WIBU to have a 5 year old's birthday party 6pm-8pm on a Saturday night?

[emsyj]

I think I already know the answer to this one but I'm clutching desperately at straws... there's a great venue that I could hire for DD1's birthday party but they will only offer exclusive use outside normal opening hours. this translates as either 5pm-7pm on weeknights (not Fridays) or 6pm-8pm weekends. I think that's too late but I really want the party there! It must be exclusive use as otherwise the numbers mean it would be more expensive to pay per head than the private hire charge, plus it's a popular place and DD1 is very shy and is unlikely to join in if there are crowds of other older kids there that she doesn't know. This place is popular with older kids as it has one of those huge high slides that you use a mat for and also a climbing wall.

So, how unpopular would I be in the school playground if I arrange a party at that hour...? if it helps, siblings would be welcome to come along although the sit-down party food can only cater for a limited number due to the size of the room so they wouldn't be able to have the party tea.

Surely tea would be eaten at the venue and no child would be considered badly looked after if they missed bath and story for once.

And if my DC's were invited out to a party as a one off, I wouldn't go out myself for one week.

I would decline,sorry

My kids would never have been able to deal with this. They were both early-to-bed/early-risers at that age. Staying up late usually resulted in tears and an even earlier start the next day (like 4am).
Some kids are very very fixed in their routines. It wasn't my choice and I tried to change it but could not. I just had to wait until they grew older and could be more flexible.

We wouldn't like it but we'd go. Due to SN, almost all of DD1's parties, and those of her friends, have been at that time -it allows the parents to relax, knowing that their children are safe and secure.

I wouldn't go dd gets very badly behaved when's she's tired her bed time is 7 I am afraid the hoildays don't really change that fact I i would imagine you will be serving jelly and party foods witch. I would be. Wanting her to eat that late

Has the op popped back and updated ?

We'd be fine, but a lot of people manage to get their kids into bed far earlier than we do.

Artandco - I'm with you.

Wow, lots of responses since I was on yesterday! Seems a much more mixed bag than I expected - plenty of folk who wouldn't mind, which surprises me - I thought it would be a universal 'way too late'! I think I would be worried that DD's special friends (girls from school whose mums I don't know very well) would decline, so I won't go for it this year. To answer some of the questions - the party would be mid-June, so it would be light and (hopefully) warm. She hasn't asked for this venue - it's all my idea! There aren't many exclusive hire options around here for venues that cater etc and I did fancy the idea of sitting back and letting someone else do the work and the clearing up for once - we usually do a church hall party with some sort of entertainment and I make the buffet. We will be doing that again this year and will keep this venue in mind for next year or the year after.

Good decision op. Sounds a great idea for an older child.

It would be too late for my 5 far old. We'd decline, feeling slightly that the party was so late.