In the Carolinas you can't go wrong with a pig pickin or good ol fashion bar-b-que.

Fred - Call me on Monday.  I am the queen of hosting events for many years!  Lots of great ideas up my sleve!!  Love that your hosting this party!!

That sounds like a lot of fun and I would certainly call Anna Banana Kruchten CRS, CRB, Phoenix Broker as she has offered.  She knows how to host a party!

Great idea!  I've hosted quite a few events over the years, ranging from corporate meetings (with after hours dinner and entertainment) to Realtor association parties to a 60 person retirement party at my house.  Compartmentalize what you can and outsource it, you'll still be plenty busy.

I would get a local restaurant that serves great food and have them cater.  I would pay the extra money to have them staff it and keep the food trays full.  Alternate would be a catering company.

Beverages, I would hire a bartender.  I would also have someone who keeps the place clean.

What I did for the retirement party (mind you I was part of a committee that threw the party), we had a local restaurant bring the food set it up and one of them stayed behind and kept the food stocked and hot and served everyone.  I believe we went with thick plastic plates and the plastic utensils that are silver and look like real utensils.

A buddy of mine's brother is a bartender, so I hired him to pour drinks and keep an eye on things.  We did charge a nominal amount for the drinks.  We bought some beers and sodas which were free, my liqour cabinet cost money to access.  :)

I hired the son of my cleaners to be there for the setup, event and cleanup.  He made sure the bathrooms stayed stocked and clean (we had disposable napkins instead of towels), and he helped bus the tables and drinks and keep the outside cans from getting too full.

We used a lot of folding tables & chairs and had table cloths for them (from the dollar store, so they could be easily tossed at the end).

A live band is good, but possibly overkill.  Without knowing the setup and demographics, I can't really advise on that.

One thing I know from hosting everything from football parties with 10 people to 60 people events is you will not get to enjoy the event.  Even with 4 committee members and all that staff offloading work from me, I was still running around constantly.  I ate after the event.  I maybe had one drink the entire 3 hours.  A host's job is not to enjoy the event, but to make sure everyone else is.  It was only through all the added staff that I even got to take a bite of food.  If I have more than one or two people over to watch a movie, I watch it first otherwise I'll miss half of it, especially if cooking is involved.

How wonderful Fred Griffin Florida Real Estate !  I would hire a local caterer or favorite restaurant staff to handle the food, the setup, cleanup and keep a few for butler style service, trash duty and so forth.  A local dj that can theme the music every hour from oldies to soft rock to jazz to the lat dance and so forth.  Each time the music changes give a small gift with tickets in the hopper as they enter your new home.  Do not have to be there to collect type.  Maybe a bottle of wine, a local restaurant gift certificate, a publix gift card, a starbucks card....you get the idea.  I find engaging events with a special twist are the most memorable.  

Informal versus upscale for outdoor events.  Definitely a bartender to control the people who may dink too much. 

Is Rocky Bottom a subdivision?  30-40 strangers/neighbors.  You may wish to scale down for the first one.  Perhaps make it a quarterly event instead until you get the lay of the land so to speak.  

Sounds terrific - enjoy😎

I think you are well covered with suggestions. Good luck and have a blast!

Fred,

I would have it catered.  And spend our time with our guests.  And it looks like Anna Banana Kruchten CRS, CRB, Phoenix Broker may be of great help to you. A

I always like the BBQ to be the center of attention with the side dishes and a drink area being a supporting cast. People make the rounds, gather, wander and parade. Hands-on works if you work it. Catering if you don't. I ama a fan of quality disposable plates-cups and eating ware too. Background music is optional but socializing produces its own tune. If your guests are shy or withdrawn, music will relax them. Plenty of informal seating, trash containers, shade, bathroom monitoring, and e-z peasy nice and breezy dynamics. Fun will do nicely...

Hire people to help so that you can succeed in being able to socialize.  

are we all invited?  what time and date?  what can we bring?

Sounds like fun and you have been given a lot of ideas to get those brain cells working.  Good luck and have a good time.  

Six Foot Sandwiches with Potato & Macaroni Salad & Cole Slaw never disappoints.

Just do you, Fred Griffin Florida Real Estate 

Personal styles are different - let whatever you do, and however you do it, reflect your personality and just have fun! 

I'd go with barbeque.... easy to keep the pig hot, the sides warm or cold.  And I would likely have some vegetarian options like sandwiches for people who don't want to eat pork.   I would have it catered, because it's hard to "host and be social" and cook at the same time.  Paper plates and plastic cups and silverware for sure.  

All of the above and more! I would say don't go crazy trying to do everything yourselves, Costco-type ready-made stuff might be good unless you prefer to cater, or mix it up. Have a good time! It's the camaraderie that counts and you have the right spirit.

Please don't force people to cut steak off of paper plates with plastic flatware - for the love of all that's Holy!!   Even if you're not having the event catered, you can still rent proper plates, glassware and cutlery and you can even return them dirty!!!!!!   No excuse for paper (and I'm not even environmentally friendly, lol)   And red solo cups?  Don't get me started!  If your aim is to make a favourable impression on your new neighbours, treat them like adults and not frat boys! 

Good Luck!! update on what you did and how it went!

Skip the band, they are always too loud and stiffle the conversations.

I am sure your new neighbors will enjoy the food and intro to you and your family.

I recommend keeping it simple and about the people - down to earth - not too fancy for a neighborhood gathering. There's no "bad" choice from all the input from everyone here. For me, I'm a no RSVP - stay as long as you want as short as you want - chill - be yourself kind of guy. Spend your time and energy on your guest themselves and be interested in them, what they do and what's going on in their lives rather than anything that's too flashy or say's "hey look at me and what a spread I put on".

Make a "Resource" board (butcher paper and a sharpie) where everyone (except you) can write down their favorite venders and/or service people and any services they themselves may provide. That hey feel may benefit some of their neighbors to know about.

Have everyone write their name and number down on a piece of paper and have a drawing and give a way some fun stuff (if there's kids in the neighborhood have atleast one kids prize  like a Lego set) other prizes can be bottle of wine, plants, gift certificates - whatever.

Depends on how fancy you want to be. Decide by the type of crowd you expect.

Questiove #1. Do the natives drink beer with their pinky raised? That may suggest the cuisine.
Question #2. Have you observed anyone mowing their own grass? That will tell you how far removed they are from the restorative magic of rural living and the organic pleasures of touching earth. This may influence whether you create the environment that predisposes discussion of the works of others or the evidence of accomplish that all know includes a long sequence of learning events. (aka: when things go wrong)  In this arena, those who make things see in others the spirit of things made and the perserverance that requires.
But most of all, if YOU be yourself, genuine self, you will enjoy the whole expereince and they will enjoy meeting your.
Question #3. How can your guests help you? What I  mean by this question is how can the atttendees help you get you know your new paradise better?  They are eager to share what they know so this gathering is a great stage for them to be contributors to a collective effort.
Everyone will have their ROUND TOP MOUNTAIN story to share. Set the stage. 

If I had steaks I'd do an indoor table catered event.  Outdoor barbeque sounds better.  In our neck of the woods fish fries go over really well.

Depends on the weather and the vibe. Catering gives you the freedom to spend time with your guest and not worry over all the details. Some music whether live or played through a speaker would be nice. If it is outdoors, I'd go with tables with tablecloths, nice paper/plastic dinnerware. I wouldn't set it up as formal so people can mingle and meet one another.