The days are getting warmer, so it’s time to gather your closest friends and family to celebrate the season en plein air. We’re here to bring some life to your next outdoor party, with seven of our go-to hosting hacks for beating the heat. (Alcoholic ice pops, anyone?) Give these tips a try, and say goodbye to sweaty, uncomfortable entertaining. What are you waiting for? Let’s get this alfresco party started.
Chill Out
Who needs an ice chest? Freeze a slew of water balloons, then load them en masse into a cooler and pile in some water bottles and ready-to-drink cocktails. Cîroc’s Vodka Spritz cans, which come in four fabulous flavors (Watermelon Kiwi, Sunset Citrus, Pineapple Passion and Colada) and Loyal 9 Lemonades (in classic, Mixed Berry, Watermelon and Half and Half with Iced Tea) are both crowd-pleasers.
Make a Mist
Craft your own cooling face mists in mini spray bottles found at your local drugstore. Combine filtered water with a drop or two of lavender or lemongrass essential oil — but don’t forget to keep them out of reach of children and pets and survey your guests for allergies first as some can cause irritation to your skin. Keep the bottles chilled in a bowl of ice for easy access as the sun gets higher in the sky, and encourage everyone to take one home as a souvenir.
Can’t find mini spray bottles? Offer guests ice-cold compresses instead. Buy inexpensive washcloths, roll them up and secure them with a rubber band. Soak each bundle in infused water, then pop them all in an ice-filled cooler. Urge everyone to wear them fashionably on the back of their necks for cooling relief.
Build a Bar
Embrace the heat of summer with a refreshing — and cold — margarita. Set out a create-your-own margarita bar, starring Don Julio blanco tequila as your base. Place jars rimmed with ground turmeric (the curcumin in it can have a cooling effect), chili powder and coarse salt or sugar on the bar and have a covered pitcher with pre-mixed margaritas (sans tequila or with a small portion so guests can choose their drink strength) nearby. Prompt guests to add ice, pour their drinks, add Don Julio, and let the fiesta begin.
Make Mason Jar Magic
Snacks are a given at any soirée — but so are pesky insects. Keep your picnic pest-free by offering individual servings of fun, casual foods in single-serve lidded jars. Anything goes, recipe-wise: Think chunky chicken pesto salad, veggies and dip, guacamole, layered tacos to eat with a spoon and parfaits. Store these along with your beverages in a cooler. For shared food items, use larger reusable glass jars, and fill them with pretzels, truffled popcorn, chips, nuts or cookies.
Ice Down
Think outside the (ice) box and go beyond basic squares. Make some citrus ice cubes in muffin pans: Thinly slice limes and lemons, put a couple of slices in each section of a muffin tin, fill them all with filtered water and freeze overnight. You can also get creative with gorgeous organic herbs or botanicals from your garden, like rosemary or basil. Offer these leveled-up ice cubes at your margarita bar for even more fun!
Upgrade Nostalgia
Tap into your inner camper and whip up some adults-only alcoholic ice pops as a remedy against the sweltering sun. You can adapt your favorite cocktail recipe (try a blackberry-whisky lemonade pop made with Crown Royal), but make sure to keep the ratio of alcohol to other ingredients at around 1 to 4, to ensure the mixture will freeze properly, and give the pops an extra-long chill. Then serve them to your guests for a nostalgic treat.
Light It Up
Solar lights are a festive way to set the mood to romance as the sun finally sets. While your party goes from afternoon fun to mellow evening tête-á-tête time, the lights will subtly — and automatically — glamorize the setting. Whether strung in trees, anchored in the garden or bunched in big, empty glass vases in glittering bundles, they’ll illuminate the way.
