I love entertaining and I am constantly looking for ways to make parties fun, without adding a lot of extra work. This is especially true when I’m expecting over 25 people for a summer party at home.
For this year’s summer party I decided to go with a potluck event, games for the kids and various conversation areas for the adults. And it worked out great!
This keep it simple format will definitely be used in the future!
Setting Up:
The front yard and driveway was Kid Central. I drew hopscotch on the driveway with sidewalk chalk. I also left the chalk on the driveway so that the kids could draw their own pictures if they wanted. Kid Central also included various balls, hula hoops, a game of horseshoe and bikes.
I opened the garage as Conversation Area #1 for adults and I set a table there for the kids, too. This worked out great because the parents were able to sit and watch their kids play, enjoy adult conversation and when the kids wanted to eat their table was waiting for them.
Conversation Area #2 was the living room. Now, I know some people insist that summer parties be outside, but I also know that many adults appreciate air conditioning. I set a few extra chairs in the living room and everyone was happy.
The buffet tables were also inside. It is something about the smell of a barbecue that attracts not only neighbors, but bugs. Keeping the food inside not only helped it to stay cooler longer, it protected the food from uninvited outdoor pests.
Conversation Area #3 was the backyard. This is also where the grill was located, so it turned into the man cave of the party, at least for a little while, J. We arranged the chairs in a circle to encourage conversation and strategically placed side tables and citronella candles throughout the yard.
Menu:
If you have good food and a good mix of people most people will remember your event as being a great one. I decided that we would make summer barbecue staples and then ask our guests to bring one of their favorite summer dishes. This added variety to the buffet table and it provided some delectable surprises for me, too! As hosts we provided hamburgers, hot dogs, grilled sausages, potato salad, grilled corn, grilled chicken, green salad, fruit, potato chips and a cake.
Here are some of the fantastic dishes our guests added to the menu: fruit tartes, key lime pie, kool-aid pie , fried chicken, Mexican layer dip, red beans and rice, cakes, pasta salad and more. Oh yeah, some also brought the alcoholic drinks.
Entertainment:
One of the best parts of a summer party is the laid-back atmosphere. We put on music and let the conversation areas work their magic. With current events, sports, some old school music and today’s TV shows, the adults had more than enough to talk and laugh about until late in the night.
And the final sign of a good event? A party that started at 5 didn’t end until midnight.
Tell me, what’s your favorite summer dish?
My favorite summer dish is fruit bowls..they get so fancy and creative in the summer time…along with lemonade and pasta salad