In the 50’ we celebrated so many things at the school. Everyone would come, there would be food, and punch, and dancing. Things would get started in the afternoon when the ladies would come in and take over the lunchroom. They would bring covered dishes, some ready to set out and some just needin’ to be heated up on the stove or stuck in the oven for a few minutes. Us kids would be pressed into runnin’ for the forgotten spice that needed to be added or the whipping cream that needed to be whipped for the pies, or "watch those little one and get them out from under foot".
The wall between two of the class rooms could be slid back like pocket doors and all the desks and such would be moved into the other classroom. That left a large space for dancing. Or putting on plays. Or graduations, weddings, baby showers, anniversaries, funerals, home comings, birthdays, wildlife films from the DOW. or any other excuse to get together.
All it cost was some food, some time and some energy and the whole family was entertained.