First birthday party celebrations

[firelight]

Hi
My baby is turning one soon and we are super excited. I want to make a memorable bday party for her and us but everything I see online or in friends bdays screams money. What are your favorite ways to throw a party for kids/babies without breaking the bank?

Age of kids attending : 10 months to 4 years (mostly one year olds though)
We'd have around 20 adults and 10 kids.

Planning to have it at the park but am worried about possibilities of rain. Any ideas there? Or any other mustachian location suggestions?

What else can we do to make it fun?

[CommonCents]

What are your favorite ways to throw a party for kids/babies without breaking the bank?

Invite fewer people.

Seriously.  This party isn't one she's going to know about (or if she does, just in an over stimulated way).  First admit it's solely for you (and maybe grandparents).  Invite only those people really close (who - and I speak from experience as a guest goer - are only going because you've asked them to go, not because they're super excited to celebrate a 1 yr old birthday).  Keep it low key - maybe a bbq, with the obligatory cake.

[ltt]

We had a few close relatives--maybe under 10.  We made a cake.  If you have a bunch of people there with children that are around 1 year old, the only thing the other parents will have time for is keeping track of their own child. 

1-year-olds do not care.  Give them some pots, pans, spoons to bang on the pots and pans (as long as they are not hitting each other with the spoons), maybe some boxes to crawl in and out of and you will be set. 

[mxt0133]

I think you are in SF so I would recommend Crissy Fields in the Presidio they have picnic tables and grills.  If you do a weekend you need to go in early like 7-8am and put some table  covers and some stuff on the tables and grills as people like to reserve them and come back at 11-noon and actually start.  It's free, you can bring your own food and the views are great.  I wouldn't worry about rain.