After-school party for 12yo with minimal parental involvement - what can they do?

[castille]

My DD wants to invite 4 friends over after school on Friday til 9pm or so (total 3.5 hours) as two of her friends can't come to a weekend party.

Bearing in mind that DH is away that evening (very wise) and I have 2 other children, what can they do that they will enjoy but involves minimal involvement from me?

DD says they can entertain themselves, but that doesn't sound much like a party.

Should I just leave them to their DVD of choice, and just provide food and drink?

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My dd (12)and her 4 friends went to the local Italian restaurant for tea on their own- we got a copy of the menu beforehand, so they decided on food- we said a maincourse and 2 drinks- they rang me once they were finished, and I went down to pay- then came home for pudding/cake.
So popular we did it again this year but this time for lunch. They loved the independence, and the restaurant really made a fuss of them.

Sounds like a good plan. Thing is I don't know 3 of her friends (yet) - new school - so I'm not sure what they are like and whether they can be trusted in a restaurant without supervision...

Will suggest to DD tomorrow, see what she thinks. Thanks.

Make their own pizzas and cocktails, sit eating and drinking while watching a dvd. Paint nails

Karaoke?

Making bead bracelets?

Get out sewing machine and let them run up a simple skirt each or customise a cheapo t shirt?

Let them have a campfire in garden and cook sausages and marshmallows over it?

Buy some glass paints and let them paint up some cheap glass vases etc?

Have pamper party, let them do pedicure/manicure/facial on each other?

But my 12 year old would be more than happy with pizza and DVD, esp after being at school all day!

Good ideas, esp getting them to make their own pizzas and drinks - one fewer thing for me to do!

I'd like to avoid messy activities as I have no 2nd pair of hands to help clear up, but they could do manicure etc in private in DD's room and she will tidy that up

She plans to be outside in the wood until it gets dark then mostly in her room (just as well as DD2 and DS will object to them hogging the living room all evening)

Agree they will be tired after a week at school anyway, so I hope not manic