News; Takes planning TO BBQ party

Barbecues provide an opportunity for friends and family to gather together and share good times and good food in the great outdoors. Hosting a family BBQ can be a lot of fun, especially if you love to entertain your loved ones. At backyard barbecues, guests can mix and mingle while smelling the smoke as it wafts from the grill and treating their taste buds to classic American fare. Hosting your own outing in your backyard can be fun, but it also takes careful planning and setup. There are several options for table decorations that can carry over to the food as well. To make your barbecue a success, try some simple barbecue party tips.

Invite everyone in your immediate and extended family to the BBQ party. Decide who you want to invite and send them BBQ themed invitations. Without notification of the backyard barbecue, no one will show up. Set up your tables in the style of the Old West. Set up a long buffet-style table near the grill. Get your tables fit for the party with classic barbecue tablecloths. For a traditional barbecue look, use red-and-white checked tablecloths. Set a centerpiece at each table. Serve the food in cast iron cookware or in dishes in colors like browns, reds and blacks. BBQ party foods such as BBQ sauces, salads, vegetables, burgers, chicken, hot dogs, kabobs, coleslaw, buns, potato salad, baked beans, ice cream, watermelon, beer, iced tea, lemonade, water and soda. Use paper plates, napkins and plasticware just as you would for an outdoor BBQ. Place paper plates with utensils in the center at each place setting. Place paper cups at the ends of the tables and fill them with ice and drinks. Decorate the table with Mason jars filled with paper straws. Hang up paper pom poms around the party area. Suspend twinkle lights from the trees. Send everyone home with a BBQ party favor bags filled with pinwheels, balloons, a bucket and shovel, straw hats or BBQ sauce. Create a playlist of songs that celebrate summertime, good food and fun. Liven up your party with some good, old-fashioned fun and games, such as horseshoes, and badminton. 

Hosting a family BBQ can be a lot of fun, especially if you love to entertain your loved ones. Set up a table that sticks with the theme and is easy for your guests to navigate. By adding a few simple decorations, you can turn your backyard barbecue into  a festive event.