B-day Party on Saturday or Sunday?

Updated on May 02, 2012
S.R. asks from Scottsdale, AZ
19 answers

We're trying to decide when to have a bday party. If we have it on Saturday, lots of kids have sports games which may conflict (we are looking at May 19th from 2-4), but if we have it on Sunday from 2-4 it would make for a crazy day for us with church stuff in the morning and there is a big race at the kids' school that day.

Should we just have it on Saturday and hope for the best? Are most sporting events over by 2:00? When you have parties, do you check with the invitees first for their schedule?

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J.F.

answers from Bloomington on

We just had our daughter's 2 y.o. party 2 Sundays ago. We chose it because most of our family had to drive 1-2 hours to attend, and many have lots of Saturday engagements.

I was told by 2 of my SIL's that they were super happy it was Sunday and not Saturday due to sports, etc.

May is soooo hard with all the sports, graduation parties, and holidays (Mother's Day & Memorial Day).

K.G.

answers from Boca Raton on

I like Saturdays better.. By 2pm , most sports are over. Especially, if your child is younger

B.C.

answers from Dallas on

We are running into issues with parties right now b/c of soccer. Our games are always at either 2pm or 3:15 and they last an hour. We also do chuch and then volunteer at church so I'm there until 2pm on Sundays. I have 5 nieces and nephews with birthdays between April 3-May 7th, so my family has been trying to plan things around our soccer schedule but it's not always possible. My sister is having my nieces bday party at a splash park on Sunday 2:45 so that's perfect! My other sister is having my nephew's party on Saturday at 5, so that's good too b/c soccer is over by then. It's hard trying to get with everyone's schedule so just do what's best for your family if you don't want to stress over it. I don't expect everyone to schedule around us, it's just nice that they try to. :) I don't want to miss celebrating with my family!

Updated

We are running into issues with parties right now b/c of soccer. Our games are always at either 2pm or 3:15 and they last an hour. We also do chuch and then volunteer at church so I'm there until 2pm on Sundays. I have 5 nieces and nephews with birthdays between April 3-May 7th, so my family has been trying to plan things around our soccer schedule but it's not always possible. My sister is having my nieces bday party at a splash park on Sunday 2:45 so that's perfect! My other sister is having my nephew's party on Saturday at 5, so that's good too b/c soccer is over by then. It's hard trying to get with everyone's schedule so just do what's best for your family if you don't want to stress over it. I don't expect everyone to schedule around us, it's just nice that they try to. :) I don't want to miss celebrating with my family!

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B.P.

answers from Cleveland on

do it the following Sunday from 3-5

T.S.

answers from San Francisco on

Could you have it a little later on Saturday, like from 3 to 5? I think most kids are done with their Saturday stuff by then. I seem to remember our "late" games ending around 2 or 2:30.

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C.W.

answers from Washington DC on

I learned early on that having a saturday birthday party would equate to no one coming--unless you hold it late in the day, like around 4. My daughter's birthday is in October, so we really had to compete with sports and other fall events. I notice that towards May and June, there are more saturday parties and less sports. We have opted towards sundays around 2. church is over and relatively no sports to compete with. I only check with the invitees that I really don't want to miss the party (i.e. my daughter's besties). Good luck

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C.D.

answers from Washington DC on

I check with the parents of the kids that my son most wants to be there. Unfortunately, its nearly impossible to schedule it so it fits everybody, especially as the kids get older. For us, my sons games aren't always over by 2pm, nor are most of his friends games. It just depends on when the league scheduled the game. Its anywhere from 8 am to 5pm. But if Saturday works for you, I say do what works best for you. GOod luck.

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T.M.

answers from Philadelphia on

I always like Saturdays better. Sunday is our private little lazy day :)

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☆.A.

answers from Pittsburgh on

I think if you do it later on Saturday, you'll be good.
Our soccer stuff is over by 2-3, but baseball is a wild card--can be evening games, Sunday games, etc.....
So it depends.

Sometimes an evening party works out great--depends on the age of your kids though, I guess.

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H.P.

answers from Houston on

I check the schedules of critical people, like the host or the best friend or someone playing a key role. After that, whoever comes is who's there. I think that you should schedule it for YOUR convenience and be prepared for some people not to show. If you already know that Sunday will be crazy, you should not add this to it.

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S.S.

answers from Chicago on

Saturdays are sports days. But something else to look at is highschool and college graduations and confirmations. may is a busy month. it might work better to have it on a friday night.

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L.R.

answers from Washington DC on

We just had to make the same decision recently so I know how you feel. But it was pretty easy for us: Saturday is so filled with sports for my daughter's friends, and dance rehearsals for my daughter, that it had to be Sunday. We did it from 2-4. I did not check with anyone except my husband; I just knew we would lose almost all of the kids she wanted to invite, if we picked any Saturday.

You mention that there is "a big race at the kids' school that day" so it's clear you have one particular Sunday in mind; why not do it on another Sunday when there is no afternoon event? Is this Sunday you mention being chosen because it's closest to the birthday? Really, most kids won't care that much if their party is a week later, or even more, as long as something small is done to mark the day itself. I would do it on a Sunday that does not have the school event.

My daughter's party was more than two months after her birthday, due to a heap of weekend commitments she had around the time of her birthday and for weeks afterward. It turned out just fine and she looked forward to it. But she's 11, and maybe it's easier for her to defer her pleasure for a while than it would be for a younger kid. But a week shouldn't be an issue, I would hope.

F.H.

answers from Phoenix on

My son just brought home a classmates invite and its for Sunday the 20th. And frankly, I was a little irked. We go to church on Sundays, out to eat and then usually to a movie or something for "family" time. We don't cook or do any chores, I believe it really should be a "day of rest". =) However, we don't really do anything on Saturday either except hang out as a family, we dont' have any kids in sports. But I honestly can't think of any other party invites ever being on a Sunday. Just my opinion, but I think it should be Saturday around 2pm. Good luck.

B.S.

answers from Lansing on

I'd do Saturday and hope for the best, I'd think most kids would be done by 2pm.

I think most people like to reserve their Sundays for their own down time....

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S.H.

answers from Washington DC on

I think regardless of which day you do it, you will be inconvenicing someone. If you pick Saturday a lot of kids have sports games then, and on Sunday they have church. I prefer Saturday, but we just had my daughters birthday party last Sunday. She has soccer games on Saturday, and they are always right in the middle of the day, so a Saturday party would have been too diffucult to plan. Sunday worked out perfect. We went to church in the morning and her party started at 11:00am. Everyone showed up except for one person. You should do what works best for your schedule.

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K.S.

answers from Denver on

I would go for Sunday if you can, afternoon is usually best since people are done with church by then. You're right, Saturday is usually filled with sports. Not sure of the age, but I know my DD has games until 4pm some days.

Just as an FYI, we just had my DD's b-day party on Sunday from 2-4 and every single invitee was able to come. No conflicts. I wouldn't check with people's schedules unless it's a super small group, then maybe. It just makes people start to 'suggest' times for them and you'll end up with 10 different time slots! Have fun!

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C.W.

answers from Phoenix on

do a different weekend. then choose the time that is best for you. I had a party on a sunday at 11. it was the best time for me and my family. i understand that some people have church and wont be there. but i am jewish and i have synogauge on sats. all in all it is up to you

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L.M.

answers from New York on

Do whatever day works best for you. Sporting events go all day on Saturday into the evening hours, and from noon to 6 on Sundays. If there's someone special, like a best friend, you want at the party, then check with that person first.

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H.D.

answers from Dallas on

My experience is that Sundays you get the least amount of kids due to church/family time/school the next day etc.... Definitely do Saturday, no need to check with invitees for their schedules it won't change anything really. If you are worried about the time, try to make it a hair later like another poster said, 3-5.

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