To expect to be fed at a kid's birthday party?

[Lalunya85]

Took my two DC aged 2 and 1 to a birthday party this weekend. The party was for a girl turning 3, organised by her parents who are close friends of my DH.
First part of the party was at a playground in a local park, second half at home. We were invited for 11 till 4pm. It took us 1.5 hours each way to travel to the party.

Day before the party they rang to say that we should bring snacks for the park. Fine, we got some baguettes, humus, fruit etc. Around 6 families were there, all with one or two kids. Assumed everybody would share snacks in the park. Turned out that nobody was sharing, so we just ate our own snacks which we thought was odd but fine.

Then we all transferred to their home at around 2pm. It was freezing and everybody was cold. Kids were hungry. At their house they served water. And when I asked we got a cup of tea. But that was literally it.

It was a fun party otherwise, but is it the done thing to not offer ANY food at a kid's birthday party??

Disclaimer: both my partner and I are from different countries so are now wondering whether this is an English thing? Have we been overfeeding our guests at our parties for years???

A 5hr party. Shudders that's insane

So is not providing food. Yes snacks at park will fill a hole but kids and adults need something to eat by 1-2pm

Very weird

I really don't understand why you only feed some of the people that goes to your party.

I put on food for all the guests. I'm sick of feeding myself before a party but not DS, because he's having party food, it's silly.

As PPs have said, sausage rolls aren't a fortune. No one is expecting a roast dinner, but do something at least.

Doesn't sound normal at all OP. In my area, a buffet of party food is put out for the kids (eg sandwiches, sausage rolls, mini pizzas, wot sits, party rings, chocolate fingers, maybe some token carrot and cucumber sticks as a feeble attempt to appear healthy and the kids always leave these), and tea/coffee and biscuits are provided for the parents. Once the kids have had their fill, parents normal help themselves to the left overs. Children go home with a party bag which includes a slice of birthday cake. And the parties on average last 2 hours.
If my DC were invited to a 5 hour party and no food was provided I would have taken quite a dim view of it. I get that some people don't have a lot of money but children really aren't expecting anything extravagant and as pp have said party food can be bought cheaply in Iceland/Aldi. Also I would not be able to invite adults into my home and not offer them at least a tea/coffee or soft drink. So no YANBU.

Yanbu

I am from britain, and that is very strange. The kids should've been fed at the least and if there were any left overs the adults nobody that i know would do this

I managed to feed 14 adults and 13 kids on £26. You can do it cheaply. I wouldn't dream of not accommodating food at a party!

Ha! Laughing at mummysherlock and the carrot/cucumber sticks that is so true - always happens - well not at our parties - they are fruit/vegetable free zones who wants carrots when u can have cake!!

How is that even a party? Did they not do a cake and serve it? So the only thing party like about it I presume was present giving?