I’d probably show up around 4–4:30.

I have always (probably obnoxiously) been a “first on, last off” type if I am looking forward to the event, and know that I like most of the people that will be there.
Have fun!

4pm go and if not enough at the party then go and come back in a short while?

Are they close friends? If so and see if they need setting up or clean-up. Go when you want.

I am always early, but I usually leave early, too. At some places, I will stay and help clean up.

It should depend ENTIRELY on your reason for being there. What are your expectations? There are several considerations that might dictate your arrival before 3–parking for instance. If you are there from 3 til the end and have the time of your life, no one will be keeping track of when you arrived or left and you won’t miss the interesting guests who might leave before you arrive. Early also means you get the lay of the land before the crowds arrive, or the good food and booze run out. Happy New Year.

3

Well, it’s 3 now and I’m not in Party duds yet so I suspect it will be between 3:30 and 4. Food and booze are calling to me!

This is a party? I’ve never heard of an “open house” party. The only open houses I’ve heard of have been when you’re trying to get it sold.
I’d show up around 3.
Drink and eat some for me!

Get dressed and go now!!!

@chyna I’m almost….out the door…...

@Dutchess_III I think it is a Northeast thing, when I was growing up in New England, our neighborhood had different families throw an “Open House” during the winter holiday season for adults. Started mid to late November, right through New Year’s. Usually only 2 to 4 hours, cocktails/punch (spiked) , hot and cold hors d’oeuvres.

There’s an art to “working” such affairs.

@Tropical_Willie: And a Seattle, Colorado, Oregon, California and so forth thing. I have hosted some and been to many others.

Also a West Virginia thing.

Huh. I’ve heard “open house” as real estate for sale and walk-in viewing, but not as a party before.

Same here @Zaku. New one on me.

We just call that a party haha!

Weird party though. Everyone has to leave by a certain time. Old people’s party I guess.

4:10. Don’t want to look like you planned your arrival time.

Not necessarily an old people’s party, could be because there are other things happening later. Trying to Tetris a gathering in during the busy holiday season can be challenging.

@Dutchess Pre-party? Cocktail hour?

If I were not necessarily interested in getting a large meal, I’d arrive later. I say that because sometimes the bigger food runs out and they move on to dessert. I like to be at events later when maybe there are less people and I can have more solitude and intimate conversations with the stragglers and hopefully the host(s). I don’t like being there at peak times when there’s nowhere to sit and the room is packed and parking is far away.

@Dutchess_III It’s not uncommon here for people to throw open house parties. That’s just a more informal way of saying “come when you want, leave when you want, bring who you want.” It’s usually for a longer period of time mid-day, as opposed to a party that’s later in the day and will last till whenever. We have friends that moved to a new area and they held an open house party as a way for all of the neighbors to stop by and feel welcome.

Well, 5:37 and i’m back home. Got there around 3:45, spoke to a variety of people including close friends from the book club and others and had had enough of standing by 5:30. I feel I hit ir right for me which is the beauty of an open house. Come when you like, leave when you like.

Good on you, Little Penguin, for standing as long as you did with that ankle!
Happy New Year!!

We have those, only we call them “Come and go.” Haven’t been to one in ages.

I’d go when I felt like it. Lol. It would depend if I was also doing something in the evening.

Also, if you want to eat, probably a lot of the food will be gone by 4:00.

If I wasn’t doing anything else for Christmas Eve I’d probably get there at 3:30. If I was going from the open house directly to another event I’d get there closer to 4:30, just because I wouldn’t want to be out for 6 to 8 hours. I think by 5:00 the open house will start breaking up.

I have been hired to help with a couple of open house parties.

For those unfamiliar, it is to facilitate having more friends than your available space will hold. When things start to get crowded, some are supposed to be polite enough to leave.
I think it also makes it okay for people who tire early to leave when it feels right for them.

Some have well laid plans and/or hired help, so lingering is just a problem instead of help.
Knowing your host well will tell you what to do.

When there is no longer anymore eggnog or hors d’oeuvres being brought out, one ought to be working their way to the coat rack.
If host(ess) offers you a seat, you are welcome to stay as long as you like.

If I am taking my grandsons, I aim for 3, but 3:30 is far more likely. Just me, or adults only, between 3:30 and 4.

Wait @Patty_Melt…so you can’t sit down while you’re there?

Oh good grief of course you can sit down. The chances are excellent that the person hosting has chairs and stuff.

The difference is being offered a seat. I didn’t see people sit much though. People mingled. It wasn’t like a birthday party, where people will sit to eat and watch the opening of presents. People are there to move around and see who else is there, exchange some well wishes, a story, a joke, and move on. People who sat were disabled, or very close to the host and expecting to stay. Think office party or Hollywood mixers.

The difference is an event where someone hires help and a more casual “at home” where friends are invited over. I used to do a Christmas open house every year, in my regular home where there was regular furniture that people sat on. Most open houses are like that.

One example, woman invited three hundred people. She expected between one hundred to one forty to show up. She had seating for about a dozen.
Those who traveled furthest were offered a seat. Locals would sit long enough to “catch up” then move on to allow others to chat. At any given time there were thirty to fifty guests there. Some had other parties to attend, so stayed long enough for a drink and several howdy do’s.
Obviously these parties vary from one to the next, but I never saw an open house party myself which had seating for more than twenty. They have all been people standing and walking around.
I have been to parties where the only seating is in the bathroom.

@Patty_Melt Yes. This party probably had thirty or forty people in and out. There was seating in the living room but as you say, most people were standing around and mingling with people as at a cocktail party. You could find a seat but then you would have been out of the flow.

That’s sort of any party, unless it’s specifically a sit-down meal.

@canidmajor Agree