OP here. Thanks for the suggestions and sharing your experience.

To the PP who will be hosting one soon, let us know how it goes.

I've hosted multiple parties at the park/playground and attended many others. As long as the weather holds up, everyone has a blast. I've even attended ones for 8 yos and they love it (I was thinking they were too old for it). It's basically like recess -- all their friends are there, what's not to like?

The things we've brought to play with that have been hits are:

-- bubbles. Get some of those big big giant wands (a generous number so a good number of kids can have them), and lay out some pans of bubble liquid (get plenty of liquid). Big kids aren't that interested in the little bubble wands but making giant bubbles -- yes.

-- stomp rockets. You can get dueling sets. I would recommend extra rockets (some may get broken), setting up in a treeless area, and having an adult supervisor (so that no one tries to launch a rocket just as someone is leaning their face over it).

we also did water balloons but it may be too cold. I got the kind where you can fill 100 balloons at a pop.

Not the OP but I'm planning a park party for my 5 year old. There is no playground. It's at a pavilion in Rock Creek Park.

We're bringing a bunch of sports equipment. We will likely have a craft that the kids will ignore, but I won't invest in that too heavily.

I'm planning on doing a couple games. So far, duck duck goose and sharks and minnows.

I'm seriously afraid to post this given how hard some of the DCUM people are being on park parties!

We did it for my DS's 7th birthday (flag football) Reserved a shelter. Got lucky, the weather (late September) was great. People had a great time. Cheaper than a room rental, but still had to pay to reserve the space.

I just went to a party in Rock Creek Park for a 5 year old and Stomp Rockets were a big hit.

Anonymous wrote:Have you hosted a party at a park? What kind of games did you do that were a hit? Thinking of doing one for 6 year old and looking for some fun games. How has the RSVP been like? Are these considered boring parties and you get poor response. I'm also wary there will be bugs and bees and ruin the party. Not to mention unwanted attention from other people.

Is it better if I call in someone for face painting if hosting at a park or just stick to games.

Any tips, ideas, experiences will be appreciated.

I went to a few park parties for younger kids (2-4) and they were fun. I think its important to go somewhere where you can reserve a covered area, like renting a pavilion at Cabin John Park or something like that.

Also I vote NO to having characters at the party. For some reason I can't stand characters at parties. I've been to several parties where the character is totally lame and does nothing interesting or entertaining. Often times they just show up in costume and talk to the kids. They don't have any set routine for holding the kids attention like a magician would. I think its a total waste of money because kids lose interest in them quickly and they are not able to entertain the kids for the length of the party.

My kids have been to a bunch of park/ playground parties. In fact the kids' favorite birthday party spot (the kids would go to 3-4 each year) were just at the elementary school playground. For some reason, these kids loved that playground and would all beg to stay after school and play there. It was the easiest party ever. Bring some food to set up on the picnic tables and let the kids run. Kids don't need games, distractions - with a bit of freedom, they really can have a lot of fun on their own.

What about a pumpkin patch party at butlers orchard or cox farm?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DS was invited to nerf gun fight at a park (the mom hired organizers who brought nerf guns, etc and organized game). That was a blast.

Dd was invited probably up to 2nd grade to birthdays at a park. No idea what they did their, my guess just played and ran around. They enjoyed it. Face painting would be a hit, a character would be ridiculed probably at their age.

I feel like in this area, a lot of parents would be outraged (either at the party or behind the host parents’ backs) because of the gun thing.

NP. I agree and it's so sad!! I'm as liberal as they go and support very tight gun control (and Canadian on top of that) but for goodness' sake, nerf guns are not guns. They are fun!

What's a non-"gun" equivalent? Water balloons? Would parents be ok with their kids getting wet (assuming this is in the summer)?

I feel like there are plenty of fun games that don't involve fake guns - tag (and all its variations), capture the flag, hide and go seek, tug of war, red light/green light, dodge ball, wiffle ball, etc.

I think doing it at a park is just fine for that age. Maybe somewhere that has a playground?

Anonymous wrote:OP here. My friend (not DMV area) used to say her son loved the simple no frills park parties that one of his friends parents threw every single year and those were the ones he most looked forward to (even more than the venue parties). But the family used to organize games for the boys and keep them entertained the whole 2 hours and even after that the kids didn't want to leave - this was from age 6 to 13.

I'm wary since our DMV area expects more from parties (whether the kids expect it or not, the parents do).

I went to a lot of parties like this in the bay area. I think only one was rained out.

playground parties are great, but no games! pick a park with a playscape!

My kids love them but I always worried about the weather.

Anonymous wrote:Plan a park party, plan for rain.. it will ALWAYS rain! And the parents never cancel or postpone. Then you feel guilty and drag your kid out in rain boots. But the bathroom is locked or gross or broken...

Then good luck to get the mud out of your car. 2 days later everyone gets sick...

I hate park parties.

Everyone in your family gets sick because of the rest of their days are spent indoors (probably with a bunch of other people), not because of an hour in the rain

Plan a park party, plan for rain.. it will ALWAYS rain! And the parents never cancel or postpone. Then you feel guilty and drag your kid out in rain boots. But the bathroom is locked or gross or broken...

Then good luck to get the mud out of your car. 2 days later everyone gets sick...

I hate park parties.

Anonymous wrote:We love park parties. We had one for my son's 6th birthday and the kids had a blast. The older kids and the dads got a baseball game going and the moms and younger siblings hung out on the playground. It was great fun. My kids are 8 and 9 now and still love parks and playgrounds. In fact, we have one to go to today for a friend of their younger sibling and it is drizzling outside. I asked them if they wanted to go still and they said an enthusiastic yes. And added so what if it is raining.

With that said, I'm not sure other kids and parents are as enthusiastic about rainy day park parties- and that is a risk you take with choosing that venue.

I agree. My oldest is 6 and playing games at the park with other kids is one of his favorite activities! He loves to play actual sports (soccer, baseball) or variations on tag-type games.