's rarely in the 30's in mid day. I wouldn't go to a party outside with temps in the 30's personally.

[cBach]

Originally Posted by ail

I am fairly new to Austin, and was wondering if people have kids birthday parties outdoors in mid-Dec? I'd like to have my 3 yr old's bday at a park (w/ a shelter), at 3:30 p.m. but I hear that it can get really cold at that time of the year. Should I look for indoor venues instead?? Thanks!

If you do have to do it, I suggest earlier in the day when the sun is higher as it will be a little warmer. 3:30 PM this time of year is like 4:30 PM in daylight savings time, it's a little too late. A general rule of thumb is summer parties=evening, winter parties=12 noon for maximum guest comfort.

[robino2001]

Originally Posted by cBach

How did people handle the party with temps in the 30's? Was it at night? It's rarely in the 30's in mid day. I wouldn't go to a party outside with temps in the 30's personally.

It was during the day... Big 12 Championship day in '09 IIRC, so early Dec for that one (party wasn't related, just remember the connection). Fortunately it was at our house so we adjusted, cleared out the garage, borrowed space heaters and survived with over 100 people in our small house at the time, but we knew that was part of the risk we took. So that one wasn't necessarily at a park, but we had planned for a majority of it to be outside because we figured the odds were slightly in our favor for a nice day. Without looking at numbers, just personal experience and randomly pulling a number out of air, I'd say it's probably 55-60% you'll get a pretty day in the 60's or 70's but there is a solid chance for cold or cold and crappy. Those fronts seem to come through every 5-7 days.

[Austin97]

Originally Posted by robino2001

It was during the day... Big 12 Championship day in '09 IIRC, so early Dec for that one (party wasn't related, just remember the connection). Fortunately it was at our house so we adjusted, cleared out the garage, borrowed space heaters and survived with over 100 people in our small house at the time, but we knew that was part of the risk we took. So that one wasn't necessarily at a park, but we had planned for a majority of it to be outside because we figured the odds were slightly in our favor for a nice day. Without looking at numbers, just personal experience and randomly pulling a number out of air, I'd say it's probably 55-60% you'll get a pretty day in the 60's or 70's but there is a solid chance for cold or cold and crappy. Those fronts seem to come through every 5-7 days.

The weather forecasts are pretty good these days. They can see fronts at least a week out so you will most likely have at least 5-7 days warning to have a backup plan.

I use this site to see wind forecasts which are very accurate. When the wind comes from the north (wind direction arrow pointing down), that is a front and it is going to be cold. If the wind comes from the south then it is gulf air which will be warmer. I have also found the temperature forecasts to be a bit more accurate than weather.com and they show temperatures in 3 hour blocks.

this is a wind forecast for pflugerville

iKitesurf.com - CW8206 Pflugerville - Wind Forecasts