Need ideas for Graduation Open house...

[mickeymousemom]

Help! My oldest is graduating high school and I have no idea how to do an open house. We've made the hours from 2-6 and will be serving food inside and having everyone bring their swimsuits(we have an in ground pool). I need food ideas, simple things such as cookies, candies, crockpot appys, etc. What did YOU serve?? I also plan on putting my punch bowl to good use, so punch recipes are welcome. Also, any other ideas on making it a good open house are welcome! TIA!

 

[Perditamarie]

Sounds like fun! Here are some ideas:

* froz meatballs and spaghetti sauce in a crockpot w/little rolls for mini meatball subs

* kielbasa in a crockpot-- cut up into thick coins and put in 1 jar grape jelly and 1 jar bbq sauce for every link

* veggie tray and dip

* strawberries/fruit and dip (mix 8 oz strawberry cream cheese w/ 8 oz jar of fluff)

* deli platter

* bottled water, sports drinks, sodas in big buckets of ice

* there are some cute mortar board grad hat treats on familyfun.com:

http://familyfun.go.com/utilities/global/feature/fftv-archive-video-player/fftv-archive-video-player.html?dl_section=channel&dl_channel=School's%20Out

* have disposable cameras around so there are lots of photos of the fun- if you have a video camera, assign a videographer

* have friends sign in w/addresses or e-mails and then you can send them pics or dvds of the party

* If you have the lawn, consider setting up volleyball, horseshoes, badmiton, bocce ball, etc.

Have fun!

 

[mickeymousemom]

Thank you so much! One response gave me many great ideas! A few of them were already on my list, but you just affirmed them....thank you!

 

[stephbillalec]

My usuals:
stuffed breads (homemade pepperoni bread is sooooo easy to make!)
chicken tenders with dip
fresh fruit tray
cheese and crackers
vegetables and dip
chips
mini meatballs in the crock

Check allrecipes.com!

 

[OnourwaytoWDW]

I own a party store and here are a few of the favorites from customers.

We have a Coke place in town that rents out fountain coke machines. All you have to pay for is the syrup and they provide the machine and cups!

One gal was having the taco in a bag. All she was providing was the meats, toppings and fritos in a small bag. Then all she needed was smaller plates for fruit and cake, utensils and cups.

I had a hotdog roast! It was a blast!

Hope this helps!

 

[Tinker'n'Fun]

My advise to you and HS seniors is Don't call it Open House... They may not leave..

Pizza joint - cut a party pizza into 48

Soda from a 2 liter... If they get cans they will drop and go, then get another even if it is still full. Its cheaper by the glass. They will still probably leave and get another but not so expensive for you.

Lemonade and Ice Tea if you do not want to do Pop. I prefer this avenue.

One small cake and a large cookie tray for dessert. Kids don't eat cake but will pick up a cookie. You can make the cookies. Very inexpensive but it does take time.

 

[angeladisney]

Maybe an Ice cream bar. Just get all the fixing like hot fudge, carmel, nut ,whipped cream etc... or maybe a candy bar with little graduation cups or
bags that they can fill up and remember the night. Congrats also on your daughter graduation.

 

[decaff38]

I too am doing a grad party. We are doing burgers and brats on the grill , pasta salad, fruit salad, beans, cake, punch, pop, coffee, wine and beer.We set up bocce ball and croquet in the yard and many chairs on the deck ,yard and garage. Our is 3:00- ???? because we have family staying and a few friends that never go home. This is the 3rd one for me , and the last big one. Expecting close to 100. Hoping for great weather. I have done the whole turkey and hams on a big griller and that was fabulous but it is a bit of work. I have also rented the pop machine with the tanks and spouts. The tanks were 6 a piece and the machine was 20.00. They deliver and pick up. It was about the same as 5 cases of pop.

 

[39CINDERELLA]

we are having one for our dd in 3 weeks wow that came up fast!

I am going with her school colors for anything I can do/make. orange and black.
candy...colored chocolate covered pretzels(orange, drizzled with dark choc)
a bowl or mini bags filled with orange and black m&m's
I have orange gum drop wedges with black twizzler licorice bites

the party stores and some craft stores sell individually wrapped buttercream mints in 7oz bags with colors (I got orange).. lol and they had some white with grad caps and diplomas on them that I will put all around in colored bowls of course.

I am also going to dip pretzel rods or rolled/tube cookies in white chocolate then tie with a red licorice string to look like a diploma

trays of food that are same color theme...carrot sticks, black olives, orange cheese, orange slices etc.
black bean salsa/dip.. trying to find colored nachos other than doritos

you can make little cupcake grad caps just turn over unwrapped cupcake,cover with grahmcraker square use red licorice string for tassle(frost or unfrost just secure the top with some frosting)

just a few things I am doing hope it helps!

 

[2thfairy]

My cousin is doing root beer floats this year. THey are renting the ice cream machine. They are also having cookies and bars. Easy enough!!
I do like the meatballs in the crockpot w/ spaghetti sauce like pp mentioned.

Good Luck!!

 

[luv2nascar]

personally I know hamburger and hotdogs are less expensive route sometimes but I hate being tied to the grill. I like parties were food is ready ahead of time. I love a nice big spiral cut ham heated up. You can add sandwich rolls and condiments to this. Baked Ziti is great in oven or in a large crock pot. I boil large bag of frozen pierogies in crockpot. I cook onions in butter and pour over pierogies - they always go over well. Veggie and fruit trays are a must. Pasta salad or macaroni salad is easy and cheapo.

 

[Girldreamer02]

When I graduated my mom made way to much food, but thats just what she does.

I can say if its warm out that you def want to have water on hand. It was one of the hottest days of the summer and we went through tons of water.

Some things we had that i can remember:

deli meat and cheese tray with different types of condiments

meat balls in the crock pot b/c its easy to premake them and then just throw them in there to reheat on the day of

chips and dip

veggies and fruit and assorted dips for each

we had two huge cakes and went through almost all of both

I'm blanking on the rest, but you already have some great suggestions so I'm sure you'll do just great!

 

[We4mickey]

We have done the burgers and brats thing for parties before. We cook them the day before and then put them in Nessco cookers the day of the party. Everything is hot and it's an easy day because everything is ready.

 

[disneydonna]

Meatballs in BBQ sauce are great!!

 

[LaurieA]

I live in Pittsburgh- what should I be searching online to find a place that rents soda fountain machines or ice cream machines? I found some rental companies but they are really expensive. My son is graduating this year. love this thread- good ideas