After more than a decade of shipping curated science and art activity boxes to homes nationwide, Messy Play Kits founder Robin Imholte is redirecting her business toward in-person experiences. Her new venture, Messy Play Parties, is a fully mobile event service that brings customized sensory activities directly to backyards, parks, and libraries throughout the San Francisco Bay Area and Santa Cruz County. The shift marks a strategic pivot from national e-commerce to local, hands-on service delivery, with the online shop winding down through December 2026.
The decision reflects a broader rethinking of how families want to engage with sensory play. Imholte, a former preschool teacher known locally as the "Messy Play Lady," built Messy Play Kits into a nationwide operation, but the new model puts the emphasis on shared experience rather than a product arriving at the doorstep. "We used to send the mess to your doorstep in a box, but now we're bringing the entire party," Imholte said. "By turning our focus to local mobile events, we take away all the party-planning stress so parents can actually relax, laugh, and make memories without worrying about the clean-up afterwards."
The implications extend beyond convenience. Messy Play Parties offers fully customizable themes for toddlers through pre-teens, and even adults, with activities such as slime stations, tie-dye, and open-ended sensory exploration. Each event is led by trained play experts who channel energy into creative play that quietly supports fine motor skills and cognitive development. The service is already taking bookings for birthday celebrations, corporate team bonding days, and weekday school or library workshops across Santa Cruz County and the greater Bay Area. By handling setup, facilitation, and cleanup, the company removes logistical barriers that often keep parents from hosting hands-on activities at home.
For families still seeking physical products, remaining stock is available through the e-commerce store while supplies last through 2026. The transition also signals a bet that local, experience-based offerings can sustain a business that once relied on nationwide shipping. As the online shop closes, Messy Play Parties becomes the primary channel for Imholte's play philosophy, bringing the mess—and the cleanup—directly to the community.
