To half-arse these parts of DD's party

[Carrotsurprise]

DD is going to be 7, she wants a science party (entertainer in a hall). I think this is cool and I want to do it for her but it's pretty expensive so I'm thinking of cost cutting in other areas. One thing is that as part of the science party the kids make their own slime and make their own sweets which they take home in a named pot. Do you think it's okay to say the slime and sweets is the party favour and not do party bags?
The other thing I'm thinking of doing is having the party mid-afternoon so it isn't mealtime, and do cake after the entertainment is finished but no other food. Do you think that's alright as long as I mention it beforehand? My experience of parties these days is that the kids are going mental and don't want to eat anyway!

I've never been to one that didn't serve food tbh

To keep costs down just buy a block of cheese, 2 white loaves of bread, cucumber, carrots, apples and squash.

I agree this all sounds fine

Making clear its 2 - 4 and having some cake after.
Also hate party bag plastic tat...... maybe have a tray of dounuts or biscuits and a jug of squash and send the cake home wrapped in a pretty napkin alond with their tub of slime

The fact its not mealtime doesn’t matter, you still need food. On weekends people often rush about dropping DC to activities so mealtimes aren’t set in stone

I think you still need to do food. You could get some cheap pizzas, nuggets, crisps, make some cheese / ham sarnies etc so it doesn’t get too expensive.

I had a friend who told everyone to pack and bring their own lunchbox for their food. It just seemed a bit :/.

I wouldn’t worry about the party bags, or would just get a multipack of Haribo sweets and hand a pack out to each kid as they leave.

Thanks everyone it's been really useful, lots to think about. Particularly to the person who'd had a science party and said the sweets just get eaten and slime might not be intact to take away. So I might do cheap sweetie cones or similar.

With the general consensus that food is required, is that because kids want it or because parents expect it and it looks bad if you don't? In my years of going to parties, I find that preschoolers will sit and eat lunch because their parents make them, but the older the kids get it seems the more they see it as a chore to eat at a party. My DD will fill her plate under duress and then eat one wotsit, we normally need another lunch at home. Her friends the same. I thought having the party outside mealtime would avoid the whole waste of it but maybe I could just put snacky things out as a free for all, along with the birthday cake.

Both! I actually find the 2-4 slot most annoying as you don't really know where you are at with meals that day but as a parent I know my children love a party buffet! I wouldn't make loads of sandwiches or bother with the healthy stuff as that never goes and is just for show, but I know mine love a party as it gives them chance to eat a load of stuff they don't normally get and to eat it in unlimited quantities without me telling them off 😂

What about getting a bunch of party food boxes then bulk buying snacks/ juice boxes etc ? Would that work? And then could add the cake to it after cutting

also i think the slime and sweets is fine for a party bag!

I actually think food is just part of the rhythm of a party, if that makes sense. You do an activity (requires engagement, concentration) and you have food (purely social, kids have a chat and calm time). I can't explain it but a party without food sounds a bit one-note.