What to buy for a street party

A street party needs more than food and drinks. You also need enough reusable tableware, cold storage, barbecue equipment, seating and weather cover for the whole street. Plan quantities from your final attendee count, then add a small buffer for broken items, spills and late arrivals. The most commonly missed items are ice packs, gas cylinders, extension cords and serving utensils. Check road access and storage before buying bulky equipment.

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What to bring

Grouped the way you'd shop for it, with quantities.

Furniture

Party tentsqty 2
Foldable tablesqty 8
Folding chairsqty 70
Beer tablesqty 6
Buffet tablesqty 3
Bar stoolsqty 6

Tableware

Reusable platesqty 100
Reusable bowlsqty 80
Reusable glassesqty 150
Mugsqty 50
Cutlery setsqty 100
Serving spoonsqty 8
Serving plattersqty 12

Decorations

Buntingqty 12
Balloonsqty 100
Balloon pumpqty 2
Tableclothsqty 12
Table decorationsqty 12
Name badgesqty 100
Tapeqty 6
Cable tiesqty 100
Chalkboardsqty 4

Equipment

Barbecuesqty 2
Gas cylindersqty 2
Coolersqty 6
Ice packsqty 24
Speakersqty 2
Mixer
Wireless microphone
Extension cordsqty 6
Power stripsqty 6
Rechargeable batteriesqty 4
Thermos flasksqty 4

Kitchen

Cutting boardsqty 6
Chef's knifeqty 4
Pliersqty 6
Measuring cupsqty 2
Cool pack binsqty 4

Cleaning

Waste binsqty 8
Broom setsqty 3
Floor squeegeesqty 2
Mopsqty 3
Cleaning bucketsqty 3

Lighting

String lightsqty 6
LED lampsqty 10
Lanternsqty 8
Batteriesqty 24

Sports equipment

Footballsqty 3
Kubb set
Skipping ropesqty 4
Sidewalk chalkqty 6

Safety

Crowd control barriersqty 8
Warning tapeqty 2
Fire extinguishersqty 2

Catering

Groceries
- Hamburger buns - 120 pieces
- Beef burgers - 90 pieces
- Vegetarian burgers - 20 pieces
- Chipolata sausages - 80 pieces
- Vegetarian sausages - 20 pieces
- Chicken satay - 60 skewers
- Hamburger sauce - 3 bottles
- Ketchup - 4 bottles
- Mayonnaise - 4 bottles
- Mustard - 3 bottles
- Garlic sauce - 3 bottles
- Barbecue sauce - 3 bottles
- Fried onions - 3 jars
- Pickles - 4 jars
- Cheddar slices - 4 packs
- Lettuce - 8 heads
- Tomatoes - 6 kilograms
- Cucumbers - 5 pieces
- Red onions - 3 kilogram
- Peppers - 3 kilograms
- Mushrooms - 3 kilogram
- Corn on the cob - 40 pieces
- Potato salad - 6 kilogram
- Pasta salad - 6 kilogram
- Mixed salad - 5 kilograms
- Baguettes - 12 pieces
- Herb butter - 8 tubs
- Hummus - 6 tubs
- Tortilla chips - 10 bags
- Paprika chips - 8 bags
- Plain chips - 8 bags
- Savory nuts - 6 bags
- Olives - 4 jars
- Grapes - 5 kilograms
- Apples - 50 pieces
- Watermelons - 4 pieces
- Cookies - 8 packs
- Brownies - 60
- Ice lollies - 100 pieces
- Cola - 12 bottles
- Cola Zero - 10 bottles
- Orange soda - 8 bottles
- Lemonade - 6 bottles
- Spa Blauw - 12 bottles
- Spa Rood - 6 bottles
- Apple juice - 6 packs
- Orange juice - 6 cartons
- Alcohol-free beer - 4 crates
- Beer - 6 crates
- Rosé - 12 bottles
- White wine - 12 bottles
- Red wine - 6 bottles
- Coffee - 4 packs
- Tea - 3 boxes
- Sugar - 2 kilograms
- Milk - 8 liters
- Oat milk - 4 liters
- Lemons - 2 kilograms
- Salt - 2 packs
- Pepper - 2 jars
- Paprika powder - 2 jars
- Garlic powder - 2 jars
- Olive oil - 2 bottles
- Aluminum foil - 3 rolls
- Barbecue briquettes - 6 bags
- Firelighters - 4 boxes
- Charcoal - 4 bags
- Napkins - 500 pieces
- Paper towels - 8 rolls
- Toilet paper - 24 rolls
- Trash bags - 80 pcs
- Compostable bags - 30 pieces
- Dish soap - 3 bottles
- Hand soap - 4 bottles
- Disinfectant spray - 3 bottles
- Sponges - 12 pieces
- Rubber gloves - 6 pairs
- Trash can labels - 20 pieces

Tips

Plan two to three drinks per person for the first hour, then one drink per person for each additional hour. Buy extra water as well as alcoholic and soft drinks, especially if people will be outside for several hours.
Count one reusable plate, bowl, glass and cutlery set per guest, then add 10% extra. For 40 guests, that means at least 44 of each item so serving food and replacements do not become a problem.
Allow about 250–300 grams of barbecue food per adult, plus salads, sauces and bread. Buy charcoal or gas supplies only after checking which barbecues you are using, and keep a backup cylinder if the cooking period is long.
Provide one cooler or equivalent cold-storage space for roughly 15–20 guests, with enough ice packs to keep drinks and perishable food cold. Chill drinks before guests arrive rather than relying on ice bought at the last minute.
Measure the street layout before collecting tables, chairs, tents and cables. Take cable ties and tape for securing decorations and extension cords, and test the speakers, mixer and wireless microphone before the road is closed.

Frequently asked questions

How much food do I need for a street party?: Plan around 250–300 grams of barbecue food per adult, plus salads, sauces and bread. For 40 adults, that is approximately 10–12 kilograms of barbecue food before allowing for children or dietary requirements.
How many drinks should I buy for a street party?: Allow two to three drinks per person during the first hour and one drink per person for every hour after that. For a four-hour party with 40 guests, plan roughly 200–240 drinks, including water and soft drinks.
How many plates and glasses do I need for 40 guests?: Buy at least 44 reusable plates, bowls, glasses and cutlery sets for 40 guests, giving you a 10% buffer. Add extra mugs if you are serving coffee or tea separately.
When should I buy ice and chill the drinks?: Buy or prepare the ice packs at least one day ahead and chill drinks and perishable food several hours before guests arrive. Check the coolers on the morning of the party so there is time to get more cold storage if needed.

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