How to Plan Activities for a Bonfire

Bonfires have been used for centuries as a way to celebrate certain traditions, such as homecoming games, holiday observances and even pagan rituals. Planning the right activities for a bonfire should reflect the purpose of the event, even if that is merely keeping warm on a cold, wet evening.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

Things You’ll Need:

• Firepit
• Wood, tinder and kindling
• List of safety rules
• Fire extinguishers and water buckets

1. Plan activities for a bonfire by determining the reason for the celebration. Ideas for having a bonfire may include an Irish Halloween celebration, a Summer Solstice party or for the June 24 European tradition of celebrating John the Baptist. Once you have decided on a proper theme for your bonfire, you can start to plan all of the activities, food and even location.
2. Delegate the responsibilities of creating the bonfire so that everyone feels involved and connected. Assign attendees to certain duties, such as collecting wood, tinder and kindling, digging the firepit, bringing the food and drink and checking with local fire department authorities about any laws you may have to follow. Scout the proper location for the bonfire to be certain there are no safety issues, such as nearby trees, power lines or structures.
3. Develop a list of rules and regulations when you plan activities for a bonfire. Make special regulations for the monitoring of children to ensure their safety, such as periodic roll calls and explicit boundaries around the fire pit. Pair older children with younger children so that everyone will be accounted for during the bonfire celebration.
4. Tailor your activities to suit the purpose of your bonfire. Tell spooky stories at a Halloween gathering, roast shellfish over the fire for a clambake, or have the cheerleaders whip the crowd into a frenzy for a pep rally.
5. Bring plenty of fire extinguishers to the bonfire, and place them in strategic locations around the firepit. Inform all attendees of the location of each fire extinguisher. Consider bringing buckets to the firepit location, especially if you are holding the bonfire in an area near a natural body of water, such as a pond or near the ocean.
6. Take precautions to extinguish the fire completely once you have concluded all bonfire activities. Hot embers and coals can remain flammable for many hours after the firepit has been doused and covered. Clean the entire area once you have concluded the bonfire, leaving it the same as you found it.

Tips & Warnings

• For some traditional bonfire activities, certain types of wood are required to symbolize various earth elements. Plan to find adequate sources for oak, birch, hazel, hawthorn, willow, fir, apple and vine.

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