Party supplies in Palo Alto

Throwing a party in Palo Alto takes a little more planning than it used to. Party City, the largest party supply chain in the country, filed for bankruptcy in December 2024 and closed its roughly 700 stores in the United States in late February 2025. We found no dedicated party shop in Palo Alto in 2026. Instead, locals now piece a party together from a stationery store, a cupcake shop, a toy shop and a craft chain a few miles away.

This guide follows that order: shops in Palo Alto first, then the nearby stores in Mountain View and Redwood City. We confirmed each store on its own site, a chain store page or a shopping center's 2026 directory. Check hours before a last-minute run.

Where to buy what

Invitations and wrap: Paper Source

For anything printed or wrapped, start at Paper Source in Building 2 of Town & Country Village on El Camino Real. The center's directory describes a range made for celebrations: party invitations, custom letterpress invitations and birth announcements, envelopes, place cards, table tents, program kits and wedding favor boxes. For birthdays and holidays it stocks gift wrap, gift bags, ribbon, rubber stamps and stickers.

Custom letterpress takes time, so allow several weeks for printed invitations. For a child's party next weekend, a boxed set of fill-in invitations does the job. The center lists the shop open daily, with later hours midweek. Hours shift around the holidays, so check the store page.

Cupcakes and cake

A few doors away in Building 2, Kara's Cupcakes bakes its cupcakes by hand each day. The center lists hours of 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 10 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. on Sunday, which makes it handy for a same-day pickup. For a big order, call ahead rather than counting on the case.

If you want a layer cake with a name piped on top, or a design cake for a milestone birthday, see our guide to custom cakes in Palo Alto. Most bakeries need several days' notice for decorated cakes. Ask about allergies and delivery when you order.

Favors and small gifts

Goodie bags are where a party budget can drift. Three Palo Alto shops help keep it under control.

• Miniso at 281 University Avenue sells blind boxes, small plush toys, stationery and snacks, all popular with school-age children.
• Books Inc. at Town & Country Village sells books, games and toys. A paperback is a favor that lasts longer than a plastic whistle.
• Paper Source sells stickers and small stationery sets that fit easily in a gift bag.

For teenagers, a gift card from a nearby cafe or bookshop often goes over better than a bag of trinkets.

Balloons and decorations: Michaels

When Party City closed, balloons were the biggest gap it left. Michaels moved to fill it. In April 2025 the craft chain announced 300 new balloon options and more than 500 new party products, including licensed character balloons and premade, grab-and-go balloon bouquets. It also runs in-store craft parties for children.

The closest stores are at 2415 Charleston Road in Mountain View and 100 Woodside Plaza in Redwood City. Both also sell streamers, banners, tableware, cake boxes, craft kits for a party activity and seasonal decorations. Balloon services can differ from store to store. If you need helium balloons on a set day, call the store in advance and ask how early you can pick them up.

Late-night basics: Walmart in Mountain View

For paper plates, cups, napkins, trash bags and drinks in bulk, the Walmart Supercenter at 600 Showers Drive in Mountain View is the nearest big general store. Its store page lists associates on hand from 6 a.m. and hours until 11 p.m., which makes it the late-night option if you realize at 9 p.m. that you are out of forks. It is in the San Antonio shopping area, about 10 minutes from south Palo Alto by car.

Party rooms and activities

Some families skip the decorations and book a venue that brings its own entertainment. Gamelandia on California Avenue rents two private rooms: the Space Room seats 20 and the Big Room seats 32. Renters can use the store's library of more than 600 games. You may bring your own food but not alcohol. Our guide to birthday party ideas in Palo Alto lists more venues, from climbing gyms to museums.

Parties in a park

A park party saves on decorations, since the trees and lawn do most of the work. The City of Palo Alto takes picnic area reservations at only three parks: Mitchell Park, Rinconada Park and the Oak Grove area at Foothills Nature Preserve. Reservations are open to residents and can be made up to six months ahead. Popular weekend dates in spring and early fall go first. Other parks work on a first-come basis, so send someone early to hold a table.

Pack a few things that a store party would not need. Bring tablecloth clips, since afternoon breezes are common. Pack a large trash bag or two. Weigh down balloons and banners. Bring shade for small children on a warm day. Our guide to picnic spots in Palo Alto compares the parks, from playgrounds to parking.

Choosing tableware with clean-up in mind

What you buy for the table decides how hard the clean-up is. In Palo Alto the green compost cart takes food scraps and food-soiled paper, including napkins and pizza boxes, so plain paper plates and napkins can go in with the leftover cake. Plastic-coated plates, plastic cutlery and balloons generally belong in the garbage. Compost bags must be labeled Compostable or BPI certified, since bags marked only biodegradable are rejected. If you order takeout for the party, note that the city bars plastic foam takeout containers, so restaurants will pack food in paper or other materials. Our trash and recycling guide explains each cart in detail.

A party shopping checklist

1. Two to three weeks out: order or buy invitations and book any room or entertainer.
2. One week out: order the cake and confirm the head count.
3. A few days out: buy tableware, decorations and favor fillers.
4. Day before: pick up nonperishables and charge any speakers.
5. Day of: collect balloons and cupcakes as late as you can, so balloons stay full and cupcakes stay fresh.

Frequently asked questions