40th Birthday camping bash thoughts please.

[alice1000]

Hi, for my partners birthday we are going camping, with a group of friends for the weekend, it turns out that there will be about 50 of us in all, including loads of children, experienced and reticent campers, some who know lots of people and others who don't.

Any thoughts on how we cook for this number (I am not planning to do it all, and hope that everyone will help and bring stuff - but whats the best way to organise this?)
also, should I organise activities, or just let the weekend happen?
thanks for any tips you can give me!

Hi Alice - I did this for my 40th - best birthday ever. For mine we didn't organise the days - just let people chill out and eat in family groups. We always bring a volleyball net and ball for group camps so there is usually a loose game of volleyball going on or football for those who are more energetic. On my birthday evening, my husband and brother had got everyone to bring fancy dress or a wig or hat or something (70s theme so easy) and dressed me up too while I was blindfolded. When the blindfold came off everyone was dressed up and there were balloons all over the place which they had blown up ealrier in the day and they all sang happy birthday. It was a huge surprise and I loved it. We then spent the evening round the campfire, drinking and eating birthdays cakes which we had brought with us. The children with us loved the whole thing too and it was really relaxed.

My brother on the other hand also had a joint birthday camp with a friend but they brought a marquee with them and had a cocktail evening. He plays in a band so they did a set and then people took turns DJ-ing though the evening. It was a very laid back site though and he had hired a special private bit of it.

Again, all eating was done in family groups before the party bit apart from lots of birthday cakes throughout the evening. They had dancing in the marquee and a campfire for people to chill round later.

Personally, I would be tempted to say to everyone to do their own thing food-wise, otherwise it is going to be a big headache for you. You can then concentrate on the evening activities.

thank you, thats so helpful, i thought i was going to have to do it all, but i love the idea of letting everyone worry about their own food and having cocktails!!

thank you, thats so helpful, i thought i was going to have to do it all, but i love the idea of letting everyone worry about their own food and having cocktails!!