Would this be tacky? (I know you love tacky threads)

[peachdragon]

I would like to host an ice cream social this summer for our neighborhood kids.  I would have a bunch of different flavors and mix-ins, and maybe beer and wine for the adults (everyone can walk home).  This would be people I know and also people I don't know in the neighborhood yet, but hope to get to know.  There are 186 houses in the neighborhood but I know not everyone would come.

Would it be tacky to ask for a couple bucks for everyone eating ice cream? I cringe at this because I never have a party where I ask people to bring anything, let alone money... But I don't know because it seems very common here to request people bring a dish to pass.

[pagas]

Why not try to get the neighborhood association to sponsor it?

I wouldn't ask for money from the attendees.

[wambam]

Yeah, no. Don't do this.

[smock]

Yeah, that seems tacky for sure. What about providing ice cream/toppings, and putting BYOB on the invite?

[bex1973]

I think a little tacky. Could maybe you & a few others host? Spread the costs out that way.

I think the event would be fun!

[thinkofthesoldiers]

Unless it is the HOA putting this on, I think inviting 186 homeowners and their families is insane. Pick your street and maybe the streets surrounding you if you are so inclined, but that's it. 186 is ridiculous.

[shell403b]

Definitely tacky. You don't host a party and ask your guests to pay for it.

[Onetwothree]

You want people you don't know to pay to come have ice cream with you?

[luckyval]

I wouldn't feel right asking for money for this.

But I would cut back and just offer the ice cream and lemonade/soft drinks. Tell the parents byob

[panicked]

If you want to throw a party, throw a party. Don't ask people to pay. That's tacky as hell.

Also, be careful. With that many people, if you host an event where people pay, you need (usually) a valid food handlers course/permit to serve food from the city.

[peachdragon]

May 1, 2015 9:34:57 GMT -5 pagas said:

Why not try to get the neighborhood association to sponsor it?

I wouldn't ask for money from the attendees.

That's a decent idea.  I used to be on the board, and am thinking of jumping back in.  I don't know if they'd be willing to do this, though, as we already have two association sponsored social events.  I just don't think they're good enough, LOL.

[ladystardust]

This sounds exhausting lol (dealing with melting ice cream, possible long lines, etc.). And expensive,

I think the most you can do is put out an optional tip jar or something. I think it would need to be in a way people don't feel pressured though. I don't know, then it might seem like you are trying to make a buck off your neighbors. I'm no help.

[peachdragon]

Yeah. I think it's tacky for people to ask others to bring dishes to a party (or to accept offers from attendees to bring something), so I thought I might have a low tackiness tolerance.

[Deleted]

Definitely tacky. But the ice cream social concept sounds great.

[peachdragon]

I hosted a neighborhood ladies wine and desserts night. I went out and brought desserts and wine. What did everyone bring? Wine. And desserts.

[thinkofthesoldiers]

My neighborhood does that Neighborhood Night Out thing every year. There are maybe 15 houses that are invited and it is a zoo. I cannot imagine inviting 186 houses. Even if there is only one person in each house and only half showed up, that is a crazy amount of people for something like this. People will congregate with the people they know already in a situation like that.

I will say we did an ice cream social one year for the NNO thing and the host provided the ice cream, dishes, and spoons, and we all brought our favorite toppings. You ended up with a million choices of chocolate sauce, but we had fun either way.

[smock]

May 1, 2015 9:40:54 GMT -5 peachdragon said:

Yeah. I think it's tacky for people to ask others to bring dishes to a party (or to accept offers from attendees to bring something), so I thought I might have a low tackiness tolerance.

Whaa?! So you think guests should never bring a host gift?

[jeaniebueller]

Definitely go through your HOA, especially if you are inviting the entire neighborhood. If that isn't an option, just invite the people on your block.

[cabbagecabbage]

I would not make a point to attend a neighborhood event with a cover charge. Aside from tackiness, it's a bad plan if you want attendees.

[bittybomb]

Hosting means hosting, so no, I would not ask anyone for money for an event I want to host.

[Deleted]

May 1, 2015 9:36:25 GMT -5 @booby said:

i think it really depends. with some groups - not tacky at all. with others, tacky.

if someone invited me to a neighbourhood social and i had to chip in some money, i wouldn't be bothered at all. but i'm sure that won't be the popular opinion here.

I agree with this. I wouldn't expect anyone to pay for ice cream or food for over a hundred people in this situation.

[memenee]

My DH entered a contest once in the back of some parenting magazine he was flipping thru in a waiting room. It was a block party ice cream social! They shipped us a ton of ice cream, cups, spoons etc. we provided toppings and invited our street. It was so fun and people still bring it up.

So I say go for it but scale it down to a reasonable # of people so you don't have to ask for $.

[adhdfashion]

You can get five gallon containers of ice cream at restaurant supply stores for around $20.
I wouldn't ask for money. Maybe ask people to bring their favorite topping to share?

[fryjack2]

How would you keep enough ice cream for 186 houses cold?

What if you asked the association to block off a couple streets and had them cover the cost of food truck rentals and dessert truck rentals but not the actual food sold? If the trucks actually ask for a rental fee. With a group that large they may waive it.
People can buy their own lunch and dessert. Just word it to make sure people know that the food isn't free. I wouldn't expect it to be.

[lilac05]

I think the least tacky way to do something like this is to provide the ice cream flavors and ask families to bring a favorite topping (though I know that's also tacky in some groups).

We have a shaved ice truck in town that you could book (I don't know about the cost). You can advertise that the truck will be there, but it's assumed that they will be selling shaved ice, not providing it for free. That would be easier and cheaper...and you don't risk getting stuck with 100 gallons of ice cream leftover...of course in lots of partial containers!

[laurack]

asking for money for the ice cream would be tacky, yes

and, if you invite 186 families for free ice cream most of them will come. People like free things.

[ECB]

What I would do is host the ICE CREAM / kids part of it. Perhaps say you'll have a cooler or two of ice if the adults want to bring beer/ wine.

[dojo]

Why not a provide a couple giant tubs of ice cream and cones to fewer houses? No booze. Much as I love a boozy party I wouldn't wNt the liability of serving others that I don't know. Realistically, you'll barely be able to scoop ice cream without reinforcements, even if only a small portion attend, let alone make sure kids aren't getting into the booze etc.

[magpie]

Do you have any ice cream trucks that you could get to sell ice cream at such an event? My neighbor throws a huge block party every year (and invites several blocks of families). He usually arranges for a couple of food trucks to come (last year it was a taco truck and an ice cream truck) and sell food. He provides drinks (a keg or two of beer + a cooler full of soft drinks), a live band (though they do also have a tip jar out), snacks like popcorn and tables/chair rentals. Plus he gets the permit to block the street off from the city. It's always such a fun party.

[peachdragon]

May 1, 2015 13:22:56 GMT -5 laurack said:

asking for money for the ice cream would be tacky, yes

and, if you invite 186 families for free ice cream most of them will come. People like free things.

Eh, I don't know about this.  Our annual association picnic has a relatively low turnout.  Free food, drinks, ice cream, entertainment.  I don't get it.