To ask for your thoughts on my 50th party

[Mountainatmygates]

Well actually I don’t really want a party but I don’t really want to organise lots of small things either. I don’t fancy an evening piss up as I had mad parties for both my 30th and 40th and I don’t drink loads anymore.

so I thought an afternoon disco! Say 4-8 so friends can bring kids too. Possibly in a pub room with the pub doing pizza for everyone. A friend does discos and would do it for me. Not too late, fairly chilled, still fun but not a massive booze up! People can go home or go on after!

Naff? Or a good compromise?!

@OldTinHat sounds perfect & kind of what I am thinking but I don’t have room at home! Hope you had a good time!

Why do you have to have any kind of event for any birthday? Most people don't - it's not compulsory.
Take yourself off to the theatre/day trip/holiday if you want Mark the occasion.

What about some 70's/80's background music and drinks/nibbles
Nothing is 'forced' and people wil prob have a bit of a boogie once they hear a favourite song that reminds them of their youth
Room in a pub from about 7ish basic buffet and lots of chat etc

I think it depends on budget.

If you can throw some money at hiring a sports club, genuinely good catering, drinks, maybe a massive inflatable assault course / bucking bronco / football games etc for the kids/teens then it has the potential to be great. Oh and pre order the sunshine of course

I think it’s a bit naff. It’s the sort of thing that if it was fairly local I’d show my face at but not make a hugely concerted effort to get to if not…

@IveReadTheFuckingThread yes I like the idea of it being low key!

@Hbh17 i think I am naturally sociable and I do want to mark my 50th with friends in some way! Just not a big mad all nighter like my 30th was 😂 (pre kids obvs!)

With each invite ask for a couple of song requests for your playlist. So much easier

Sorry op but I would hate everything about this. The awkward time of day, kids running around-kids party vibes and not my scene.
that being said, I’m not invited 😁 only you know if your friends would enjoy this. It’s your birthday and ultimately needs to be what YOU want.
I hope whatever you end up planning you have a lovely birthday 🎂 xx

We love a day sesh!! But yes, perhaps people won't dance. Add some karaoke, or maybe a covers band?

I did sod all, locked down with my nearest & dearest with Christmas leftovers….bloody brilliant

I had a brunch, it was really lovely. however, you know your friends and what they’d like.
i also just wanted one thing covering everyone although I did end up with a few separate meet ups as some people couidnt make it.

Got my 50th next year too and like you pondering options. A (younger) friend suggested a barn dance in the eve (and then a disco). Cos everyone would get up and old dance with young etc and single mates wouldn't be left out. I'm warming to the idea.
Need a catered venue tho cos binbag rustling at midnight does not appeal!!

Honestly sounds like a kids party, having said that did you and your friends all have your kids later? When I'm 50 my kids will be very late teens & early 20's as will all my friends kids so they wouldn't want to go to something like that anyway. Once they got to 13/14 and could stay home alone they would certainly do that over one of my friends 50th birthdays so I would find out how many kids would actually go.

We did something similar for 40th. We hired a local pub, with lovely garden for children to play in. The pub did food and we had low level music in the background and it gave all of out friends and family who hadn't seen each other for ages (due to covid) chance to catch up and chat while all dc played. We had a great afternoon and for those that wanted to and didn't have dc, we carried on into the evening with louder music to dance to.

@alrightfella i was 38, nearly 39 when I had my youngest so not particularly old. Lots of friends of a similar age with kids a similar age!

We went to a 50th just like this and it was fabulous! Started after lunch, bouncy castle for the children. Pimms for the grown ups and a bbq. Everyone enjoyed it immensely.
If it’s not late spring/summer then I would go for the pub option with a guitarist or similar rather than a disco and have the disco music ready should it start to look like a more livelier event later on. I’d invite more not less and then you won’t have any issues with numbers. Of course it won’t feel like a kids party - it will feel like a everyone’s included party, and I love including dc! It makes it feel more relaxed and inclusive.

This is your birthday and should be exactly dd you want it. Disco and all!! Can I come?

Yes i guess it very much depends on the ages of yours and your friends children. When I'm 50 I won't have any friends with primary age children so to me afternoon parties/bouncy castles etc seems more like how our 30th/40ths went than what I would want to do for my 50th. But if it suits you and your friends then go for it.

A friend of mine had joint big birthday with hubby and did a "We shall be in XXXXX pub at 1pm on Xth of next month (location was a nice city about 30 miles from where we all live). Some people planned a day trip with their kids and called in to have food at that time. Some people drove, stayed for 4 hours and drove home again. Some people got last train home at 10pm. Some people came after work and booked a hotel and stayed over. We've all agreed it was best birthday celebration ever. No pressure, each to their own and time for everyone to participate as they thought fit.

what about line dancing party
like the one on gavin and Stacy
all ages can join in and follow what’s going on …make it so everyone dressed up

I don't understand why it will feel like a kids party. Unless you're actually planning on playing duck duck goose and pass the parcel 😄

Not sure if everyone will actually dance but still sounds good to me. Get a good playlist together with some toe tappers, have a proper catch up with everyone and still done in time for an early night / kid friendly bedtime. As long as there's food and drinks what's not to like?

Most adults don't have disco parties at 4 in the afternoon

If you have it in a pub and want children to go, can you go somewhere that has a playground/trampolines etc? Some of the more country pubs have stuff like this. Gives them something to occupy themselves and the adults get to have a chat etc.

I hired a canal boat for one birthday party, we had afternoon tea. It was great. Mostly adults, a few children.
Some people stayed on for a meal in the evening.

My birthday is in the simmer tho

The timing sounds like more suitable for a 30th when a lot of your contemporaries would have toddlers and babies. I think that when most of the children are 10+ you can have an evening thing. The teens/young adults can come along or stay at home.

Of course, if you’ve got lots of mates/colleagues/relatives in their twenties, thirties and early forties, the above won’t apply because their kids will be young enough to enjoy an afternoon disco party and it will have a fun, family vibe.

I just think that an afternoon disco with hardly anyone dancing could feel a bit flat.