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Parties/celebrations

Whether you're planning a birthday or a hen do, you'll find plenty of ideas for your celebration on our Party forum.

Original poster

Victorian farm party - what food to serve?

58 replies

Hulababy · 07/02/2009 14:10

DD is having her 7th birthday party at a local farm, with a Victorian theme. The children - all 6/7y girls - will dress up in Victorian clothes, have a tour round the farm and handle the animals, etc, and then go in the barn for traditional Victorian party games.

I just need to sort out food and party bags.

Any ideas of what and how to serve?

And ideas for suitable party bag gift?

Am slightly alarmed at google suggestions that alcohol really was included on children's parties in these years, but to avod giving children cheap champagne!!!

OP posts:
Original poster
Hulababy · 08/02/2009 17:24

Anyone?

OP posts:
compo · 08/02/2009 17:29

old fashioned ice crwam here on victoriana.com

KatyMac · 08/02/2009 17:30

Egg sanwiches
Gala pie
Chicken & ham pie
Jelly
Ginger beer/lemonade (cloudy)

HeadFairy · 08/02/2009 17:34

there are some ideas on here You might need to adapt some as they're probably a bit too rich for children but there are some nice ideas for cakes.

MrsWilburton · 08/02/2009 17:34

LOL will there be urchins? And cholera?

compo · 08/02/2009 17:35

will the farm supply the victorian clothes by the way?

MrsWilburton · 08/02/2009 17:36

Foot and mouth? And a spinning jenny for that unique agrarian accident experience?

Winehouse · 08/02/2009 17:38

You could make a version of Homity pies - where you fill a ramekin sized dish with pastry and fill it with a mixture of pre-cooked potatoes, chopped onions, herbs and some sausagemeat. I think children may baulk at them a little so only make a few, for effect.

Bread, cheese, fruit and chicken will all be authentic.

HeadFairy · 08/02/2009 17:38

Tea and cake then up the chimney for a quick sweep

sorry, not mocking your dd's birthday party hulababy, just being led astray by MrsW!

MrsWilburton · 08/02/2009 17:39

I am, oh please let us tease it is frigging hilarious.
In 20 years time " an 80s rubiks cube party"

janeite · 08/02/2009 17:40

Well poor people lived mostly on bread and tea in the cities!

I think basics like:

bread and jam
hard boiled eggs or egg sandwiches
ham sandwiches

then perhaps milk jellies or blancmange and little cakes.

Not very healthy though!

The only other things I can think of are:
gruel
or "nursery food" things like Shepherd's pie, macaroni etc - but no good for putting in food boxes!

HeadFairy · 08/02/2009 17:40

I think you don't have to do anything too unusual, Victorians ate sandwiches after all, some nice little fairy cakes, biscuits, scones perhaps.... Cheese straws... I'm thinking classic high tea wouldn't be too inauthentic and still appealing to children.

Winehouse · 08/02/2009 17:40

You could play hoop-la and quoits as well. It sounds really fun and a memorable change from all that bouncy play area and disco parties they will have had.

Dd1 had a Roman themed toga birthday party at the Roman Baths, it was great.

MrsWilburton · 08/02/2009 17:40

gruel?

MrsWilburton · 08/02/2009 17:41

Ox tongue sandwiches and a whole pigs head

HeadFairy · 08/02/2009 17:42

LOL MrsW! In 50 years time they'll be having Elizabethan parties, playing Playstation 2 games (instead of their Playstation 35) and laughing at how basic our plasma tvs were!

HeadFairy · 08/02/2009 17:43

Mind you, with all that TB no one will be that hungry will they

Original poster
Hulababy · 08/02/2009 17:44

Hey it is DD's choice, not mine. We wanted bug hunting originally but March is too early for bugs.

The farm do all the organising of dress up clothes, and all party games. I just have to provide food and party bags.

I was thinking afternoon tea style - little finger sandwiches, mini cakes, scones with lemonade and juice.

OP posts:
MrsWilburton · 08/02/2009 17:45

..so like a normal party then?
Maybe bung in Ye Olde stringes of chiz

Original poster
Hulababy · 08/02/2009 17:46

MrsWilburton - why so ridiculous? Why is it so strange to have a dress up party in this way, as opposed to having a pirate and princess party or having a soft play party???

OP posts:
Original poster
Hulababy · 08/02/2009 17:47

It is a normal party, just with a bit of a theme to make it a bit different on DD's behalf.

Just wondered if there was anything particular I should do. But hey, obviously not!

OP posts:
HeadFairy · 08/02/2009 17:48

You've got to make it old fashioned lemonade though hulababy

janeite · 08/02/2009 17:49

Afternoon tea style food sounds lovely.

For party bags - how about an abridged version of a classic Victorian story? Or something to do with "Alice In Wonderland"? Or Wilde's lovely short stories like The Selfish Giant?

Winehouse · 08/02/2009 17:51

Well I think it is a lovely idea and fits in with the Victorian theme they have at KS1. Exactly, what is the difference between dressing up as a Victorian and drsssing up as a princess?

Surely we shouldn't all have High School Musical parties, like thick sheep.

HeadFairy · 08/02/2009 17:52

Old fashioned toys in the party bags, yoyos etc.