AIBU to plan a 90s-style birthday party with traditional party food?

[Onetimeonly2026]

Is a 90s style birthday party really that bad of a idea?
ds will be turning 7 soon and we have plans for his birthday but he still wants to play with some of his friends etc.
So I thought we would host a mini party at the house for 20
Party would include
party games pass the parcel, duck duck goose etc.
Party food ( which has caused the biggest fuss)
sandwiches (ham, chesse, egg mayo)
cocktail sausages
mini sausage rolls
mini pizzas
party rings
faiy cakes
animal biscuits
onion rings
chesse puffs
salt and vinegar sticks
juice in a cup with straw
Basically junk food but very 90s kids party.
Would you let your kid come?

Just to add mn ai suggested the title

Why would this be in the least bit controversial?

Can I come?

Honestly no idea why as I thought it would be a nice idea ( and cheap) but the fuss 4 separate parents have made is unreal tbh

What have they said?

Also open to ideas about what to add? Especially party bags

Sounds great - I don’t understand why anyone would have a problem with it?!

I used to love those wee fortune telling fish the wee red things that curl

This sounds lovley . Food wise most of the parties I’ve been to have very similar even if in a village hall, i haven’t been to many at a house but I think the kids would love it. I did try this once with my then 3 year old (now 5) and it was difficult keeping them all from going upstairs and wrecking the place😂 so maybe get some gates and some firm rules in place!

You need to tell us what the parents are complaining about.
If it's the food, why are you releasing a menu in advance? Surely you just ask if any allergies and then the food is the food

This isn't a 90s party, lots of people still have parties exactly like this especially in the summer when they can utilise their gardens?

No idea why anyone would find it controversial or unusual?

Where I live (another European country) this is still the norm for kids' birthdays. Food tends to be a bit less junky (more like veg sticks and fruit, cheese, crackers, maybe pizza) but it's definitely still very much the done thing and the kids always love it

Where is the cheese and pineapple hedgehog? And either the red jelly rabbit on chopped up green jelly grass (which in turn was a 70s style birthday thing brought back in the 90s) or the cupcake table - cheap fairy cakes, glace icing to dip it into and then bowls of sprinkles to add?

Eh? What on earth have they complained about??
Junk food at a party is standard, plus sandwiches aren’t even bad? My kids had a generally healthy diet but I wouldn’t have bat an eyelid over this! Ignore them OP, and crack on-your plans sound great.

That's a standard kids house party 🥳 should be fully expected at primary school 😁

I don't really get what is controversial about it, unless you've created a very pork-heavy menu and your child is at either a Muslim or Jewish school... but hopefully noone would be so crass. Why are the other parents kicking off?

I would also add hanging donuts on string off the washing line. They each get 1 each and eat it off the string, no hands tho. Takes them ages and keeps them quiet

I thought you meant for an adult party, I had a 90’s party for my 40th. That just sounds like a kids party to me. Probably don’t put hooch and Bacardi breezer on the menu though

Absolutely! Add jelly and ice cream too.

We had a similar party for my 5 year old and the kids loved the party games especially musical statues and musical chairs.

Not sure still 90s but we also had a bouncy castle in the garden and ended with a sweet filled piñata for them to fill their party bags with falling goodies.

You're missing the Sarah Lee chocolate gateau.

I still love the chocolate game (massicve bar of refrigerated chocolate, knife and fork ion a plate next to hat gloves and scarf. Kids sit around it in a circle. Take it in turns to roll a dice - the first to roll a 6 has to put on the hat, gloves and scarf + use the knife and fork to cut up + eat the chocolate. Meanwhile the kids keep rolling the dice trying to get a 6. If you're at the chocolate when the next person rolls a 6 you have to take off the hat gloves etc and let them go, and so on.

The food sounds standard where I am. Are you good at corralling children? I always do traditional party games and get many compliments on them but I'm a teacher which I think helps massively. My kids have never been to a party with more than one party game, usually pass the parcel, and I honestly think many parents would struggle to get the children to take part.

Huh? This sounds like every kids party we've been to this year let alone in the 90s! Where are you living that people have a problem with it??

What are they complaining about??

And whatever it is, how bloody rude of them to whine that someone else’s party isn’t to their liking!

I'm a bit confused why the parents know the menu in advance?

How is this a 90s party?
this is most kids parties through the ages!

Don’t forget the cheese and pineapple hedgehog