How to Host a Memorial Day Barbecue

Memorial Day is a chance to start the summer out right, and what better way than with a backyard barbecue. Bring the summer in with a blast by throwing the greatest party of the season. Keep the planning simple so you can focus on having fun and enjoying your guests when they arrive.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Fly swatters
• Baseball
• Bat
• CD player
• CDs
• Construction paper
• Glue
• Paper
• Pen
• Lemonade
• Mint
• Raspberries
• Sugar
• Liquors
• Juices
• Cocktail glasses
• Cardboard
• Aluminum foil
• Balloons
• Croquet set
• Bocce ball set

1. Send invites you made by yourself. This saves time and makes your invitation more personal. Hand deliver your invitations to your friends and family. Make cute invitations out of old fashioned fly swatters you buy at a hardware store. Draw a fly or lady buy on construction paper, cut and tape it to the fly swatter. Attach a piece of paper to the handle of the fly swatter with the barbecue information on it.

2. Keep the menu simple. If you're having a barbecue make sure you have plenty of food to cook on the grill. Buy easy items like hot dogs, bratwursts, hamburgers and chicken. Finish off an easy Memorial Day barbecue with a few classics like potato salad, coleslaw and fruit salad.

3. Mix up some lemonade, but get creative. Make Minted Raspberry Lemonade by adding fresh chopped mint, crushed raspberries and some sugar to your lemonade. For the adults, set up a cocktail bar where your guests can mix their own favorites or make up new ones. Stock the basic hard liquors like vodka, rum, brandy, whiskey, tequila and gin. Give them different fruity flavors to mix with by stocking pitchers of lemonade, orange juice, pineapple juice, cranberry juice, peach or any other flavors you can think of.

4. Plan games for the kids and activities for adults too. Kids can play pin the hat on Uncle Sam. Make your own large Uncle Sam drawing and cut a hat out of construction paper. Adults might enjoy a game of croquet, bocce ball or even baseball if you can make a small field in your backyard.

5. Make simple decorations like shiny cut out stars and balloons. You could even have a table set up for the kids to make their own decorations to display at the party. Have stars drawn on construction paper or cardboard for the kids to cut out, and use aluminum foil or metallic wrapping paper to wrap them before hanging them up.

6. Set up the tunes. A good backyard barbecue needs some background music to keep people entertained. Pick out your favorites or ask guests to bring a long their favorite music and shuffle them in your CD player. Offer a variety of music, and everyone can listen to at least one song they like.

Tips & Warnings

• Remember to make a simple dessert, and what's more American than apple pie.
• Keep decorations simple and follow the red, white and blue theme. Make sure you have at least one flag to display as well.
• Don't forget about your vegetarian guests when planning a menu. Buy veggie burgers and have at least one vegetarian dish on hand.
• Don't let people drink and drive. Have a sober cab system lined up before your Memorial Day barbecue to ensure all your guests make it home safe.
• If this is the first time you'll be using the grill for the season, make sure it is cleaned up and working properly. Check the propane level so you don't run out.
• Remember Memorial Day may not be extremely hot, but food can still spoil if left out too long. Plan on keeping cold foods chilled on ice or put them away after serving.

Resources

• Find Memorial Day crafts and games at Apples 4 The Teacher.
• Plan your Memorial Day barbecue menu at Food Network.com.