More birthday party questions

[nowa]

Maybe we should rename this the birthday party board huh?

So, I'm thinking of suggesting a campfire/'smore theme. DD1 loves the idea of campfires and smores, etc. We could do it in our backyard as long as it's not too cold. Anyone do a theme like this before? We'll have up to 22 kids there (mostly DD's age plus some older and younger cousins, family friends), plus their parents. What would you do for seating? We have one patio table with 4 chairs. This is my hang-up. We have large yard. Seems like overkill for a 5 year old birthday party to rent tables and chairs. What are my alternatives? Even inside, seating would be an issue.

The other option I suppose is to do it at a party place but that will cost me $300 but I'd still have to come up with cake, favors, food... I think it would definitely be cheaper at home if I can think of a way to seat the kids for meal and cake time.

[gastro]

Buy some cheap outdoor chairs to keep from Home Depot? Since its "camping" picnic blankets and tents out on the lawn?

[mamaalysson]

Our friends did a similar theme - "camping" - and they did picnic blankets as seating. Worked great and went with the theme. She used big quilts - borrowed from friends to get enough - and it looked adorable. It was a summer park birthday party, so no one seemed to mind picnicking it. And I don't think kids care if they are standing, sitting , or hanging upside down when it comes to eating cake.

[nowa]

I thought of picnic blankets. Seems like the easiest, cheapest route. I imagine it being a mess, but I bet the kids will have fun.

DD also mentioned wanting a paw patrol party, but I'm not really loving that idea. I'll see which theme she picks though. I'd be happy with a 'smores party and some pups on the cake. Or maybe a pups/camp theme. Or heck, no theme at all. I don't think I ever had themed parties growing up. Just kids, running around, playing and eating party food.

[NandaB]

Aww. My kids love paw patrol. I figure they're only young once, so even if I don't love the theme and think its cheesy if its something they love I do it. Poor Natalie had a monster inc themed first birthday because thats what G wanted and they have a joint party.

[expectantsteelerfan]

If you're still doing camping, I think picnic blankets are fine, but another idea would be to ask people to bring their own camping chairs (or ask friends ahead of time to borrow them). I think we somehow have like 5 full-sized ones and 2 kid-sized ones and we end up throwing them in the trunk for sports and whatnot, I wouldn't think anything of bringing them to a campfire themed party.

[nicolewi]

My niece had a campfire party for her 11th birthday this spring. I know this b/c it was a big.deal. It was a boy/girl party and the 11th was her golden birthday. They actually have a fire pit in their backyard, I think with log seats around it. I am not much help with other seating, but I like the blankets or camp chairs idea. Google "campfire cake." SIL made something like that.

S'mores for a bunch of 5 year olds could be a messy disaster. Can you have S'mores bars or something instead of actually making them? Or hand out S'more kits as a party favor? I'd also be worried about fire safety with a whole bunch of littles running around.

What if it rains? Will you have a backup place?

My kids love Paw Patrol, too. I do think campfire could be cute if you can get past logistical barriers.

[momin2013]

I would say something on the invite like, "Join us for a campout party to celebrate.....Please bring camp chairs if you have them,!" I'd probably also pick up maybe half a dozen folding chairs (I'd get ones that would work for both inside and outside to have them for future both inside and outside get-togethers). I'd figure that between the existing chairs, chairs people bring, the folding chairs and a handful of picnic blankets, it should work out just fine.

Not sure about the possibility of a rain-out, though? Do you have a big open area, like in your basement or somethng, where people could set up their chairs as a " makeshift campout area" if need be? If so, I think you're all set for either possibility.

I love the idea, BTW, because a) everyone loves smores and b) they're so easy and fun to make!

[jag01]

I know it might be tricky for some people to find, but if you had access to logs or stumps to go around the fire pit. It would be cheap and authentic. The picnic blanket idea was good as well.

[lala]

The girls' joint party in October was a loose camping/fall theme. Very loose. Mostly for the food & s'mores stuff. It was a big family part, but there were like 8 kids, age 7 & younger. We were outside the whole time since it was early fall - we never have 100% seating for these type things. I use what we have, throw down a blanket or 2, put out the kiddy picnic table and borrow my neighbors folding chairs. He has 8 ikea chair we borrow. We also have a few outdoor folding end tables that help. We use our regular outdoor table for seating/shade w/ the umbrella and sometimes borrow another folding table from my parents for drinks. Often I do food inside and people eat outside.

For dessert we had a the fire going and I had a huge s'more spread out.

This was my exact wording on the punchbowl invite: We'll have a relaxing, fall barbecue with a campfire & s'mores to top off the evening.