Pool parties, vacations, and backyard barbecues may make summer one of the most enjoyable seasons of the year. The sun is shining, there is music and laughing in the air, and everyone is having a good time. Most of the time, people are content with just grilling up something for their family to enjoy on the patio. But, sometimes, when a summer day feels just perfect, having friends over for a party seems much better. However, if you’ve only ever hosted small gatherings, a much larger gathering may appear daunting. You’re not sure where to begin beyond the fundamentals of grilled meats, sides, and beverages.- Backyard BBQ Party

Here’s a simple guide to hosting a backyard barbecue party that covers everything you need to know. And if you want to learn more about the different kinds of barbecues, accessories and rubs for your party, Dickson Barbeque Centre has everything you need.

Ask guests to bring side dishes

If your family has a large number of friends and you’ve asked them all over to celebrate the first day of summer, you’ll probably need a lot of food. So, instead of your family having to cook or buy pounds of potato salad or salad, have your visitors bring their own. If you don’t think it’s right, it doesn’t have to be just a side dish. Snacks or drinks work just as well and can contribute to the success of your party. Avoid bugs 

Bugs can often make it far less entertaining when it comes to backyard parties. With the smells of food cooking and the sugary sweet smell of your drinks, bees, ants and flies can get lured in. And if the party lasts well into the night, mosquitoes will start interfering too.

One of the ways you can keep bugs away is to set up citronella candles and cones up around the area your guests will spend most of the party. Bug spray and repellent can be quite handy, especially if you can’t find citronella or your candles burn out.

Make more than just burgers- Backyard BBQ Party

As great as the barbecue staples are, there can be a small problem with them too. The chances are that your guests have gone to a barbecue a few nights before, only to eat hot dogs and hamburgers then too. If they end up eating the same things again, they won’t be as entertained as you hoped they’d be. That’s why you need to mix it up a little and make different recipes or add a unique twist.

If you own a pellet grill, like a Kamado Joe or Weber grill, you can prepare and smoke a brisket or some steaks before you start cooking them up. You don’t have to limit yourself to only traditional American BBQ or even meat! Garlic shrimp, fajitas, and even carne asada are excellent candidates for grilling before serving, and you can also include a few vegan or vegetarian options. Prepare the food before the party

One of the most important parts of hosting a backyard barbecue party is preparing the food before your guests show up. For flavours to properly sink into the meat you grill up; they should be marinated and left in the fridge for at least an hour. And while rubs can be applied shortly before grilling, leaving the meat to rest after a rub’s been applied can deepen the flavour more. The more time you leave it to rest, the more delicious it’ll be once cooked.

It’s also a good idea to prepare and cook your side dishes and toppings ahead of time. If you wait until your guests come to start, you’ll often find that you’re too busy to join in with the fun everyone’s getting up to. You might even need to go inside to wash your hands or retrieve a spice bottle you forgot about. Making sure all of the preparation is completed beforehand ensures that everyone, including you, enjoys the party. 

Get the right drinks for everyone- Backyard BBQ Party

As appealing as drinks and barbecue may sound, not everyone like beer, let alone alcohol. Some of the guests are also likely to bring their children with them. That is why having a variety of drinks on hand is a good idea. Set aside some soda, juices, or mocktails for the kids and adults who don’t drink, since this may allow some people to make cocktails by adding a splash of alcohol to their own drinks.

Pick some music

Music, like almost any other aspect of a party, can make it even better. Set up a bluetooth speaker near where everyone sits so that those who merely want to talk can do so without being drowned out. In terms of music, any genre can work, though instrumental alternatives can help to ensure that there is something for everyone to appreciate. 

If you want to make the party even more fun, you can even let others connect to the bluetooth speakers to play their own songs. With the right songs playing, your guests might start karaoke or some other kinds of activities. If you’re worried about what kinds of music your guests will choose, good news is that people won’t play anything too inappropriate.

Find the right lighting

Of course, if you find that your party runs late into the night, setting up some form of lights will be needed. The right lighting can lend a specific type of atmosphere to your gathering but simple lighting can work just fine too. If you’re legally allowed, a bonfire can work just as well as fairy or twinkle lights. It can be even better to prevent any bugs from getting too close to the party.

Takeaway

Thankfully, hosting a backyard party isn’t as complicated as it can seem at first. There are quite a few factors you need to consider, like lighting and how you plan to keep the pesky bugs away, but the most important thing is making sure everyone is having fun.