What makes a genuinely enjoyable party for adults and children alike?

[Gingerpowers]

What makes an absolutely amazing party?
Hosting a big evening bash to celebrate a large non-birthday milestone.
It’ll be a mixture of adults and children, several teenagers. At least 50
people, but RSVPs still coming in.
I would really love it to be a night of fun, one that people genuinely enjoy; not just a ‘we’ll
pop in for one drink and sneak off’ affair.
I would hate for anyone to be bored, kids and adults alike.
I’ve booked some basics - large function room with bar, DJ, buffet.
I like the idea of a Candy Corner…
I’m thinking of doing a kids station with glow sticks, colouring, bubbles etc.
But, what about adults. Do we just hope they drink & mingle? 🙃
If you’ve been to a party lately, what made it good / bad?
Thanks lots.

Truthfully ? It is the company. If it is a bunch of really nice people, then you will have a good time.

I've been to a few parties this Summer unusually from a child free wedding to a 90th birthday party with loads of great grandchildren. I've been to a couple of day time 'do's and of course evening 'do's. I've been to parties with a DJ, with a band, and with no music at all.

I've enjoyed them all because the company has been good.

Over the years, things that have made a gathering less than great are

• not enough places to sit
• no food / not enough food / odd choice of food
• really extortionate prices at the bar
• venue that is unnecessarily miles away and difficult to be able to get a taxi back from / someone to drop you there / having to not have a drink and drive two hours home

Is it at your home? At a venue?

if it's at home (assume inside now, unless it's next summer and outside) make sure you have enough places
for people to sit, and enough food and drink. Always get more than enough food.
Also even if you're thinking/feeling it do not give off any indication you're worried about things being damaged / made dirty etc. obviously if someone picks up a china ornament and purposefully lobs it across the room, you might want to say something, but don't give off any vibe / look at people's dirty shoes etc. people will feel uncomfortable

if in a venue:

how far have people travelled? Is it a free bar? Is it exclusive , ie will they be spending time with strangers. Is there enough food? Places to park?

with any party though I think the company is what makes it. Are they all strangers?

@Nearlyamumoftwo , in the opening post, it says

I’ve booked some basics - large function room with bar, DJ, buffet.

I went to a party today that worked really well for all ages. there was (a) a food-zone with lots of really nice buffet food & drinks - take a small plate and add food (b) a separate area with lots of small tables & chairs so you could sit to eat your food, but seating was not fixed. people moved about as they got more food / drinks, so there was lots of opportunity to chat to different people etc. (c) a short pub-quiz type challenge on paper (e.g. how does these 3 pictures make a place-name relevant to the host), so people could take their time to discuss (d) table of colouring pages / pens for the under 10s to draw (e) no music so the oldies could chat and hear each other

and lots of nice people who mostly knew and liked each other

I think it’s generally the mix of people that makes it a good party.

What I would say about your current arrangements is that there isn’t really anything for teenagers (assuming they aren’t old enough to be able to sneak a few drinks). I don’t know what would work for teenagers in this context - hoping others will have ideas - but it’s probably something to consider, particularly if they don’t all know each other well.