With fifty kids and a pool, I doubt you have to worry about making things fun...they'll take care of that.

It's your daughter's day, so I'd go with what she asked for. Why make yourself nuts? Platters of sandwiches, or even of cold cuts, cheeses and condiments with a big basket of rolls.

When I was working for a catering establishment, a big hit with kids was the chocolate fountain. I don't know what your budget is, they can be expensive to rent, and the little ones you buy in department stores are no darn good.

But...do you have a fondue set in a closet somewhere? The fountain part isn't necessary, just something that will keep chocolate melted. I do suggest purchasing good quality chocolate intended for fountains rather than trying to make do with chocolate bars. If you decide you like this idea, I'd be happy to give you URL links to sources.

A big platter of strawberries, marshmallows, graham crackers, dried fruits, peppermint sticks...anything that sounds good with chocolate but won't crumble into the bath when dipped.

Young ladies love chocolate, and just to let you know, the strawberries will get the most hits. With that for "dessert", sandwiches, fruit and bowls of snack items will do just fine.

I am with Rachel. A large platter of cold cuts and cheeses with some nice kaiser rolls would probably go over really well with that age group.
For something more substantial, you could also maybe do a taco bar. Or a Nacho bar.
If you go with the sandwiches then you could also beef up the menu with some chicken wings and maybe the meatballs in BBQ or BBQ/grape jelly sauce.
Have fun.
Lisa

Pigs-in-blankets! Cocktail franks in strips of crescent roll dough - mustard and ketchup on the side. Bake ahead, warm in a low oven, serve the condiments in small bowls on the platters.

Fresh strawberries, apple slices, chunks of bananas with a sweet dip.

Mini cheeseburgers, cooked ahead, put in small rolls, wrap in foil and reheat slowly. Serve with mustard, ketchup, dill pickles, chopped onion.

Pizza baked in a rectangle (dairy case pizza dough), topped with jarred sauce and a mix of mozzarella, cheddar, and Monterey Jack cheese - lots of cheese.

Tortilla dipper chips with lots of good bottled salsa.

Get some subs made ahead and slice into small portions.

I personally would not do a fondue for that many young people. Brownies with a scoop of ice cream would be easier and safer.

We have hosted dozens of teen pool parties of various sizes over the years and here are my suggestions.

Dips & dippers - It always surprised me that hummus with pita triangles was so popular. Instead of a vegetable tray, I'd do only carrot and celery sticks, since they always went before the other vegetables.

Mini-sandwiches (3 per person for girls - 5 for boys)
I would order mini-bagels from our bagel shop and mini-croissants and silver dollar rolls. Smoked turkey on the bagels, ham and cheese and/or roast beef on the croissants, and egg salad on crustless wheat bread triangles. I would make them the night before without condiments and refrigerate packed in covered plastic trays. We'd also have a platter of lettuce, sliced tomatoes and mustard, mayo, etc. for dressing the sandwiches.

For a smaller group, I'd make mini Italian hoagies on small french bread rolls.

With the cold cut platters for teens, I found they'd make these giant sandwiches, take a couple of bites and then let them sit and go to waste.

To add a hot sandwich, a crockpot full of sloppy joes (hamburger bbq) is a good bet for males and pounds of it can be make ahead and frozen. We'd often have hot chicken wings but would order them from a local tavern instead of making them myself.

I'd have a big platter of fruit chunks with wooden skewers. The kids would make a kabob of them and carry it around.

For dessert, a make-you-own sundae bar is fun but I'd limit that to about 25 people. For larger groups, I'd do miniature pickup desserts - a tower of those little frozen cream puffs sprinkled with powdered sugar, brownie bites baked in mini-muffin cups, chocolate chip cookies and chocolate dipped strawberries. I'd figure 4 pieces per person. If strawberries were in season, sometimes we'd have mini skewers of a couple of whole strawberries with cubes of pound cake and have cans of whipped cream available to squirt on them (and sometimes each other).

My only "rule", learned by experience, was that the parties were more about fun and friendship and the food was secondary. I had to avoid the temptation to dress up the menu too much.

I hope your daughter and you have a great time!

PARTY SHRIMP SPREAD

2 (8 oz.) pkg. softened cream cheese
1 cup cocktail sauce
1 1/2 cups cooked baby shrimp
1/3 cup chopped green onions
1/3 cup chopped green pepper
1/3 cup sliced ripe olives
1/3 cup diced fresh tomatoes, drained
1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese

On a pizza pan or large, flat round tray, spread the cream cheese evenly. Spread the cocktail sauce on top. Sprinkle the shrimp, green onions, green pepper, olives and tomatoes onto the cocktail sauce. Distribute the Parmesan cheese evenly over all the other ingredients so it looks like a pizza. Cover and chill until serving time. Serve as a spread with crackers.

I kind of like your skewered chicken idea. And/or teresa's pizza cut into bite sized pieces.

In fact I have a thread from a couple years ago that discussed having a "kabob party" - and has lots of great ideas of things to "skewer". Including hot dogs, apples with cinnamon, and tortellini! (well, not all together - lol). That would be fun and interesting - everything on a stick.

I have it saved and would be happy to copy and paste it if you're interested. (just won't take the time if you've already decided on something else...)

my first thought was a huge "sub" cut in slices. Take loaves of french bread and make different sandwiches--ham and cheese, turkey, etc. and cut them into 3 or 4" sections--easy to grab without making it yourself.

Pizzas

lots of disgusting chips--doritos, etc. :) Bowls of popcorn. Slices of watermelon and bowls of strawberries and grapes.

Do you have a fireplace/firepit? The kids love roasting marshmallows, but with that many kids---it could get ugly with melted marshmallow goo everywhere...

And if this is your first big teen age party you will be surprised at how much they eat.
I think you are missing the boat, though by not having hot dogs. You can have a big crock pot of steamed dogs and buns on the side like they have at the ball park and don't have to mess with a grill. And another crock pot full of sloppy joe's or pulled pork or pulled chicken. Then fill in with the veggies, and chocolate dip monster cookies and chips and dip.....always chips and dip.....and you also could do nachos. You can buy big jars of that yellow cheese goo and keep it hot and let them ladle it on.
I would suggest doing the food in "waves"...like start with just veggies and perhaps a chip and dip or 2....move on to nachos then to hot dogs, other hot sandwich and pizza and end up with an assortment of chocolate dips and perhaps cookies.
But frankly, I would skip the chocolate fountain. 50 13 yearolds and lots of melted chocolate and a pool sounds to me like a recipe for a call to the pool guy in the morning!
Linda C

With that many kids, age 13, and BOYS it could get ulgy with skewers, fondue or a fountain! :) Raised a boy - gave a pool party - every year - ask me how I know - LOL! The grab and eat or (bite and drop) is the theme - avoid sticks , and bones, and anything that requires utensils -that can poke, puncture, or hurt or cause fire!
All bite size "finger foods" should be the menu - Pizza, already cut hoagies, fruits, desserts, chicken nuggets, & all the bite size suggestions mentioned.
This party sounds like a blast - your daughter knows the secret in the "pool food " request.

Presto! I have a party planned - ya'll are awesome, thanks for the many helpful suggestions.

The hot dogs in the crockpot are a perfect and easy solution and will surely be a crowd pleaser.

I was thinking of a variety of different sandwich platters, some I can do and others I can order for a more 'specialty' sandwich - Jason's Deli makes a great muffalata that I can cut into quarters.

I was thinking of maybe a chicken nugget tray from Chik-Fil-A. I was going to skewer them, but your mention of wastefulness and safety comes to mind, better to leave in the tray I think.

Lots of bowls of salty items and fruit, guess I'm done!

I'm not going to sweat the dessert too much as it's a birthday party and my daughter has picked out a beautiful cake already. Although the chocolate fountain sounds great...think 50 kids and a chocolate fountain doesn't sound like a good idea? Darn!! We will have a margarita machine flowing, that will add some 'sweetness'...non-alcohlic of course.

As mentioned, I think the pool, friends and game playing will be the main attraction and the food secondary - although necessary. Probably will be more about the quantity than the quality...they are 13, after all. Thanks for pointing that out, I tend to concentrate on the food too much when I'm feeding anyone for any occasion.

I'm sure the kabob thread would be intersting, but as Stacy sounds quite busy, I will bug her another time.

Now, off to figure out the game details!

dreamhouse check out magothyrivergirl's thread - i c and p'd to that!

party sounds wonderful!

I recall both Chris' and Meredith's 13th, I survived but barely!! Get a promise from your daughter that she will help with cleanup....not a pretty site! LOL

I second the crockpot full of dogs, the kids love them and it is so easy. Just have lots of toppings for them.

Small sandwiches and sliced subs, muffalata etc are great ideas. Much less waste than build your own. Don't forget a few vegetarian choices.

A layered nacho dip is always a big hit or set out small plates of nacho chips, and a crockpot of that meat, cheese, tomato dip that seems to be so popular especially with kids. Kids can ladle it over the nacho chips.

NEW MEXICAN CHILE DIP-----posted by Woodie
from the kitchen of Jim Myers
Makes about 3 quarts

2-3 pounds ground beef
2 pounds Velveeta cheese cubed
2 large onions, chopped
1 - 28 ounce ounce can crushed tomatoes
4 cloves garlic chopped
2 - 4 ounce cans chopped green chiles
1 tablespoon chili powder
2 teaspoons cumin

Brown ground beef with the onions and drain. Add remaining ingredients and simmer 20-30 minutes. Transfer to crock pot to keep warm. Use large corn chips for dippers.

I've entertained many kids over the years up at my old place on the lake and I think you can never have enough food for them. Sounds like you have a good plan of attack to me. I'll add that fresh fruit was always a hit and one of the first things to disappear. The recipe posted above or a variation of it was always a big hit too.

Have fun!

Daivd

Will let you all know how it turns out - the party is the 31st.

I have added the Mexican dip to the menu.

Thanks again for your suggestions!

Easier version of that New Mexico Chili dip...as given to me by my grandson when he was 13!...As it were...straight from the horses mouth.
8 oz cream cheese
1 pound velveeta cheese
1 can Rotel
1 can chili without beans...microwave untill melted and all is warn....cut up the cheeses and mix with the other stuff and stop every 20 seconds or so to stir....then keep it hot.
You will probably need 5 times that recipe.
Linda C

I saw a recipe on Pioneer Woman's website featuring flower pot desserts. You use clean terra cotta pots, frozen pound cake cut the size of the pots, ice cream and oreos. Here is the link to the post with instructions, tell me those aren't cute!

Here is a link that might be useful: Springy Flower Pot Desserts: A Blast From My Past

Sounds like a fun party! I especially love Teresa's "Cocktail franks in strips of crescent roll dough - mustard and ketchup on the side. Bake ahead, warm in a low oven, serve the condiments in small bowls on the platters" idea. They would be eaten in a flash. Have you considered hiring a couple of high schoolers who lifeguard? They can be the rule enforcers and you can enjoy the party.

Denise, good idea on the lifeguards. Our pool is pretty shallow, which though I don't worry about drowning as much, I do worry about diving. I'm sure that though they are teens and should know better, excitement still gets the better of them. Thanks for the suggestion.

Coctail franks are surely in!

I like Denise's suggestion on having a couple older people as "life guards", even though your pool is shallow. Kids are kids, and sometimes they may get a little wild!

And the suggestion to recruit your daughter and a couple close friends who may be staying overnight to help with the clean-up is definitely a must. I had a house party for my then 13 year old daughter, and the rec room was a pretty big mess. No damage thankfully, but my daughter and her friend cleaned up the room. We have before and after pictures that are a hoot!