how does this sound for a 3 year old b day party

I was thinking more about any young guests.

I would do snack type foods.

Corn Chips, Veggies, crackers, cheese. Gold Fish, cheese sticks, maybe a tray of simple sandwiches. cut fresh fruit

And cup cakes.

Hungry kids can be crabby, so snacks and water is important. I would avoid sugary treats.

if it will be outside and hot.. popsicles.

My opinion is this: if you're worried about feeding that many people, then you should not invite that many people.

Keep it to cake and ice cream and cheap pop.

Why not just double or triple a recipe that you are familiar with and your family likes?

Matthew just had his 5th birthday party and it was his first big friend party. He loves paw patrol too. We had it in a park. I brought sand toys, food to feed the ducks, bubbles, and balls. The kids had a blast and even the parents told me how much they appreciated a laid back party. The Paw Patrol element was in the paper plates and cups and stuff that I bought and he loved them. When anyone asked what to get him, I suggested one of the Paw Patrol cars so by the end of the day he had the whole set.

For his third birthday, he was also obsessed with cars and trucks and stuff. The city my in-laws live in allows you to request a trash truck (his favorite) come visit. So we did. And since it was coming anyway, we invited the 4 boys who live next door to my in laws to come out and join. It ended up being a little bit of a disappointment because you have such a limited time with the big vehicle, and then he had to share it and the attention of the driver. During the rest of the day, we visited the police station, the fire station, the dump, the tractor factory, the airport, and the train station just as a family of 3 and he had a lot more "quality time" with his favorite big vehicles. (Bonus, it was all free!)

Not that you're asking my opinion, but based on my experience with somethings sort of similar to what you're planning (and no judgment at all--do what you want to do--I'm just saying it might be a source of frustration rather than pleasure), I'd do something simple for the group kids, and then take M separately to see and enjoy his favorite vehicles, 1 on 1.

As far as food, I did hotdogs, chips, fruit, veggies, juice boxes, and cupcakes.

OK, I think I see it now. It sounds like fun and a big event. I would do anything I could to minimize the work you have to do while it is going. Do all your work ahead of time. Like, have cupcakes instead of cake so individual servings are already set up. Get those individual ice cream cups that can be put on dry ice. Hot dogs are kinda out since at that age mothers worry about their kids choking on them. So perhaps some other kind of snack food like finger sandwiches that can be made ahead of time. Then you don't have to have someone be at the grill cooking them to order. You can serve several kinds and keep them cool by putting them on frozen containers of ice the size of the plate. By the way, I hope this is to be an outside party. But have perhaps a tarp/tent thingie for shade. Or you could perhaps make pretend sushi - the cute kind made with veggies and the like. Look up Bento boxe lunches to get some ideas. Make it all ahead of time so all you have to do is bring it out and place on buffet table. These can be suitable for both adults and kids and would be a hit. Serve lots of water in water bottles along with other juices and the like.

Hope it all works out great.

We usually have bigger parties when the kids are little since we invite our friends and their families. But usually ours are between 20-30 people. We have had homemade sloppy joes, taco bar, pulled pork, funeral sandwiches. Along with snacks, chips, veggies and fruit.