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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Birthday parties in the park

92 replies

Happymiraclemorning · 16/03/2022 10:29

I met up with my friend the weekend and we took our kids to a small local park.
There was a kids birthday party there. I couldn’t help feeling a bit pissed off.

It’s a small park- 2 picnic tables that they had covered both with their party table cloths.
They’d put the swings over the bars so
They couldn’t be used so they could hang a couple of piñatas.

It was only us and this party that has about 8 kids and I felt like we had interrupted a private event!

I pulled one of the swings down as my daughter wanted to use it and the dad came running over and said the swings were out of use because they were using the bars for their piñata

They had tied balloons to the gates and the slide- my friends daughter started playing with a loose balloon and the grandma of this party came over saying ‘no that’s not for you that’s for the party’

We we were hoping to use the table for our picnic but obviously that was out of the question as it was not a party table- we left as we felt so uncomfortable.

AIBU to have felt pissed off?
It’s a public play park that they decided to take over!

Is having birthday parties in a public play park the thing nowadays?

OP posts:
RishiRich · 16/03/2022 10:31

This particular group sounds very cheeky, but in general I think YABU. People can use the park for parties, but not take over like this!

coloradoqueen · 16/03/2022 10:32

YANBU, and I'd have told him where to stick his piñata.

Saltnsugar · 16/03/2022 10:32

My DCs friend had a party at the park but only used one table and certainly didn’t commandeer the swings. That’s CF territory right there and I’d have told the dad to buzz off(or words to that effect!)

DepthOfTheAbyss · 16/03/2022 10:33

That’s ridiculous. Parks are public places and if a bunch of rowdy kids wanted to come over and play, it’s their right.
We’ve seen lots of parties in the park but they seem to be like huge picnics and look fab. Never seen one monopolising access to play areas.

MarthaFokker · 16/03/2022 10:33

I agree with @RishiRich in that generally it's fine.

However, this lot were piss takers and no way would I have left.

sparepantsandtoothbrush · 16/03/2022 10:34

I don't think there's anything wrong with having a party in the park but they sound like CFs. What did you say when he told you the swings were out of use? I wouldn't have put up with that personally!

SickAndTiredAgain · 16/03/2022 10:35

The picnic benches I think is just one of those things - they got there first and presumably needed them to seat everyone. They could easily have been taken by two separate groups when you arrived.

I’d definitely have just ignored the dad about the piñata and got the swing down anyway though. They can’t take over play equipment and stop anyone else using it and they are ridiculous to think they can.

WeDontShutUpAboutBruno · 16/03/2022 10:35

Parties in the park are fine.

Someone telling you that you can't use the swings for their intended purpose as they have decided to put up piñatas is not fine.

HaudYerWheeshtYaWeeBellend · 16/03/2022 10:38

Other than the swing issue, YABU.

2 families could be using the picnic tables, next time take a picnic blanket.

SalmonEile · 16/03/2022 10:39

Telling you you couldn’t use the swing was out of line and I would’ve told him he can hang his piñata when I’m done with the swing.

The granny scolding a kid over a balloon is awful too what would they have done if loads of ppl had shown up!

The picnic tables , I guess with those it’s first come first served So to speak

I’ve had and attended parties in the park and you don’t hog equipment or chastise little kids for trying to join in

AlexaShutUp · 16/03/2022 10:40

I think it's fine to do parties in the park, and that might be the only affordable option for many families. However, they shouldn't take over the park and other children should still be free to play as usual.

Original poster
Happymiraclemorning · 16/03/2022 10:41

I told him we were using the swing - he told me to put the swing back up once I’d finished and to not damage the piñata.
Him and the grandma were tutting at us.
Once my daughter had finished - I didn’t put the swing back as I physically couldn’t.

He came running over and put the swing back up- looking pissed off.

Yeah I agree with that you mean about the tables - it could have easily been 2 different families.

I didn’t realise parties in a public park was a thing- I need to get with the times haha!

OP posts:
Bluepolkadots42 · 16/03/2022 11:05

We are planning a party in park soon for DC however it'll be more like a giant picnic with sports day style games on the grass- there will be no monopolising of the playground part at all. I can't believe that dad had cheek to put swings out of use for the pinata!! My DC wants a pinata and we will be tying to end of a long broom handle and DH will get the dangerous job of holding it whilst the kids go wild 😜 I wouldn't even want to tie it to a tree branch tbh for fear of damaging the tree which is public property

Bananarama21 · 16/03/2022 11:10

Gosh our parks are very popular so it wouldn't have washed where I live but I would have told them.how rude they were its a public space if they want a private event hire somewhere the cheeker fuckers.

Thewindwhispers · 16/03/2022 11:15

Yanbu 😱 what bullies they were? Shocked adults were stopping other cjildren ysing swings.

Parties in park near the playground, like an picnic on grass? Yes yes yes.

Parties on the playground equipment spoiling it for other children? No no no.

By the way I’ve noticed then when some people say park they mean the playground equipment. I awas always taught that ‘park’ = the bit with grass and flowers and then playground is a completely different thing. So you might get muddled replies as to me a owrty in the oark is just taking up a corner grass which is fine but a party in the playground is not cool.

TonkaTruckduck · 16/03/2022 11:16

It's fine to do a park party, it might be qll their budget stretches to.
But they shouldn't have tried to monopolise any play equipment, and needed to have accepted that non party kids would play with the balloons etc.
Cheeky fuckers!

tomsellecksloverug · 16/03/2022 11:18

I have never heard of having a party in a public park. Cheeky feckers about the swing and the balloon. Go and actually pay for a party place instead of telling people what they can and cannot so in a public park!

VestaTilley · 16/03/2022 11:20

YANBU in this instance as those people sound awful and entitled!! You can’t hang up the swings in a public park. I’d have pulled them both down and said to the Dad he should’ve hired a hall if he wanted a private space. Cheeky so and so!

However in general I think parties in parks are fine. We did that after one of the lockdowns when you were allowed groups of 6 for my DS’s 2nd birthday - however we didn’t hog any play equipment or have tables! Just picnic blankets.

If it’s sunny this year for his birthday we’ll meet guests at our local park for an hour’s running around before a birthday tea at home, because we don’t have a big garden, but we certainly won’t be tying up balloons in the park or taking tables! Mad behaviour.

Winniewonka · 16/03/2022 11:22

I would have asked him to produce a receipt for the hire of playground equipment from the local council. He's just another example of entitled folk who think everything revolves around him and his family's needs.
Like others have said, it's unfortunate you couldn't access the picnic benches but they are open to everyone. As for the balloons, what a mean spirited granny, I would have given your child a balloon!

Baaaa · 16/03/2022 11:23

Party in the park, sitting on benches, fine. Anything that stops others using the play equipment not fine

ntsure · 16/03/2022 11:23

I couldn’t bring myself to care tbh though not letting other me use the swings is out of order, they could have hung them from a tree or something less annoying but in general I don’t really care if people have parties in parks, likely they can’t afford to hire a soft play/hall etc and it’s not really a big deal

jytdtysrht · 16/03/2022 11:24

It’s alright to have parties in the park, but they were selfish to take all the facilities.

The piñata putting the public swings out of action was particularly selfish.

SpiderinaWingMirror · 16/03/2022 11:24

I think it's fine in general. But cf to do that to the swing, and for acting as if they own the place. And brave to plan it in March!

Baaaa · 16/03/2022 11:25

Oh and if I'd been the party host I would have asked you if your little ones wanted a balloon but maybe they only had enough for the guests.

ParrotsAteThemAll · 16/03/2022 11:28

What would’ve happened when they came to set up and there was already families/kids there playing? Would they ask them to move away from the table and off the swings so they could hang the bloody piñata!! Absolute CF!

And you should never have been asked to not use the swing and then asked to put it back up! I would’ve said you can put your piñata where the sun don’t shine back yourself!