5th Bday party - Entertainer booked for 1 hour only...what else can we do?

[Misspaella]

I am hosting DS 5th bday in a hall and have booked an entertainer for 1 hour only. I
figure some messing about w/balloons when all arrive. Entertainer booked from 11:15-12:15 followed by lunch. What will they do after that? Should I have a biscuit decorating kit at a table? Pinata? I am panicking that 20 children will either scoff their lunch (or not eat much at all) and be restless for the last 30-40min of the party.

Cheap, easy ideas welcome.

Or should I just let them get on with it? (He is my eldest so not too experienced with this)

TIA

Balloons are great for the first part when the children arrive.

When they have lunch 'encourage' any children that get up from the table very quickly back to their seats. If you give the children at least 15mins with the savouries and crisps before you bring out any cake then they should be at the table for quite a while.

For any time left at the end put some music on and play bumps and statues but try to do it in a non competitive way where they don't get out.

Finish off with some action songs, head shoulders etc and get the parents to join in with the hokey kokey at the end.

have Fun!

What ever you do, do not let them do as they want at the end of the party or it will turn to choas.
Plan as much as you can to fill that time, more than you need and you will not have any problems.
Pass the parcel but i would say have to circles going (10 children in each one.
Simon says is great game as you can control the level of activtites they do i.e hands on head instead of running round the room.
Pin the tail on the donkey.

Do you have a theme as you might be able to think of some ideas around that.

More ideas on their way shortly

As Debbie says above, don't leave them to their own devices! Make a big deal about the cake and the blowing out of the candles, and then perhaps play some games? Musical chairs is a bit painful as it involves a lot of running around the room, and boys make an absolute meal out of the dancing in general.

I agree with the above in that pass the parcel is a great game for holding attention, even if it's just some chocolate at the centre. As long as you can keep everyone sitting down or in some sort of activity, you'll be fine. Absolutely nothing wrong with overplanning!

Pin the tail sounds good.
I just fear chaos.

Personally I'd do the invites for
11:00-12:30.

Just as they are finishing the food the parents come to collect, everyone sings happy birthday, candles blown out, the kids leave!

An hour and a half birthday party is plenty of time.

At DD1's 4th birthday party we planted sunflower seeds. I bought some small plastic flowerpots and lots of different stickers and they all sat beautifully for ages creating their masterpieces. I then filled the decorated pots with compost, they stuck their fingers into the soil to make holes for the seeds (minimal mess!) and planted them. We put them in plastic bags with twisty ties and popped them in the party bags to take home. Very easy and great fun. DD's party was during the Easter holidays, and her friends are still talking about how tall their sunflowers have grown now.