How to Host the Best Summer BBQ in Your Backyard
You probably won’t find anyone complaining about a barbecue unless the food is really bad. No matter how simple it is or how many people are there, barbecues are fun.
Even if you can afford to host a classic barbecue, why not go all out and make it a memorable one? If you’re stuck for ideas, here are some tips for hosting the best summer barbecue in your backyard.
Serving alcohol (to adult guests)
Alcohol is one of those things that makes parties a little more fun, and that includes barbecues. As long as your guests are of legal drinking age and have plenty of time to sober up before heading home, alcohol will be a great addition to your next backyard barbecue.
Instead of simply serving your alcoholic beverages in disposable red plastic cups, consider setting up an outdoor bar. serve your guests more professionally. You don’t have to hire a bartender unless you’re comfortable with it. All you need is someone willing to stand behind the bar and serve your guests. If that’s not possible, you can set up a self-serve bar, but this can be problematic with hard liquor. Self-serve bars are best when you’re serving pre-made, sealed drinks, like beer and single-serve bottles of wine.
Have tasty vegan options
If the idea of ​​a vegan barbecue doesn’t appeal to you, know that some of your guests probably will. Not everyone eats meat, and sometimes the best recipes are vegan. For example, grilling stuffed peppers, potatoes, and other vegan delights can quickly become everyone’s favorite dish. Most people will probably want to eat vegetables as a side dish with their burgers, hot dogs, steaks, or ribs, but they’re still an important part of a barbecue.
Sometimes, a delicious grilled meat can make up for the lack of delicious side dishes, and you can get away with serving simple vegetables. For guests who can only eat vegan foods, offering a tasty assortment of vegetables and other vegan dishes will allow them to enjoy their meal.
Provide some shade
Summer barbecues are great, but they can get pretty hot. Even if you grill outside, the heat from the grill and the sun can make the temperature rise quickly. Unless summers are pretty cool where you live, be prepared to provide shade for your guests. If all you have is a small overhang on the side of your house, that won’t cut it.
Consider investing in a small gazebo with open walls or build some sort of structure that you can cover with a tarp to block the sun. If you have tables on your patio, it’s easy to add large umbrellas for shade. Outdoor umbrellas are designed to be freestanding or anchored into a hole in the middle of a table.
Run a large fan
People have more fun when they feel physically good, but it’s hard to feel good when it’s hot. The hotter it is, the more uncomfortable people feel, so it’s important to find a way to keep everyone cool.
A large fan is a great tool for this job, especially if you can plug it in a short distance away so the wind isn’t blowing directly into anyone’s face. The idea isn’t to create a tornado of cool air, but to create what feels like a pleasant breeze coming from afar.
If it’s too hot, you can set up misters for everyone, or cook outside and enjoy the food inside with the air conditioning on.
Prepare snacks for the kids
If your guests bring their children to your reception, they will get bored pretty quickly. They may also not like the idea of ​​eating barbecued vegetables or even steak. You will probably have hot dogs and hamburgers for the kids, but it is also a good idea to have snacks, such as crackers or chips.
There’s no need to overdo the sugar, but get something sweet, like marshmallows or gummies, for kids to snack on before or after their meal.
Provide entertainment
Boring barbecues can be transformed with the right source of entertainment, and it doesn’t take much. Sometimes, all it takes is a little children’s gamesgood music or a movie in the background.
Make your next summer barbecue one to remember
Don’t settle for simple backyard gatherings. Follow these tips to make your next barbecue memorable.
