What is the difference between an open house and a party?

Answer 1

An open house is continuous event with people coming and going. The idea is that many people are invited, but they will not all show up at the same time, this allows the host to invite more people than he could accommodate all at one time. If you're attending an open house, arrive and leave whenever it suits your schedule. If you notice there is a lack of space, you might want to consider how long you've been in attendance and, if you've been there a while, then leave to make room for new arrivals. Before leaving, make sure to find the host and offer your thanks for the invite. A party has defined start and stop times that are announced when the invite is extended and the host will expect you to stay for the duration. Be respectful of the stop time and do not stay later unless the host requests that you do so. It is appropriate to bring a small host gift to both types of events.