What time should we start our cookout?

[colz85]

We're having a cookout in a couple of weeks. Between 30-40 people on the invite list.

Anyway....when should we start the party? Is five too early? Too late? We'll be feeding people plenty of food, and there will be plenty to drink....this is intended to be dinner.

But for some reason, the start time has me baffled!

Thanks!
Colleen

[mrs_pell]

When we had ours for Memorial Day we told people around 3-ish, just so we could hang out and have drinks, appetizers, etc. We didn't end up eating until about 4:30 or 5:00, but we have a washer pit (it's like horseshoes, for those that have never heard of it ;) ), so people were playing that and just "hanging out." I think the last people left around midnight. We were going to have one for the 4th of July (but couldn't b/c I had to go out of town), and we were going to do the same "start time." :) Personally, I don't like it when everyone arrives, and it's immediately time to eat, but that's just me.

Have fun! :)

[JRPAGV]

I would start the cookout around 4:30 or 5:00.

[Adaya]

I'd say 4, that way it'll give people a chance to get there and settle in and you won't have to rush to eat. With 30-40 people, I'm sure you are going to have people continuously coming for at least a little while. Also, just in case anyone is running a little late, you can still be close to a 5:00 eating time.

[Rose]

I was thinking 4 too.

[colz85]

thanks, everyone! We're going for fiveish, with an open house feel....so there will be munchies when people get there, then we'll start grilling.