Old style birthday party:)

Daisy

I remember in the late 70s, early 80s, the fashion (around here anyway) was for girls to wear full length party dresses i.e. to your ankles. Mine was yellow with flowers. I think my mum made it.

I reckon they'll love an old style party. I remember the rich girl in our class had a magician at her party but no-one wanted to sit still and watch. We just wanted to go out and play.

What about home-made popcorn either as a snack or for the kiddies to take home with a slice of cake?

reverie

Sarah your party sounds so fab, your son is a lucky birthday boy. Hope you have a fab time. You have all inspired me to have an old style house warming party for grown ups during the summer

Although I won't re-create my my 80's childhood party dress - it was a PURPLE taffetta (sp?) with white lace collar

BrokeBrokeBroke

For my boy's firts birthday party last year, I had 'proper' kids party food. (And it was mostly adults, so it was all washed down with 'proper' grown up drinks)
Cheese butties
Jam butties
Sausage rolls
Jelly
Jammy Dodgers
Cheapy crips
And a lovely cake. We had a great time!!! I also 'encouraged' the wearing of birthday hats!

Sarahsaver

I even have the flumps or the clangers for them to watch if a bit of tv entertainment is required. At least the posher people RSVP so I have a proper idea of numbers. Im thinking of doing an ice bowl for the tesco value salmon trimmings!!!
Music..now I have some nursery rhyme tapes but dd is more into the red hot chili peppers;)

nikkig_3

I can remember one birthday party for my younger brother, we had a cowboys and indians party. my parents had somehow got a catering size tin of baked beans so it got served with bangers. kids where in fancy dress, but they all had cowboy hats in those days so it was easy and cheap!

elona

Sarah

Your party sounds great!

It is not only kids that enjoy party games - we had a party at Slimming World group at Christmas with "Pass the parcel" and it was hilarious.

Speaking of Retro - have you watched "Abigail's Party" - would you suit an orange 70's dress?

Austin_Allegro

Ahhh, memories. My parents were kings of the old style parties. I had a natty outfit of black corduroy trousers, black corduroy waistcoat that buttoned on the girls' side, and a red nylon shirt with big 'spacker' collars.

For a couple of years I just couldn't get the idea that I wasn't allowed to win at the games my father organised and used to burst into tears if someone else won!

catznine

Oh dear this thread is making me feel somewhat older than the rest of you! My parties were in the late 50's and the 60's. Little girls had to wear frocks with bows at the back that always came undone, also matching hair ribbons in their plaits (didn't I look cute!), I was always losing mine! Little lads had to wear shirts and ties and smart trousers. Party fare was usually curling up at the corners sarnies, normally egg or paste, home made little cakes, playbox biscuits - a bit like party rings but square with pictures on (anyone else remember these?) The only gifts were those won in party games of pass the parcel, pin the tail on the donkey etc.

By the time I had children of my own it was the late 70's and 80's and yes I did do the cheese and pineapple on sticks and sausages on sticks placed in a foil covered grapefuit! lol I often made the birthday cakes and based them on whatever was popular at the time - got quite good at the starwars cakes and football pitches! Though I did get help with the fairy castle and the ice skates! Adults who stayed (any excuse for a party in those days) :beer: got quiche, black forest gateaux and loads of black tower or mateus rose! I'm afraid that my daughter (now 21) had one of those tartan party dresses and worse a handmade (by me) midnight blue velvet and net affair which she had to wear to every party for a year while her richer friends wore Laura Ashley frocks. She has forgiven me now
We use to play the marshmallow in flour game ( a bit like apple bobbing) also one where you had to dress up in a pile of dressing up clothes and cut up a slab of chocolate with a plastic knife - I never really cared if kids made a mess so long as they had fun and they assure me that they did

Sarah remember that what you are doing is giving your kids great memories and you can't beat that believe me!

furrypig

Found a great book today in local 2nd hand shop for £1 called 'childrens parties' published in 1987. It is really fab and even has pictures of kids in those party outfits we all wore!! Best of all it is full of traditional and cheap party ideas from themes, invitations,fancy dress,, decorations, cakes (including minimal baking/no baking ones!), the party food and of course the games! It really is a great find so if you need any more ideas let me know and I will look it up in my new party book. I suspect my daughter will be having one of these new/old style parties as they look such fun!!

squeaky

If you could tell us the title and the author's name and possibly the ISBN then we could look for it at amazon or abebooks or greenbooks.