Kids birthday party from 4:30 - 6:00. Would you expect real food?

[Cool-Beans]

Yes, I would. It's dinnertime.

If you don't intend to feed the kids, I'd put "Cake and ice cream will be served" on the invitation. That will clue people in.

A party from 2:30 - 4:00 wouldn't carry the expectation of food, though.

 

[aprilgail2]

My daughter is 8 years old and in all the past years we have been attending birthday party after birthday party there has never been ONE party where they did not serve food-pizza, hot dogs, burgers, or chicken nuggets-some type of food. Even if the party was 2pm they still always have been fed some type of real food, not just cake. I would never go to a party expecting not to be fed, maybe it is just this area but that is how it is here. Last week she went to a party at a local place at 7pm and they were still fed pizza at 8 in between games!

 

[AmberDaClown]

I would never go to a party expecting to be fed no matter the time of the party. I expect to share in the celebration of another milestone in a person's life. If there is cake and ice cream that is a bonus, but if not no big deal.

We were just at a BaB party last weekend and there was only the bears and nothing else. No cake, no ice cream, no food. We are having DD's five year old party at the end of the month and we did choose a time where people would not normally eat a meal. We aren't even having party favors as we think that time has past and we cannot stand yet another useless bag of plastic made in China junk that gets tossed.

 

[Mouse House Mama]

My daughter is 8 years old and in all the past years we have been attending birthday party after birthday party there has never been ONE party where they did not serve food-pizza, hot dogs, burgers, or chicken nuggets-some type of food. Even if the party was 2pm they still always have been fed some type of real food, not just cake. I would never go to a party expecting not to be fed, maybe it is just this area but that is how it is here. Last week she went to a party at a local place at 7pm and they were still fed pizza at 8 in between games!

Same here. We feed the kids and the parents. I think it depends on the area though. Other places might be different.

 

[Mouse House Mama]

I would never go to a party expecting to be fed no matter the time of the party. I expect to share in the celebration of another milestone in a person's life. If there is cake and ice cream that is a bonus, but if not no big deal.
We were just at a BaB party last weekend and there was only the bears and nothing else. No cake, no ice cream, no food. We are having DD's five year old party at the end of the month and we did choose a time where people would not normally eat a meal. We aren't even having party favors as we think that time has past and we cannot stand yet another useless bag of plastic made in China junk that gets tossed.

Not picking on you but usually a party of any kind includes food.

 

[rentayenta]

Because the party is during a fairly popular dinner time, you should serve dinner. If you don't want to serve dinner then have the party from 2-4.

 

[clh2]

I agree with the PP's, that some sort of food would be great, based on the time of your party.

Can I offer a suggestion? Don't do cake,do cupcakes instead. It is far easier & quicker to serve cupcakes in a really quick timeframe instead of serving cakes.

 

[Judy from Boise]

you stole my advice ! I was going to say serve pizza or hotdogs, for sure skip the icecream....and serve cupcakes.

 

[Liberty Belle]

I have to ask- why wouldn't you let the kids see the birthday girl open their gifts? My kids are always disappointed when the birthday person doesn't open their gifts at the party. I think half the fun is picking out a present for that particular person and seeing their reaction. the worst is when not only do you not get to see them open your gift, but then you don't even get a thank you note!

Just wondering, it's always bugged me.

I don't like that, either. My kids are always disappointed. I know it's difficult to squeeze it in when you only have a certain amount of time in the party room, but we always do. We like to have the gift giver sit with ds when he opens his present and take a picture of them together.

Oops - forgot to answer the OP. I'd serve pizza, too. It would be difficult to pick up your child, go home, fix dinner, and eat all before 7 or 8.

 

[wilderness01]

Glad you are serving pizza. Have a fun party.

 

[SunKat]

My daughter is 8 years old and in all the past years we have been attending birthday party after birthday party there has never been ONE party where they did not serve food-pizza, hot dogs, burgers, or chicken nuggets-some type of food. Even if the party was 2pm they still always have been fed some type of real food, not just cake. I would never go to a party expecting not to be fed, maybe it is just this area but that is how it is here. Last week she went to a party at a local place at 7pm and they were still fed pizza at 8 in between games!

Are you from Long Island? I was just about to post the same thing! As for the OP's question, yes, I would assume some type of dinner-type food would be served if the party were between 4:30 and 6pm. My dd11 has been to early morning movie parties (9am and they wear their pj's to the theatre) where the kid's were served bagels and donuts, and then b'day cake. She's also been to parties from 8 - 10pm as well. In that case, I give her dinner before she leaves, then she had pizza at the party at 9pm and cake at 9:30pm. It seems like no matter what time of day a party is held, there is always kid-type food, plus the cake.

 

[JessicaR]

Are you from Long Island? I was just about to post the same thing! As for the OP's question, yes, I would assume some type of dinner-type food would be served if the party were between 4:30 and 6pm. My dd11 has been to early morning movie parties (9am and they wear their pj's to the theatre) where the kid's were served bagels and donuts, and then b'day cake. She's also been to parties from 8 - 10pm as well. In that case, I give her dinner before she leaves, then she had pizza at the party at 9pm and cake at 9:30pm. It seems like no matter what time of day a party is held, there is always kid-type food, plus the cake.

Funny! Feed the kids and the parents at all the parties. Thats the way its always been done here. I have to say I am happy to be done with those parties. They were fun but at times to plentiful.

 

[aprilgail2]

Are you from Long Island? I was just about to post the same thing! As for the OP's question, yes, I would assume some type of dinner-type food would be served if the party were between 4:30 and 6pm. My dd11 has been to early morning movie parties (9am and they wear their pj's to the theatre) where the kid's were served bagels and donuts, and then b'day cake. She's also been to parties from 8 - 10pm as well. In that case, I give her dinner before she leaves, then she had pizza at the party at 9pm and cake at 9:30pm. It seems like no matter what time of day a party is held, there is always kid-type food, plus the cake.

Yes, from Long Island! And I forgot to mention that not only are the kids fed at parties but any parent that stayed are also fed! I always order those few extra pies and pitchers of sodas for any parent that might stay!

 

[disneyjunkie]

My daughter is 8 years old and in all the past years we have been attending birthday party after birthday party there has never been ONE party where they did not serve food-pizza, hot dogs, burgers, or chicken nuggets-some type of food. Even if the party was 2pm they still always have been fed some type of real food, not just cake. I would never go to a party expecting not to be fed, maybe it is just this area but that is how it is here. Last week she went to a party at a local place at 7pm and they were still fed pizza at 8 in between games!

Same here. We feed the kids and the parents. I think it depends on the area though. Other places might be different.

I believe it's a regional thing.

My sister and BIL had a party for my oldest niece in February. We had the normal kid foods (hot dogs, chips, cake...) as well as hot wings, baked ziti, peas and rice, shrimp fried rice, pasta salad, tossed salad and a honey glazed ham.

When my son and I lived in NC, this only happened if the child's parents were from NY.

 

[mjkacmom]

I would be very surprised if pizza wasn't served. Around here, it's very rare for pizza NOT to be served, even if it's the middle of the afternoon, but any parties around noon or after 4 include pizza.

Oh, and there is always enough pizza for the parents.

 

[mjkacmom]

I don't like that, either. My kids are always disappointed. I know it's difficult to squeeze it in when you only have a certain amount of time in the party room, but we always do. We like to have the gift giver sit with ds when he opens his present and take a picture of them together.

Oops - forgot to answer the OP. I'd serve pizza, too. It would be difficult to pick up your child, go home, fix dinner, and eat all before 7 or 8.

I have 5 children under the age of 12, so I've been to MANY birthday parties. I think I've seen the kids open the gifts twice. Maybe it's regional, maybe it's because all parties are out, but it's just not done until their older, and have a limited number of kids at the house (and then most of the gifts are just gc's anyway). We have our parties out, and there is no way to fit in gift opening during the timeframe - usually it's 1 hour for the activity (bowling, gymnastics, skating, etc.), and 1/2 hour to eat pizza, cake, and to hand out favors.

 

[douglisa]

If it were me would hope you would not ruin my child's appetite w/ cake ice cream and the likes before dinner. I would assume you were feeding him something of substance and would be pretty ticked if you did not.
I would suggest having the party earlier and specify that dinner will not be served.
When I have my son's party I usually have it at 6pm until PM requesting that the child be fed before hand. I serve the sugar by 6:30 so the kids have a chance to work it off and are worn down for the parents so they will sleep well. Parties are a lot of work....very draining and can get expensive especially if you are feeding them a meal. Who needs the mess?
Good luck and happy b-day to your little one.

 

[Becky2005]

I agree with majority. I'm having my son's party at the exact same time and we are having pizza.

Please do put it on the invitation though, many times when it's a time like that & not specified, I never want to assume their will be anything other than cake.

About the only time it's just cake/ice cream is a 2-4 type of party.

 

[MUFFYCAT]

Yes, from Long Island! And I forgot to mention that not only are the kids fed at parties but any parent that stayed are also fed! I always order those few extra pies and pitchers of sodas for any parent that might stay!

Another Long Islander. I could never imagine not serving food at a party.
We usually went with pizza and bought extra for the adults also.

 

[AmberDaClown]

Well considering we do not eat pizza, nuggets or many other processed foods, it is just easier not to serve food. We make the cake from scratch and decorate it. About the only exception is ice cream. I would never go to a party expecting to be fed especially if you are in a public venue like a gymnastics place. Your time is limited between playing, time in the party room, etc.