Help me get the party started...

[miffu]

I'm a parent of a 4yr old and I'd like to organise a Christmas drinks gathering (a few days before Xmas) at our house, inviting around 30 people. They will be a mix of my parents, in-laws, friends and the parents of our DCs parents who we know and see throughout the year at birthday parties and kids-related activities. Obviously, I'm aware that it is ambitious given that kids are involved. Most of our friends and our DC's friends' parents have a 3-4yo and an older 5-7yo.

My questions are: if you were invited, what would you expect (to make your life easier) and what would you absolutely not want, e.g what times would/would not work?

Obviously, it's planned to be a civilised get together with activities to entertain kids (face painting, games, toys, etc) but it's also for parents to get together so it's almost like a kids party for parents to get together.

I plan to have it on a Saturday afternoon so parents can swing by for a couple of hours (to treat it like a kids party with drinks) or come later (if they arrange a babysitter) and stay for a couple hours on their own in the evening.

I'd like to think it's doable as it will be just like a kids' party at someone's house albeit with drinks. Surely people do it every year and it's no big deal. What are your thoughts? Doable and nothing special or a complete recipe for disaster?

Anyone have ideas on how to keep the kids entertained and busy?

I do a similar thing every year, starts at 3 and everyone is gone (and tipsy!) by 8ish. I put on platters of Party food, everyone brings a bottle, play Christmas music and the kids run riot 🙈
We don't allow them upstairs so normally they're dancing about and playing in the living room and most of the adults congregate in the Kitchen - they have free run of the garden too for use of the trampoline / swings etc.. it's chaos but I love it! Especially as everyone needs to get home earlyish for bedtime - so DH and I have plenty of time to put the house back together the same Night. Have fun! 🎄

Pre Covid we always did the same thing. I did a running buffet, adults circulated downstairs, kids had activities upstairs (games, dvd room etc. Supervised by an older daughter of one of our friends, who was paid as a babysitter). Started around 7 and my bestie would stagger out around midnight. About 40 adults and 15 children across the evening. Exhausting but fabulous. Friends used to call it the official start of Christmas!

Oops, 'parents of our DC's parents'. I meant parents of our DC's friends, of course.

Thanks for sharing your experiences. It's encouraging as I thought I was going to be shot down.

We barely entertain and always have such great chats with the other parents of our DC's friends at bday parties, it would be so nice to have them all round with our friends and family and for us all to have a good natter.

At worst, they could RSVP negatively, I suppose.

This sounds fab, although personally I wouldn't mix family do's and school people together.

I would perhaps get the school parents round one night and family another. I wouldn't be completely myself around the school crowd, as I would with family. But great if you can. Have fun!