Summer is my favorite season – it’s a great time to let loose and have fun. It’s the season of get-togethers, late nights, and of course, BBQs. Gone are the days where you have to be up early for school (although you may now have kids that require early morning wake ups!), and it’s time to stay up a little later than usual and have fun with your friends and family. Not everyone knows how to have a successful summer BBQ, though. Yes – you can take the easy way out and just throw a few things on the grill, but you want to make sure that all of your guests are having a great time, so I prefer to really think my get togethers through.
Great Food
This is key to a good event – you always need great food and drinks. Spoon University says, “Summer means party and party means food. “I don’t care about the food at the party,” said no one ever. Good food means happy guests, and happy guests mean a happy (and popular) host. So, you’re throwing a party (or even a small get-together with old friends) and are confused about what food should be served. Well, worry not, for we have prepared a list of some foods that are the basic secrets behind every rocking party. There is theme food for theme parties, blingy food for freshers’ parties, classic family recipes for farewell parties, and everything else for the birthday parties–that is indeed the golden rule for food at parties.” So, to choose your food and drink options, first make sure to consider the people you are inviting. Who are your guests and what do they like? If there are kids attending — make sure the food is kid friendly. Then, consider your theme, as Spoon University mentioned. If there is a specific theme, roll with it! If you want to focus more on spending time together and playing games, etc. maybe you want to do something easy like finger foods, or burgers. No matter what kind of event you are planning, there are many options for food! I have lots of recipe saved under my highlights on my instagram.
A Good Group
Before you create your event or plan the food, think about your group. Are you inviting kids? Are you inviting family? The people you invite can make or break a rule. If two (or more) people do not get along, consider that. Will they ruin the party, or make a scene? If so, think about skipping their invite. There is no right or wrong way when it comes to inviting people – just do what is best for you, your family, and your party, in general. The main goal of the party is to have fun!
Fun Activities
Now, this is where it gets fun. Of course, a good party requires activities – you do not want guests sitting around all day getting bored. To prevent boredom, make sure you have activities for your guests. A few great ideas are corn hole, Kan-Jam, ladder ball, and washer toss. Obviously, corn hole is by far the most popular option for tailgates and summer BBQ parties, but there are so many other options coming out and they all look like they are a blast! For kids, you could think about having face painting, bounce houses, water balloons, or something even as basic as chalk.
Late Night Snack
I truly believe that late night snacks are the best for get togethers! It’s a great way to get a bit of sustenance into bodies (even if it’s not the healthiest option). Some of my best ideas are popcorn, smores, bagel bites (yum and so easy!), jalapeno poppers, ice cream sundaes, or a charcuterie board. There are SO many late night snack options out there for you to consider! Try searching on Pinterest and create a board to reference when planning your next event.
Enough Space
When it comes to throwing a successful summer BBQ (or any party, in general), you absolutely need enough space AND an enjoyable space, too. This means that you might need to remove furniture, move pieces around, or declutter. What if you have a ton of junk that you need to get rid of, or what if you have large pieces of furniture that you cannot move yourself, or need to put into storage? There’s a simple solution and it boils down to getting help – from friends, family members, or even a moving company like the Utah-based company, Movin’. These commercial movers near Salt Lake City have tons of experience – over twenty years, in fact. They also have a 4.8 star rating on Google, and 5 stars on Facebook. Last but not least, they are committed to giving customer-focused service, affordable pricing, and timely services.
