To think that it's not OK to take up all space in a free kids activity i

[Hocuspoc]

There are some free activities for kids on weekends near the place I live. One of them is an activity table - like cutting shapes, stickers, painting, diy sort of fun with 10 spots at the table and 2 ladies leading the 'class'
It is first come first serve basis, and the reason why it's free is that it's a foodmarket that is not really popular over weekends so this is the way to attract local families.
Lots of tables around to eat food from the stalls, lots of other activities like soft play area, story telling etc... open for a couple of hours. My ds would usually spend 20 mins tops per activity - he is a toddler.

Opened recently, and it took literally 2 weeks for people to recognise it would be a good place to gather friends for a kids birthday - fine, nothing wrong with that. But what happens is that it is always one of the tables next to the activity table - so all the b-day kids end up sitting there with these two ladies entertaining a bday party for free (well, the two of them are payed by the venue obviously) - and no other kids that make the trip that day can take part in the free activity, while the b-day parents are sitting next by drinking for hours leaving the kids at that table.

I am super annoyed with this and find it plain rude - if you want face painting or diy table for your child's bday - just hire an entertainer!

This would annoy me too!
it’s hard enough to join in on the free activities but if someone purposefully uses them as a means for a party that is wrong.

YANBU and these are the kind of parents that reserve benches at the local park in advance of their child's party so no one else can sit on them

If they are first come first served and suitably aged for the activity then why does it matter that they are there for someone's birthday?

If there's only 8 of them at the table then take the spare seats without feeling 'forced out' and if there's no spare seats then isn't that also fair?

Not really.
The activity is open for 4 hours.
The thing is that when kids come by at random (one by one or say 2 siblings together), they stay random times, often 15-20 mins tops, and with random arrival times for 10 spots - that means a spot frees up every 2 mins or so. So it's a decent number of kids that get a chance to try out the activity. And whenever you are arrive with your kid, even if you have to queue - the queue is moving.

Now, if as you said 8 kids are there sitting for 1-2 hours, that means only 2 spots get freed up every 10-20 mins, that means that not many kids will get to try our the activity in those 4 hours. The queue is practically static.

And from what I've seen today - a birthday party can be quite bigger than 10 kids and then them interchanging spots - when one gets bored the other comes in - it was practically a private b-day party activity. We were hovering around for 40 minutes - noone had any intention of leaving the activity table and the parents just didn't care - laughing their a* off drinking pimms gathered around 2-3 nearby tables.
So no it's not fair.

It’s on the staff to ensure everyone moves on and gets a turn otherwise people will stop bothering.

If the staff weren’t happy with it they would move people on.

Yep this would annoy me too. My library has things where you need to register and randoms turn up and push in. Can you speak to the organisers? They probably don't care as long as someone is there

i’d email in and explain what’s going on. I’d be really tempted to just move the party children along but i wouldn’t do that. Staff should put up a sign ‘this fun friendly FREE community activity is budgeting for up to 30 minutes per child! Please be considerate of community resources and make space for others to enjoy them also, birthday party groups will be moved on. We appreciate your understanding and support and hope your children have enjoyed the activities!!’

Can you get there early to ensure you get a space?
I do think it would be better if the organisers prepared one activity and when the child has completed that they move on.

Agree with this. Email the venue to let them know (though maybe they are already aware and not concerned about it) and they might put up a sign as suggested or a post on social media reminding people about the activities and setting a time limit for the craft table at busy times.

However maybe they have found larger groups spend more - people dropping by with young children may not sit at a table and buy food and drinks so maybe they feel it's worth it. These groups you mention have older children who don't need the same level of supervision as your toddler so the parents can all sit back and relax (while spending money) whereas you might be following your toddler around for the limited time they are interested, then not sit and buy anything as they don't have the same ability to sit for the same length of time or are bored by now and want to go.

That's very selfish as only a select group of kids get access to the whole activity and most kids will miss out. I'm amazed that the kids would be interested for 1-2 hours. If they're old enough to not need supervision I would have thought they'd be bored in 15 - 20 minutes. It would also be very loud and not particularly fun for a birthday. Poor birthday kid!

You would certainly expect an 'end point' to the activity. After the kids have made something they should be moved to the next activity or packed up and sent along by the organisers. If they don't have this then a 20 minute time limit is needed. I would suggest trying to email or Facebook the organisers.