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Smart Ideas for Your Backyard Party

June 24, 2018
Published by Grayhawk Homes

Backyard parties are a staple during the summer, especially with the Fourth of July fast approaching. Whether it’s a holiday, birthday, or just a summer get together, neighbors in the homes in Columbus GA will want to create a setting that is fun, delicious, and welcoming.

With just a bit of foresight, hosting a fabulous summer backyard party will be a breeze and you’ll soon be looking for any excuse to host a party.

First off, go ahead and plan your menu and make sure you have some dishes that take into consideration any friends who are vegetarian or need to eat gluten-free. A simple email or private Facebook event is a great way to invite everyone and list the menu, asking if there are any other dietary restrictions that need to be taken into consideration.

Don’t forget that potlucks are always an option; just make sure it’s clear in advance what everyone is bringing. Consider making a list and then asking for each guest to volunteer for a dish. Potlucks also have the benefit of leaving you with less prep work. However, if you are providing all of the food, try to create a menu that allows you to do as many of the dishes in advance so that you’re not exhausted before your first guest even arrives.

Next on your list of things to do is making sure you have enough seating and tables. There should be a seat for every guest, even though most won’t all be sitting at the same time. If you’re really low on seating, you can always rent folding chairs. If you’re serving a lot of food and drinks, you really should have plenty of tables, even side tables, set out so guests aren’t precariously balancing food and drink and not having a free hand for eating. You’re less likely to have messy spills and guests will be more comfortable.

Georgia is hot, so make sure you have some shade available and have plenty of cold drinks. If you use a regular cooler, be sure to tie some bottle openers to the handles so that the openers are always right at hand. A creative cooler option is to fill water balloons with water and freeze them. If you have a color theme — such as red white and blue — use balloons in those colors. Then fill a small kiddie pool with the frozen balloons and cold water to store your drinks. Similarly, if you’re serving food that is better kept slightly chilled, especially any dishes that may have a dressing, nest the serving bowls in larger bowls filled with ice to keep them fresh longer.

To avoid crowding at the food table, try to keep the table open on both sides and include at least two serving spoons/forks for each dish so that more people have easy access. It also helps to keep cutlery and condiments corralled on their own trays or containers so they’re less likely to get spread out and mixed up.

Finally, don’t forget the entertainment. For adults, it helps to have a fun summer playlist going in the background. For kids — and some adults — fill up a bucket with bottles of bubbles or other toys safe for all ages. A few balls, frisbees and simple forms of entertainment will keep everyone happy without requiring any extra effort on your part.

Summertime parties don’t have to be extravagant. Keep things simple and just do some pre-planning so that you can enjoy the party with your friends, family, and neighbors. Show your neighbors a good time and soon they’ll be inviting you to more summer parties at their homes in Columbus GA, too.

Categorised in: backyard parties columbus georgia, party tips

This post was written by Grayhawk Homes