ice cream social

creativejuices

I am planning on hosting an ice cream social for neighbors. Probably around 50 people/mix of kids and adults. 

I am doing a toppings bar and offering waffle bowls, cones dipped in chocolate jimmies, brownies to make sundaes and cute cups & straw and root beer to make  floats.

I was going to offer chocolate and caramel warmed (crock pot???) for toppings too.

then I was just going to offer bottled water to drink.

I was also going to do a big bin of ice with popsicles open and turned upside down in the ice as an option.

I do plan on having a soy option too... sinceI know some neighbors don't do dairy.

I am planning on renting some tables/chairs from a local rental place. Much more affordable than I expected.

Do you think that I can put a date and then offer the next day Sun as a rain date? I cannot have that many people in my house because I am a neat freak. LOL!!

Anybody hosted one or have cute ideas/inspiration?

TIA!  

Jynxey

That sounds SO cute! I want to be your neighbor. haha. The only input I really have, is I wouldn't think twice about the invitation having a rain date on it. If it does rain, I would just make sure than you contact everyone, even if it's obviously pouring rain, thunderstorms and hurricanes, and inform them you will be using the rain date.

TarHeels&Rebels

I wouldn't worry about warming chocolate sauce and caramel, esp if this is going to be outdoors.  Too much trouble to fool with.  Just get the jarred kind.

I like the rain date idea.

foundmydr1

If your area tends to rain I think the rain date is fine.

This is a great idea which I hope to use when DD gets a little older. I did a TEA for her first birthday with about 50 neighbors and it was a huge hit.  Do post pix or extra ideas once you do it, I'll check back. Have fun!

foundmydr1

This might be dorky to you but if your neighbors don't know each other's names you can get inexpensive visors (oriental trading company online) and when they come in they put their name on the visor. (Or just do this for the kids.)  Or just use a nametag.  Often we know our neighbors by sight but not by name, and there's always the neighbor who doesn't get out as much.

creativejuices

I have a bunch of ideas on my old computer for inspiration... I wish that I could post them!! I plan on doing cupcakes in ice cream cones (the easy way) AFTER I bake them because my trial run was not good!!

I forgot to add thatI will be hiring a balloon artist to come - I had one for my DC's 2nd birthday and it was a HUGE hit. The adults liked it as much as the kids and the artist did a bunch of goofy hats for the adults. Great photo ops! 

I am planning on putting the toppings in canning jars... I am going to do smashed oreos and worms so that kids can do a dirt version and maybe a bunch of bananas for splits...

Oh and another cute idea that I saw somewhere is to have a tub of baby wipes - I plan on covering it with something and they had a sign that read, "sticky?" 

I also saw a cute idea for bunching balloons together and making them look like cones. 

 

jj_sbride

Here is my post on my DD's 1st bday ice cream social.
Hope it helps!