We have a playgroup in our area (I live rurally) and it's great. the first Wednesday every month, we have a lady from a company called Hey Dee Ho, who comes out with musical instruments, songs dances and a few bit and bobs and sings songs with the kids for an hour or more. All the mums join in with their kids, and the kids LOVE it! It costs us $8 each time, but it's well worth it.
We have a roster system for activities, where one person has to set up an acitivity that is different to most other weeks. I did some pasting with magazine cut outs (nothing too flash). We all pitch in to help pull out all the toys and pack them up.
We all take a peice of fruit each week to cut up and share between the kids. DS is mega fussy, so I always take something for him but try him with the fruit first.
We also havea roster for a different person to provide morning tea for the mums.
We are all really laid back and there's no chatter about how bad such and such is etc, but I might just be lucky because we are all reasonably isolated.
We also have a playground outside the hall which the kids run out and play on for half an hour.
Our group starts at 10am and goes until everyone is ready to go home. It suits some sleep patterns, but not others. If someone needs to leave early, it's no drama.

I have no idea if that's what you would expect or not. hehe. That's just what happens here. We also have a few fundraisers throughout the year for new toys etc.