So, if we hired a village hall, filled it with balloons and provided food...

[TooTickyTheAppleMuncher]

...how long would it keep a bunch of 4 and 5 year olds occupied?

10 mins

sorry, but when I've done it with an entertainer, the 10 mins or so before they start have be horrendous. An easy and less expensive route is to hire a bouncy castle. good luck

Get The Big Toys from your local toy library

Two hours

depends on the children, ours will play for ever in the village hall...

2 hours max and make sure you have it over a mealtime - say 11-1 - then they will be hungry and actually eat the food you have provided

I am pathetically scared of kids parties. I hate organising and I worry that all the children will just ignore me.

I mean, if I try to do games, etc, or stop riots.

Add a bouncy castle, a birthday tea, 2 rounds of pass the parcel, = my ds's birthday party which lasted nearly 3 hours.
Just a hall, balloons, no food or games, about 10 mins max.

Last year we hired a hall and hired a bouncy castle to go in the room (£30 for 3 hours). lso had a craft table with colouring materials and some glue and stick on bits. Had football nets down one side and DD's parachute in middle of room. Also had disco music adnd lights in another corner.

Did food half way through party - food boxes, sat on picnic blankets on floor.

Bouncy castle was a massive success with most fot eh children. Although we did have some quieter children who needed alternatives - the craft table was perfect for this.

No games or anything organised. All went down really well.

Was for DD's 4th birthday so age range was primarylt 3-5 years, with some younger and some older.