How to Have a Backyard Cookout 
Whether you’re hosting a small gathering with your family and friends or a large family gathering, here are some tips to ensure a successful party. Prepare your food in advance to avoid bugs, and set the mood with a fun playlist. Lighting is a key component of any backyard cookout, so make sure your yard is well lit. Alternatively, use tiki-style torches and string lights to illuminate your yard. Alternatively, try installing Avea Flare lights and controlling them from your smartphone. If your yard is large enough, consider installing a bonfire where you can gather and enjoy the evening with your friends and family. Bonfires are also great to use later in the night.
Preparing food ahead of time
For a backyard cookout, pre-preparing food ahead of time is key. Grilled foods make for an easy preparation, but you’ll want to prepare other foods too, such as side dishes, desserts, and drinks. To make sure your cookout goes smoothly, shop for food at least two days ahead of time, so that you have all the items you need to prepare your menu. For convenience, prepare your foods beforehand by making a list and purchasing them. You can also purchase some of the items you’ll need for your event, such as tablecloths and utensils.
Keeping bugs out of your food
While it is difficult to completely eliminate all bugs from a backyard cookout, there are several measures you can take to prevent them from ruining your barbecue. One way to keep bugs at bay is by using bug spray and mosquito repellent. Mosquitoes and wasps are two of the most irritating pests. Mosquito repellents with DEET can help keep them away and prevent those annoying, itchy bites that can last for days. While there are numerous insect repellents available, wasp spray is particularly effective at keeping aggressive pests like wasps away.
Setting the mood
Creating the perfect atmosphere for a cookout starts with the table settings. A large fish bowl filled with flowers and rocks will serve as a beautiful centerpiece. Make sure you have plenty of seating for your guests so they don’t have to stand around. Use some high-quality indoor table linens or outdoor tablecloths to add color and elegance to the table. You can even add cushions to the chairs to make them more comfortable. You can also use a few candles or a bamboo torch to cast a soft glow on the table and chairs.
Creating a fun playlist
There are many ways to create a fun playlist for a backyard cookout. Whether you are having your first backyard cookout or throwing an annual summer festival with friends, you can use music streaming services to play your favorites. You can also choose to play a selection of classics from the 50s. Music is a great way to bring people together, and if you want to add some hip hop to the mix, that’s the perfect option. But try and pick music all your guests can enjoy.
Keeping your guests entertained
In case you haven’t yet thought of keeping your guests occupied during a backyard cookout, here are a few ideas for keeping kids and adults busy. A good way to keep children and adults entertained is to set up backyard games for everyone to play, such as giant yard Jenga or ring toss. Other games to keep people busy include arts and crafts tables, bubble stations, and corn hole. You can also purchase sidewalk chalk for the kids, which will keep everyone happy. Following some of these tips will help you have a successful Cookout
