What you need for a street party

A street party needs more than food and drinks. You also need enough servingware, seating, shade, cooling capacity and cooking equipment for a setup that runs outdoors for several hours. Use the guest count to work out quantities, then add a small buffer for breakages, spills and unexpected guests. Check deliveries, chill drinks early and keep a separate crate for items needed during setup, such as signage, tablecloth clips and power leads.

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What to bring

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

Furniture

Party tentsqty 2
Foldable tablesqty 10
Folding chairsqty 80
Beer tablesqty 6
Bar stoolsqty 8
Buffet racksqty 4
Tablecloth clipsqty 40

Tableware

Reusable platesqty 100
Reusable bowlsqty 80
Reusable cupsqty 150
Wine glassesqty 60
Coffee cupsqty 50
Knivesqty 100
Forksqty 100
Spoonsqty 80

Kitchen

Cutting boardsqty 6
Chef's knivesqty 4
Serving tongsqty 8
Serving spoonsqty 8
Mixing bowlsqty 6
Aluminum traysqty 20
Kitchen cratesqty 8
Coffee machinesqty 2
Kettlesqty 2
Thermos flasksqty 6
Barbecueqty 2
BBQ toolsqty 4
Coolersqty 6
Ice containersqty 4

Equipment

Speakersqty 2
Mixer
Microphoneqty 2
Extension cordsqty 6
Power stripsqty 6
Cable traysqty 20

Lighting

String lightsqty 8
LED lampsqty 12
Battery lanternsqty 6

Decorations

Balloonsqty 200
Buntingqty 12
Table décorqty 10
Directional signsqty 10
Name badgesqty 100

Sports equipment

Outdoor gamesqty 6
Sidewalk chalkqty 12
Skipping ropesqty 6

Cleaning

Waste binsqty 12
Trash grabbersqty 6
Broom setsqty 4
Litter pickersqty 4
Mopsqty 4

Catering

Groceries
- Burger buns - 100 pieces
- Vegetarian sandwiches - 20 pieces
- Beef burgers - 80 pieces
- Vegetarian burgers - 20 pieces
- Chicken skewers - 80 pieces
- Vegetarian skewers - 20 pieces
- Sausages - 60 pieces
- Potato salad - 8 kilograms
- Pasta salad - 8 kilograms
- Raw vegetable salad - 6 kilograms
- Mixed green salad - 6 kilograms
- Baguettes - 12 pieces
- Herb butter - 2 kilograms
- Hamburger sauce - 4 bottles
- Mayonnaise - 3 bottles
- Ketchup - 4 bottles
- Mustard - 3 bottles
- Garlic sauce - 3 bottles
- Barbecue sauce - 4 bottles
- Chili sauce - 2 bottles
- Tomatoes - 6 kilograms
- Cucumbers - 4 kilogram
- Red onions - 2 kilograms
- Lettuce - 12 heads
- Bell peppers - 4 kilograms
- Corn - 12 cans
- Pickles - 4 jars
- Sliced cheese - 3 kilogram
- Bacon - 3 kilogram
- Hummus - 2 kilograms
- Feta - 1 kilogram
- Olives - 2 kilograms
- Paprika chips - 8 bags
- Plain chips - 8 bags
- Tortilla chips - 6 bags
- Salted peanuts - 4 bags
- Snack mix - 4 bags
- Cheese sticks - 4 packs
- Salted breadsticks - 4 packs
- Popcorn - 3 kilograms
- Watermelons - 6 pieces
- Apples - 8 kilograms
- Bananas - 6 kilograms
- Grapes - 5 kilograms
- Strawberries - 4 kilogram
- Cookies - 8 packs
- Brownies - 100 pieces
- Ice lollies - 100 pieces
- Cola - 24 bottles
- Coke Zero - 24 bottles
- Sinas - 18 bottles
- Sprite - 18 bottles
- Bitter lemon - 12 bottles
- Ice tea - 18 bottles
- Spa Blauw - 60 bottles
- Spa Red - 24 bottles
- Apple juice - 12 cartons
- Orange juice - 12 cartons
- Beer - 10 crates
- Alcohol-free beer - 3 cases
- Rosé - 12 bottles
- White wine - 12 bottles
- Red wine - 8 bottles
- Coffee - 6 packs
- Tea - 4 boxes
- Sugar - 2 kilograms
- Milk - 12 liters
- Oat milk - 6 liters
- Lemons - 3 kilogram
- Barbecue spices - 4 jars
- Salt - 2 packs
- Pepper - 2 jars
- Olive oil - 3 bottles
- Aluminum foil - 4 rolls
- Cling film - 3 rolls
- Baking paper - 2 rolls
- Napkins - 300 pieces
- Paper towels - 12 rolls
- Trash bags - 60 pieces
- Dishwasher tablets - 40 pieces
- Dish soap - 4 bottles
- All-purpose cleaner - 4 bottles
- Disinfectant wipes - 6 packs
- Sponges - 12 pieces
- Rubber gloves - 8 pairs
- Toilet paper - 24 rolls
- Hand soap - 4 bottles
- Hand sanitizer gel - 4 bottles
- Barbecue charcoal - 30 kilograms
- Firelighters - 4 boxes
- Gas cylinders - 2 pieces
- Cooling packs - 30 pieces

Tips

Plan two to three drinks per person for the first hour, then one drink per person per hour. Chill at least half of the drinks before guests arrive and keep the rest in coolers with ice.
Count reusable plates, bowls and cups by guest rather than by table: allow one plate, one bowl and two cups per person, plus 10% extra. Add separate wine glasses and coffee cups if both will be served.
For a buffet, provide one serving spoon or pair of tongs per dish and prepare at least two cutting boards and chef’s knives for food preparation. Keep trays, mixing bowls and kitchen crates together so they do not get mixed up with tableware.
Match seating to the street layout instead of assuming every guest needs a chair. Provide tables for food and drinks, beer tables for standing groups, and party tents or other cover before the weather forecast becomes a problem.
Set aside one clearly labelled crate for setup and one for cleanup. Include tablecloth clips, signage, waste-collection supplies and spare servingware; these are easy to overlook when shopping for the menu.

Frequently asked questions

How many cups and plates do I need for a street party?: Allow one reusable plate, one bowl and two reusable cups per guest, then add 10% extra. For 40 guests, that means at least 44 plates, 44 bowls and 88 cups.
How much ice do I need for a street party?: Plan on roughly 1 kilogram of ice per guest when drinks are cooled in ice containers, and more if the party lasts all day or the weather is warm. For 40 guests, start with about 40 kilograms and keep some ice reserved for topping up.
How many drinks should I buy for a street party?: Budget for two to three drinks per person in the first hour, followed by one drink per person per hour. For a four-hour party with 40 guests, that is approximately 200 to 240 drinks, including alcohol-free options.
When should I buy and chill drinks for a street party?: Buy non-perishable drinks several days ahead and chill the first batch at least 12 hours before guests arrive. Put the remaining drinks in coolers with ice during setup, ideally 60 to 90 minutes before serving.

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