Fun and Easy Backyard Party Ideas

With the spring and summer seasons comes the opportunity to make the most of your backyard by hosting a party.

Whether you’re having a good old-fashioned barbecue, an outdoor birthday party or a 4th of July bash, here are some backyard party ideas to make sure that everyone – including you – has a good time.

Plan Your Seating

Let’s get one of the more boring details out of the way first. More often than not, seating is one of the most stressful factors of a party. Extra outdoor seating can always be provided by bringing dining chairs or stools outside, but you can always avoid the hassle by making it a picnic-style party.

Make things easier for yourself by throwing quilts and sturdy pillows wherever needed, with the option of slipping shower curtains underneath quilts to prevent grass stains.

Light Up Your Backyard

There’s no easier way to make your party look more inviting than adding some lights or lanterns to your backyard. Wrap lights around a wide selection of options – trees, awnings, patios, porches, umbrellas and more – to optimize your party decor.

Delicious and Easy Drink Options

Drinks are the cornerstone of any party. From sodas to beers, keep drinks cold and refreshing in a cooler or a wheelbarrow filled with ice for visual flair. You can also fill coolers with frozen water balloons to save on ice. They don’t melt as quickly as ice, so your drinks will stay cold longer. A cocktail bar is always a crowd-pleaser.

Satisfying Food Menu

No backyard party is complete without food. Make the most of the warm weather with barbecue classics while making sure you have plenty of snacks to keep guests satisfied.

And that’s not to mention dessert. You can’t go wrong with an ice cream bar or cupcake station, but s’mores are a warm-weather classic. Make it fun and easy by providing a s'mores bar with a fire pit and plenty of marshmallow sticks. You can also spice it up by providing diverse toppings, from candy to bacon to Oreos and berries.

Bring Out Games to Keep Everyone Entertained

Avoid any party lulls with some games. Whether you’re hosting kids or adults, you can never go wrong by throwing a couple of games into the mix. Even if you don’t have the setup for cornhole, there are a host of options to choose from that you can set up in minutes:

• Frisbee
• Bag Toss
• Treasure Hunts
• Water Balloon Fights
• Hopscotch
• Limbo
• Board or Card Games

If you want to get more creative, you can also use an old shower curtain to make a giant tic tac toe or your own Twister board.

Master Your Music Playlist

This may seem like an unnecessary step. Who among us doesn’t already have a dozen playlists saved to our phones? But planning it out in advance will make managing your party all the easier.

You can’t go wrong with sticking with the well-beloved classics and a few modern hits interspersed. Make sure the music volume is pretty low and the speakers are not too close so that everyone can still hear each other. And plan for about five hours of music so that your song selection never gets repetitive.

Keep It Cool



And finally, with the warmer seasons comes their most notable party risk: the heat. Especially in the summer, it is important to prevent getting too much exposure to UV rays.

Keep everyone cool with plenty of shade from a patio cover, shade structures or awning. Great shade allows you to keep the party going without having to go inside or tangle with umbrellas. Not to mention how you can use it every day before and after the party.

Having your own high-quality awning or patio cover in your backyard is made simple by Arizona Awnings. You can choose from a wide selection of backyard shade solutions: from canopies and gazebos to a simple and durable patio cover that will exceed your expectations.

Your Residential or Commercial Awning Destination in Phoenix, Tempe and Scottsdale

Arizona Awnings makes sure you can enjoy the warm weather all season long, even in the state’s intense summer sun. Every job we do is customized to fit your home shade needs, so your awning will always be unique to you.

Call 602-252-3430 or click here to request an estimate or consultation today.