Throwing a Big Party

Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share
1

I used to have “game nights” some years ago, inviting tons of people over from my Facebook friends list to play board games and eat. It was quite fun, I met some new people (friends of friends, spouses of old friends) and we all had a lovely time.

But then all of a sudden ev-ery-one started having kids and no one could leave their houses for 2-3 years it seemed because people don’t get babysitters anymore, they gotta stay home.

Since I couldn’t beat them nor join them (one of those “childfree by choice” people), I decided to throw a big summer Kids Party at my house since I got a bigass backyard. I also have a friend who has a bounce house, so that was my draw - kid party, kid food, bounce house!

I actually got a lot of people to come to the first party. One old friend was visiting from North Carolina and she came. A girl I had not seen since before high school came. Since it was also Twins Day weekend and I’m next to Twinsburg, an old school friend who’d come up from Columbus with his twins came.

So I did it again! The second one was of course better than the first, I think. A different friend came from Columbus. My BFF’s brother came with his kid. My friend brought her autistic son and his twin sister, and my other friend brought her autistic daughter.

This year is the third year. This year we’ve still got the bounce house but I came across a BOUNCY WATERSLIDE at a sale earlier this year so we’ve got that too. And a slip-n-slide. Two little pools, squirt guns, a little basketball hoop, bubbles, chalk, hoola hoops. The menu is hot dogs and chicken nuggets.

More different people are coming this year. People who kept reading about it on Facebook and “have always wanted to come.” There will be more grandmas there than before. I think I’m getting a reputation!

It’s hard work to throw an outdoor party, tho. Cuz you gotta clean inside AND outside. And you can’t put stuff out too early because you gotta mow the lawn close to party day, and you never know when it will rain!

I’ve been outside most of today and yesterday, dragging stuff out to get set up. Actually maybe not most of the day probably 4-5 hours but it’s in the 80s. Feels like all dang day.

Taking a break before I clean the inside of the house (thankfully, there’s not much to clean) and then get some rest so I can get up and do it again! Party isn’t til 3 but I’m sure I’ll be working all morning to get ready.

So, MPSIMS for sure. I’m just wasted and needing to vent about the work that goes in to a big party. Especially if you live alone! My BFF came to lend me his tent today tho and we put it up. WHEW.

It’s always such a big fucking deal for me to get this thing set up but people help clean up pretty well so that’s not too bad. Also the kids have tons of fun so I never regret it!

I like throwing it in August because so far no rain but sometimes I think “this would be less sweaty to set up in October!” :slight_smile:

Does anyone else throw a big party every year? How much work is it? Is there a theme? Is there a reason? Do you do it at home or somewhere else?

Party time!

2

I don’t anymore, but I used. We had the pool in our family, so we were always throwing summer swim parties.

I loved it, but yes, very exhausting, both before and after!

My grand children would love to come to your party! It sounds a lot like my grand daughters last birthday party. Her aunt even hired a frozen actress to come and entertain. They all enjoyed that.

Have fun!

3

You also need a brand new unused garbage can. You fill it half way with ice & drop in a Keg.

But put it on the deck & away from the kids; its for the adults Only.

4

I’m officially RSVP’ing – what can I bring?

You forgot to include your address.

Seriously, good for you. Sounds like a wonderful thing to do.

5

My youngest sister throws a big bash just about every summer at our parents’ house because they’ve got a pool and lots of room. She used to have a band (she worked in a bar, so she had connections) but the last few years, she’s passed on the live music. She does get a port-a-potty because the house is on septic and it couldn’t handle the guest load (she’s expecting over 100 people this year.)

Apart from setting up the canopies, umbrellas, and assorted furniture, she’ll provide the main dish and ask everyone else to bring something to share. It’s also BYOB, and there’s lots of room for people to pitch tents so they can party all night, then sleep it off before going home. And on top of all of that, there are FABULOUS PRIZES!!! (Her words, not mine.) She buys stuff from the dollar store as well as real prizes (she bought a bunch of my pottery to give away.) Some are awarded for winning one of the several games, and some are given from a random drawing.

She’s been doing this for a couple of decades at least, maybe longer - only 11 years ago did we move close enough to be able to attend and last year was the first time we went. It’s coming up next Saturday, weather permitting. Dunno what happens if she gets rained out - I guess the FABULOUS PRIZES are saved for next year?? We shall see.

6

I do a medium sized party, but not for kids. I’ll have about 50 people over for my birthday. First few years it was a lot of work, but I’ve figured out the patterns mostly. It helps that I have a few friends who reliably show up right on time or early. Before things get started, I put out bags of chips in serving bowls…unopened. For refrigerated or otherwise last minute items, I put out bowls of post-it notes. Helps me make sure I don’t forget anything.

A friend of mine throws a yearly crawfish party. Hundreds of people in his backyard/alley/house. The party is on a Saturday. I usually take Friday off from work and help him setup. We get a crew of four or five of us. I have a fun picture of me in a u-haul standing on top of 10 kegs of beer from last year.

7

Oh no! **FCM **your sister has given me new goals… :slight_smile:

8

We used to this. We’d do it on the Sunday of Memorial Day or Labor Day weekend. We’d rent tables and chairs, and a tent if it looked like rain. We have a canoe that has only ever served as the beer cooler, quite an attraction. I would make tons of food, one time I made 50 lbs. of ribs. We’d get glow sticks, those long skinny ones that can be wrapped around things and people would wear them at night and we’d string them along the fence and other objects so people wouldn’t run into things. The big hit was always the trampoline. And the greatest accolade was one of my kids friends saying “Boy, your parents have a lot of drunk stupid friends”.

9

This sounds awesome! Hope everyone has a great time, and hope someone invites you to an awesome party.

10

Your party sounds like a lot of fun! I bet the kids are really looking forward to it! :slight_smile:

Me, the thought of having more than about four people in my house at once fills me with dread. :stuck_out_tongue: but then, our place isn’t very big, so I doubt we could have many anyway.

Hope the party is a huge success!

11

We do a big one every year for my husband’s birthday, which is in the Minnesota Winter. Somewhere between 60 and 100 people usually come through. Its at our home. We had to stop letting people bring their kids when some people let their kids run wild through our house and I discovered boxes in the basement had been dug through. (Because there might be something interesting in the box with my great grandmother’s now broken china teacup).

12

Don’t forget the bonfire! If needed, get one of those covered fire pan things. Find some good firewood, you don’t want to suffocate your guests with crappy, smoldering wood.

13

Party was another success! My waterslide was a big hit. Also in talks about buying the bounce house in a year or so when the owner’s kid outgrows it.

Dangerosa I can’t imagine having 60-100 people in my house! I was having stomach pains thinking of what I would do with the 50 people today if it rained. But it never rains on Kid Party day :slight_smile:

River Hippie the nice thing about kid parties is that they’re out of here by the time it gets dark! Although I have been thinking about what the party will evolve to as the kids get older. I’m sure it will involve fire.

This year is the third year in a row we’ve had a new baby at the party. So…they don’t stop makin’ em! :slight_smile:

14

We used to have big parties for the kids birthdays. But we’ve cut way back. Too much work.

When we finally get our remodeling done though we are planning an open house and inviting our neighbors.

15

I used to do a Christmas time open house. A ton of work. It was open to anyone I could remember to ask and I’d announce it church the week before. Great time, I made trays of baked ziti, trays of cold cuts and chips. The “admission fee” was one bottle of soft drink, one bottle of liquor or a dessert. My outlay was minimal in terms of food cost and I hate fussing over dessert and beverage so it worked well. The high point one year was the exploding chocolate fountain.

I don’t do nearly as big a bash anymore, but we do have an evening of carol singing and desserts for only 25 or so.