Summer is ideal for gathering with friends, whether you're a seasoned host or someone who usually avoids entertaining. The warm weather, laid-back work schedules, and relaxed atmosphere create the perfect backdrop for celebrating friendship. We've curated three effortless ways to host an event and enjoy quality time without the stress. It’s simpler than you think!
#1 Just Add Water!
For the novice host, planning an event at a beach, lake, or pool party is a surefire hit. The entertainment is taken care of! Your job is to provide a plan, a location, take care of some shade, and maybe a main dish (an end-of-day bonfire is a bonus).
Invite: First, tell your guests to bring their beverage of choice, chairs, and towels.
Location: Pick a location for the meet-up spot, ensuring a good parking plan and plenty of room for everyone. If you can’t reserve a spot ahead of time, you’ll need to get there early and stake it out. As the host, consider bringing shade options, such as a pop-up tent or extra umbrellas.
Food: Sandwiches are the least complicated food to serve at a beach or lake gathering. Pick some up from your local deli, or bring a collapsible table and put out a “sandwich bar”—get a bunch of deli meats, bread, and the fixings, and guests can make their own. Have guests potluck the rest—chips, salads, watermelon, etc. and bring a big cooler with plenty of refreshments.
The best beach days end with a bonfire! No fire ring, no problem.
- If you are on a beach where you can make your own bonfire, check out the instructions here: https://www.instructables.com/How-To-Make-a-Fire-on-the-Beach/
- Portable pit - you can find an inexpensive small portable pit at your nearby hardware store.
- Renting a fire pit might also be an option.
Plan for an evening when the sky is showing off!
- July 21 is a Buck Moon - the biggest supermoon of the year. Supermoons are a bit brighter and more prominent than your average moon.
- August 19 is a Sturgeon Moon—the August full moon. It’s named a Sturgeon Moon because of the large number of sturgeon fish in the Great Lakes at this time of year.
Oh, and don’t forget to get yourself water ready too! Before you put on your swimsuit, clean up those stray hairs on your face, neck, and body with the MicroTouch Titanium Trim, a haircutting and body groomer with a 40mm extendable handle to reach all the hard-to-get places with zero burn or irritation. You’ll get that perfect edge with just one touch and feel confident when you hit the water.
Be the best host: Bring games like spike ball, volleyball, or fun floaties or body boards.
#2 Blind Wine Tasting
This idea is fun when hosting couples, singles, or a mix of both. It’s a do-it-yourself-tasting experience.
Here’s how you do it:
- Assign a number to each person (only you know who’s who until the end).
- Guests (or couples) bring two bottles of wine,
- Place one bottle in a brown bag, tie a ribbon at the top, or secure it with tape.
- Place a sticky note under the other bottle indicating the number that coincides with the one in the brown bag. (you’ll use this bottle to replace the other.)
- Hand each guest a voting card with the number for each bottle. It will include a rating option of 1-5, a tasting notes area, and an option to guess what kind of wine it is. Make it easy with these on scorecards Amazon, linked here.
- Tally up the votes and announce the winning wine at the end!
Food: This party is EASY. Set out a bunch of heavy apps to snack on while sipping. A fun idea is to have a charcuterie board filled with meats, cheese, fruit, and nuts on your largest counter space.
Looking good: This is the time to step it up. Put on the nice slacks, dress the part! Hint: Looking for the easiest way to keep your bald head beautiful? The MicroTouch Titanium Head Shaver is the fastest, easiest, and safest way to get a close shave with no knicks or cuts.
#3 Game Day Watch Party
Make the most of a sports-filled summer and host a Watch Party. Baseball heads into the playoffs, and the NFL preseason kicks off, too! Oh, and plenty of must-see moments are coming up with the Paris Olympics in July and August. Don’t forget Tennis Grand Slams - Wimbledon is July 1-14, and The US Open is in late July/Early August.
Set up: A big screen in the living room is the natural first choice. Of course, the premier importance is that you don’t invite more people than can comfortably see the screen. Games can be long, so extra seating is a must. That might mean renting some additional chairs from a rental company. Ensure everyone has room to jump up, fist pump, and celebrate.
Another option is to move your TV outside and you can incorporate backyard games like corn hole. If don’t have a lot of space consider getting access to a community pool or clubhouse. Consider an LED screen rental so everyone has the “best seat in the house” - they come in different shapes and sizes depending on your space.
Food: Ballpark food for the win! Hot dogs on the BBQ is a crowd pleaser, or a party sized footlong sandwich. Finger foods are a great option with a large crowd; try chicken wings, pizza, chips and dip—all the things you like to eat at a baseball game.
This summer, gather your friends and savor every moment to make this summer unforgettable. Create lasting memories effortlessly, and - whatever your plans may be, always look your best with MicroTouch!