Outdoor parties are always a blast. When summer nights start to heat up, the possibilities in festivities only become wider. Backyard cooking classes, night swimming get-togethers, even 1960’s Mad Men style soirees! But wait, the ideas don’t stop there.
Here is a list of three outdoor party ideas we are eager to try over the next three months.
1. Dinner and a Movie… In the Backyard!
Nothing beats getting the family together for some bonding time over dinner and a quality flick. Imagine this, but with all of your closest friends and their own families! That’s the idea behind our first party event. Though it does involve the purchase of a projector (which you can find cheaply on Amazon here) and the building of a plain white backdrop (you can purchase this low-cost DIY kit here), we can assure you that this backyard party will be the hit of the summer.
Have your guests bring blankets, serve classic theatre food such as popcorn and nachos (or hotdogs if you’re looking for a heavier fare), sit back, relax, and enjoy the show.
2. Glow in the Dark Bocce Ball Competition
Bocce is a summer favorite. Take it a step further by painting the balls with glow in the dark paint! Invite your guests over and have them pair up into teams. Serve drinks and hors d’oeuvres, and have the teams battle it out for glow-in-the-dark victory. A little competition never hurt anyone, right?
3. Provençal Garden Party
A fancy garden party is the perfect way to absorb the warmth of the season surrounding us. Decorate your table with lots of fresh flowers, moss, wood, or other natural materials to emphasize the whimsy of the hour. Use lighting to your advantage by hosting the party in the latter half of the afternoon, then utilizing hanging bulb lights above your table after the sun goes down.
Cocktails, wine, and cheese are musts for any garden party. Adhere to a strict dress code to emphasize elegance. Wear flower crowns, or make your own with this fun and easy tutorial. It’s fun to get into character every now and then. Let the whimsy take over!
Outdoor parties are a great way to utilize the long hours of summer. Don’t let the heat bog you down—use it to your advantage by spending your evenings with friends in the backyard!
Do you have any suggestions for a backyard party that we may have missed? Let us know with a comment below!
Image via Toovia