Ice Cream Social

melly&jimmy

I'm planning to host an ice cream social playdate w/ maybe 8 kids and 5 adults.  Plan to serve vanilla, strawberry, and chocolate and asked everyone to bring their favorite topping.  I'll have prizes for the most unique and popular toppings.

Need ideas - what type of prizes?  ANy craft ideas?  I'm thinking about drawing a huge ice cream cone and printing cherry labels for a Pin the cherry on the cone...WDYT?  Any other ideas to keep the kids entertained?  Should I serve something as well besides my panned Hawaiin Fruit Punch.  The time frame is 2-4pm.  What's your favorite icecream brand?  I usually just get whatever is on sale.  Any ideas welcomed, please!

ETA:  Sorry about all of the typos - I'm not wearing my glasses :0)

lsgarver

I am no help with kid prizes and crafts but I don't think you need to serve anything else.  2-4 is both after lunch and a short time frame plus you're calling it an ice cream social.  Besides drinks, nothing else should be expected.

I'd just get whatever ice cream is on sale.

SBS0628

I'd say make sure you have either pitchers of ice water or bottled water on hand, especially for the adults (I'm not a huge Hawaiian Punch fan, and I don't really like sugary drinks when I'm already eating a sugary dessert!).

I might buy a few "standard" toppings - chocolate syrup, whipped cream, sprinkles - just to have on hand in case everyone else brings really weird items and/or all bring the same item. You want to make sure you have variety.

The "Pin the Cherry on the Cone" game sounds cute. What are the ages of the kids? Could you have them paint ice cream bowls to take home?

melly&jimmy

Thanks for the suggestions.  I don't like Hawaiian Punch either.  I like the idea of painting icecream bowls to take home.  We have kids from 2-5 years old.  I'm going to have to give that some thought.  Didn't think about having toppings JIC...do you think I should have some cones too - or just the bowls?

Ally

I would buy Bryers Ice Cream - not premium like Ben & Jerry's (which could get pricey), but if you check the ingredient list it is quite small (in a good way!).  

I think ice cream cones would be fun.  I have also seen waffle cone bowls which would also be a fun addition.

Add in water, but you don't need other foods.

Psalm_23

I don't know how much you want to spend on prizes, but I think these look really cool.  I have one of these and really like it

HisCB

i think it would be hard to decide on a prize for most unique. instead i would ask each kid to bring a topping that starts with the first letter of their first name. then you will get a variety and the kids may have to be creative.

i like the ice cream bowl painting idea. you can also make party hats look like upside down ice cream cones. i would pre do the hats, (cone template shaped butcher paper and brown magic marker into waffle design) but not rolled up into hats so the kids can stick on paper/craft supply "toppings" to decorate the hat.

i would say that 2-4 is pretty close to nap time for a lot of the kiddos i know. and close to lunch time. might be nice to have some simple non sweet snacks, like a veggie tray, or chips/dip.

definitly have some back up toppings just in case like pp stated. you can always leave them in the cupboard if someone brings them.

also i would find out if anyone is lactose intolerant, if so have a pint of soy ice cream on hand for them.

we did a sundae bar for my sisters/uncles/cousins combined bday party last year. it was after dinner time.

we went to the bulk bins and got tons of different candies and sprinkles etc. we crushed up oreos, we used a fondu pot for hot fudge, we had waffle cones and waffle bowls, (i just saw oreo cones at a grocery store last week btw) we also had marshmellow creme marachino cherries, crushed pinapples, sliced bananas, nuts (although beware of allergies), gummy worms and gummy bears, chocolate chips, peanut butter chips, butterscotch chips. homemade strawberry and blackberry and peach syrups, whipped cream.

we found some little icecream cone designed spoons and bowls for toppings but ended up using some devided trays also. it was a huge hit.

for decoration, we just used solid colored crepe paper, balloons and a "happy birthday" table cloth that we had from before.

for drinks we served sugar free koolade, iced tea, hot coffee, and punch.

we had tons of leftover toppings and cones/bowls so thats what we brought to the next couple potlucks.