Throw the Perfect Summer Social.

There’s something magical about summer and no matter where you live in Canada, backyard BBQ season is the perfect opportunity to spend a little time with family and friends. Nothing says party vibes more than food on the grill and summer drinks flowing. Whether you live in a country house, a suburban townhome or a city condo, gather your crew and these few essentials.

Good Eats & Cold Drinks

The best parties start and end with good food and refreshing bevies. To have the most success with your backyard party, you must pre-plan!

If you are not hosting a spontaneous gathering, take a few hours the night before and meal prep. This includes planning an easy menu with bite size snacks, easy salads and flavour packed protein options to keep your guests satisfied. While burgers and hot dogs are pretty standard fare for any barbecue, consider an elevated menu that can include flank steak, grilled veggies or plank salmon. You’ll also want to make sure to assign anyone who likes to be behind the grill as your designated griller. And don’t forget to make sure the barbecue has plenty of propane!

Depending on your guests, you can either have a cooler full of pop and water bevvies or, if it is a more adult affair, add a little alcohol to the mix! Boozy lemonades or spiked ice teas are pretty easy to make and very fun to drink. Craft beer and ciders are other fun options to add that different taste. Chilled white wine is also another fan favourite on a hot day!

If you’re planning an all-day affair, you might want to keep some quick and easy desserts or snacks on hand for the evening. Homemade ice cream bars, fruit kabobs or a veggie platter, or even a couple bags of kettle chips can make great options for any peckish guests. And as the sun sets, you can break out the marshmallows and get your S’mores on in front of the fire!

Decor & Ambiance

Any party-goer can tell you that ambience matters. For those suburban hosts, it seems obvious that your backyard party would include, well, a backyard. Likely with a sitting area, maybe umbrellas to offer some shady spots and some water fun! But, if you find yourself in smaller city digs, that doesn’t mean your party still can’t be one for the ages. If you’re in a townhome with a small green space or a deck, you just need to make the inside and outside flow. So keep your doors open and use all the space possible.

Don’t forget about décor! While it doesn’t have to cost much, a little effort can go a long way to turning your space into a dream zone. Throw pillows, paper patio lanterns and plastic glassware are all available at your local big box stores for cheap. While music can set the ambiance, you need to know your guests. It’s not easy to pick a playlist that will appease all ears, but streaming services like Spotify and Apple iTunes have plenty of mixed playlists that should do the trick.

Entertainment

Once your guests have eaten their fill, you’ll still need to keep them entertained. Backyard games such as a bocce ball set, Frisbee and even a football can keep the fun and competition going for hours! If you’re looking for a more chill hang, consider setting up a card table or some board games for those who want to partake.

Other Considerations:

Depending on the temperature and time of day for your party, you might want to remind guests to bring sunscreen, hats and/or bug spray to make sure their visit is as comfortable as possible!

For the Kids

A backyard party is generally quite different when little ones are involved. To ensure you are able to keep everyone happy – big and small – there are a few things to keep in mind!

If your party involves kids, you’ll want to keep the food simple and easy to eat with hands, so burgers, hot dogs, chips and some watermelon are the way to go. You’ll also want to keep the kids occupied, which could include simple games or more active options (once they’ve digested their food) such as a soccer ball, mini trampoline or even a sprinkler hose to run through and keep them cool. You’ll definitely want to keep on hand as much plastic dishware as possible because accidents and spills are bound to happen!

When daylight starts to fade, you can set up a backyard movie or camp-out with some tents to settle the night down. It never hurts to tire the young ones out so the grownups can have some chill time for themselves! Most of all, have some fun! These are the kinds of nights that create lasting memories.