party ideas for 2yo- garden party. Party bags? i hate 'em!

[noonar]

Hi, dd2 is 2 on sunday. have 12 children coming, we're gonna be in the garden. if it rains we'll be in trouble! we have sandpit, playhouse etc. am not really into highly organised games for this age, except maybe pass the parcel- with sibling help.
Anyone got any low key ideas about games or activities to make it seem more party-ish.

Also, i'm not a cheapskate, but does anyone else loathe party bags? will i seem mean if i dont do them?TIA

DS is 2.5 and all the birthday parties he's been to have only had pass the parcel (and a birthday cake) to show that it's a birthday party. 2 year olds just like playing, IMO .

We did very small amounts of things in party bags

I loathe them too so for dd's 2nd birthday I wrapped up a small ball for each child and then hid them round the garden. They went hunting with a grown up and found one each to take home. I think they cost about 50p-£1.

dd1 loves party bags, so it'd be nice to avoid giving them on her sisters bday, to have a little break from them! hiding gifts outside sounds a really fab idea- like a treasure hunt. thanks!

sorry, that last post sounded like i'm ditching the party bags just to spite her sister- didnt mean that , of course!