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Summer soirée

Get ready to celebrate! Whether it’s at a backyard barbecue, graduation celebration or swishy cocktail party under the stars, people are so ready to mingle. Feeling a little rusty as a host? Relax. These tips will help you turn out your best summertime party ever.

Stories by LAURA LANGSTON, SARAH MADEWELL, CHRISTINE PERSAUD and KIRA VERMOND

There’s just something about an outdoor party. From the food to the activities and more, there’s nothing like enjoying beautiful summer weather with family and friends. No matter how big or small the gathering, here are some pointers for a successful event.

Start planning

“Backyard parties are such a lovely way to bring everybody together, reestablish our friendships and communities—and celebrate togetherness,” says Costco member Amanda Douglas, an event planner in Winnipeg.

But don’t think that easy-breezy gettogether will be a cinch to pull off at the last moment. At the heart of any fabulous party is a well-constructed plan.

“Give yourself a month to chip away at all the major things on your list: décor, backyard prep, and food and drink prep,” says Douglas, who recommends filling the pantry well in advance.

Pick a theme. Themes take a party from so-so to sensational. They don’t have to be complicated, either; in fact, simple is better. Try a Hawaiian luau and crack out the tiki lanterns. Host a beer-tasting party and sample some local brews. Dreaming of an Italian garden party theme? Grab a gingham tablecloth and twinkling bistro lights, and you’re good to go.

Have ample seating. Ever been to a backyard party without enough seating? Not fun. Give your guests comfortable places where they can sit and eat, rather than perching at the edge of a tippy lawn chair. Outdoor plastic or folding chairs are easy to stack and store when not in use. The same goes for folding tables. Or you can rent them.

“We have a couple of [large] tables we use all the time. I even invested in [tall tables] this year because of the cocktail parties we’ve thrown at home,” says Costco member Renee Patrone Rhinehart, founder and CEO of Party Host Helpers, a party staffing company in Philadelphia.

Make it comfortable. For afternoon parties, have buckets of sunscreen and cold water on hand. Kids can even make folded paper fans for guests at a craft table. If the yard is in full sun, install umbrellas or shade sails.

Evening get-togethers require plenty of bug spray or a handful of cordless mosquito repellers dotting the property. They last for hours. And don’t forget baskets of blankets for chilly nights.

Music and dancing
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Set the mood. Lighting can be as simple or as extravagant as you want. Bistro and twinkle lights are easy to find and hang—perfect for a late-night dinner party—while tea lights are inexpensive and pretty.

Have backup supplies. If there’s one mistake hosts make, it’s not being prepared for surprises, says Douglas. Buy extra napkins and compostable plates and cutlery just in case you run out. Have backups for your backups.

And ice. Plenty of ice. “Three bags minimum,” Douglas says with conviction. “You don’t want anyone to have to go out on an ice run. As a host, you want to be engaged and having fun too.”—Kira Vermond

Let’s eat

When it comes to menu planning, the occasion or theme may suggest a menu: pizza and cake for a young person’s birthday party or sparkling wine and fancy finger food at a bridal shower.

Or consider destination-specific foods: hummus and pita paired with souvlaki and salad for a Greek meal; queso, chips and salsa with prawn tacos for a fiesta; or kalua pork, macaroni salad and grilled pineapple for a luau.

Jordan Hansen, owner and creator of the blog Jordan’s Easy Entertaining (jordanseasyentertaining.com), suggests planning a menu around a signature dish or what’s popular with guests, especially if there are dietary restrictions. Still stumped? “In that case, choose a main dish first,” Hansen says, “and pick side dishes to complement it.”

Barbecuing is a natural choice for a summer party. If you go that route, Hansen says, the more you can prepare ahead, the better. “It saves time, and not everything needs to be homemade,” she says, adding that she often buys Costco side dishes and desserts to serve at a barbecue. Her tip: Shop with a checklist for mains, sides, drinks and desserts, so nothing is missed.

With barbecues, you’ll be cooking while your guests are there, so timing is important. First, barbecue things that require more time, like ribs or potatoes in foil, and set them aside. Next, grill steaks or burgers and let them rest a few minutes while you quickly grill fish or veggies last.

Don’t rule out the ever-popular potluck. In that case, give guests guidelines or assign dishes. Hansen says most people are relieved to have the guesswork removed. “You can ask someone to bring a side salad or fruit tray,” she says. “It gives them room to be creative, but it takes away their stress and yours too because you won’t end up serving repeat dishes.”

Keep beverages simple. Ask guests to bring their own and provide mixers and bottled water, or mix up a single-batch drink like sangria or pink lemonade and serve it in a big pitcher with lots of ice.

Regardless of what you serve, remember to relax and have fun.—Laura Langston

Sound and vision

Summer and backyard parties go together like PB&J. Make yours memorable with delicious food, flowing drinks and, of course, exciting entertainment.

Outdoor speakers set the mood, from loud and lively party tunes to quiet background jazz. Bluetooth speakers are a simple solution, particularly rugged, waterproof ones, especially if you have a pool. Ideally, use multiple portable Bluetooth speakers that wirelessly link to one another (called daisy chaining). More speakers, after all, equal more enveloping sound. Because you’ll be outdoors and might not want to disturb the neighbours with loud, bass-heavy tunes, a pair of 60-watt speakers should be sufficient for background music. (Don’t forget to charge them!) An indoor speaker on a shaded, covered deck that’s promptly brought inside after the event will suffice in a pinch.

If you prefer wired gear, a pair of large party speakers positioned left and right can pump tunes; one might do for a small backyard. Make sure to use a long, outdoor-rated extension cord and safely secure it.

Music playlist pro tip: When you send invitations, ask guests to contribute five to 10 songs and add them to a streaming playlist. Leading up to the party, whenever you think of a good tune or hear a great song on the radio, add it, too.

Liven up the event further with karaoke. YouTube is a good source of free content with scrolling lyrics (search the song title “+ karaoke”) so guests can let loose, channelling their inner Mariah and Elvis. Add a wireless mic and a tablet (or outdoor TV) and, with reliable Wi-Fi, everyone can belt out hits. Some party speakers even have a mic input and built-in karaoke features, complete with strobe lighting.

To top off the evening, mount a white sheet to the side of the house, deck or fence and, when the sun sets, use a portable projector and speaker for a movie night under the stars. Some smart portable projectors have streaming service access built in, or plug in a streaming stick or a USB flash drive with a movie. Add chairs and popcorn and enjoy.—Christine Persaud

Backyard games

Outdoor activities are in full swing when families throw backyard barbecues, parties and other fun gatherings under the sun—or starry skies. Playing games in the backyard can be a blast, but with thousands of outdoor games out there, planning these activities can be challenging.

Think about the ages of your guests to help narrow your choices. Create your game plan with these ideas:

Families with kids. Young children have tons of energy to spend. These classics will keep everyone moving:

• Playing catch with a sticky mitt set or baseball mitts
• Kickball, soccer, dodge ball
• Red light, green light
• Capture the flag, freeze tag
• Water balloon toss
• Super-sized classics like tic-tac-toe

Teens and adults. Games like these can engage active, competitive, critical-thinking teenagers and adults:

• Egg toss
• Ladder ball
• Dizzy bat race
• Egg-spoon race
• Pass the bucket
• Friendly water fight
• Sports games like flag football
• Badminton
• Cornhole toss
• Board or card games

Come one, come all

Backyard get-togethers with all ages can be a smorgasbord of fun activities. Pick a few games for each age group. For additional ideas, do a quick internet search for backyard games for children, teens or adults.—Sarah Madewell

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Tips for success

Know who is coming. Are your guests small children or co-workers? The answer will direct what kind of games to play and what games may not be appropriate.

Plan ahead. Stick to a budget and have game supplies on hand.

Delegate. Avoid getting overwhelmed. Reach out to others and ask for help.

Listen to your guests. If they don’t seem to be interested in an activity, move on to the next game.

Be prepared for bad weather. Consider a backup plan if the party needs to move inside.

Have fun. The planning is done, the party is under-way and you have helpers. Relax and let the games begin.—SM