How to Throw an Outdoor Party During the Dog Days of Summer

Go easy on the hot dogs, keep the beverages inside, and don't get the party started until the late afternoon.

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I love throwing outdoor parties. There’s something magical that happens as the sun sets and the people you love most begin to relax and enjoy each other’s company. The conversation shifts as the stars come out, with fears and frustrations yielding to hopes and dreams. People laugh more. They share more. They tell stories and create memories.

That said, our last few outdoor gatherings have been memorable for the heat as much as the camaraderie. We’ve pulled chairs into shady spots, given guests their own fly swatters and placed cloth napkins over half-finished plates of food. People still come to our parties, of course—the laughter is worth the mosquito bites—but there have to be better ways to host outdoor gatherings during the hottest, stickiest days of the year.

So I asked the experts. Virginia Frischkorn, founder of the digital entertaining platform Partytrick, has a decade of experience helping hosts to throw gatherings—and Bethany Adams, a member of the American Society of Interior Designers and the founder of Bethany Adams Interiors, is very familiar with the problems that can arise when these gatherings take place during the dog days of summer. "Kentucky summers are hot, humid and buggy," she says, "so outdoor entertaining can be challenging, but not impossible!"

Here’s how they suggest turning your outdoor party from an impossible challenge to a memorable event—and what I hope to do the next time people gather in our backyard.

Avoid the hottest parts of the day

If you’re thinking of hosting your party on a sunny weekend afternoon, you might want to think again.

"Start the festivities in the evening, when the sun is lower in the sky," Adams advises. "Position seating and food and drink in whatever shade you have—and if your entertaining zone faces west, consider investing in a few chic umbrellas!"

Frischkorn agrees. "The number one way to combat the heat when throwing a party is to offer shade from the sun," she says, "and I’m not talking about just one umbrella. You need lots of different shaded areas." Some of us will be fortunate enough to have a covered patio that can carry most of the load, but all of us should consider buying at least one more canopy or cabana. "By providing several different areas of shade you can ensure all of your guests will be able to find the relief they need and they won't all be clustered in one area."

Know how to keep the bugs at bay

Once you’ve gotten the sun out of the way—literally—it’s time to deal with the bugs.

"Fans are a must to keep the bugs at bay, and they also help to keep guests cool," Adams explains. "If you have access to water, add a misting fan to the mix for superior cooling. Burn citronella candles or oil lamps to further protect from bugs and add ambiance." (Technically, citronella candles don't really work as well as some other options, but if you like the scent, there's no harm in having them around.)

While creating airflow may solve the problem for some people, other hosts may need to consider a more direct approach. "Having a pretty bucket out with different types of bug spray and wipes is a great way to help keep the bugs away," says Frischkorn. "I always suggest offering several types of bug spray for your different guests and they can choose what works best for them."

Serve light, hydrating food and drink

Now that you know how to keep the mosquitoes from buzzing in your ears and the flies from buzzing all over your ears of corn, you can start thinking about what kind of food and drink to serve your guests.

Both Adams and Frischkorn suggest starting with beverages. "Having a drink station filled with lots of different options is key because you don't want your guests to get dehydrated in the high heat," Frischkorn explains. "If you are serving alcohol, make sure you also offer lots of cold water as well."

Adams advises hosts to offer many different types of non-alcoholic beverages—sodas, juices, sparkling waters—and to make them look just as attractive as the beer and wine. "Set up multiple stations or coolers," she says. Guests who don’t drink alcohol won’t feel left out, and guests who want to pace their drinking will have plenty of other tasty, hydrating options.

What about food? While many outdoor parties include hamburgers and hot dogs, your party should also include plenty of light, hydrating fruits and vegetables—not to mention salty snacks like nuts and chips. That way, your guests can replenish both their fluids and their electrolytes.

You’ll also want to ensure that any food you serve is presented as safely as possible. This means ice—lots of it—and shade. "It’s important to keep your food cold," says Frishkorn. "If you want to serve your food outside, keep it in the shade and put trays of ice under your serving dishes."

Be prepared to take your party indoors

Some hosts solve the problem of food safety by serving their food indoors—and by turning their backyard party into an indoor-outdoor gathering.

"If you can offer your guests a chance to come inside and get some relief from the heat and sun, that’s ideal," Frishkorn told us, "but at the same time you don’t want everyone inside and not enjoying the backyard."

Frishkorn suggests solving this problem by keeping the drinks outside and the food inside. "To help keep guests flowing between both spaces, have the drink station outside along with games and activities," she explains. "You can set up your food options inside, which will allow the guests to pop in for a bite and then head back outside."

Adams agrees. "If you're going to keep your home open for circulation, I recommend serving warmer hors d'oeuvres inside and cool bites outside," she advises. "If you really want to encourage your guests to use the patio, definitely keep the bar outside!"

If I were going to throw an outdoor party tomorrow, I’d definitely set out that bucket of wipes and bug spray—and although our covered patio is large enough to comfortably seat ten people, I still might consider dragging our old, faded umbrella out of the garage. We already keep our food indoors, but we’ve gotten in the habit of keeping our drinks in the refrigerator—which means that guests who want another beer or an all-important glass of water have to leave the party and, in some cases, ask us where to find what they’re looking for. That’s easy enough to fix, and might be just what our next gathering needs.

What about yours?

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