Delight with a camp party
Soak up the last weeks of summer with a backyard gathering that’ll bring out everyone’s inner camper. From treats to rustic touches, it’s a sweet way to spend a weekend afternoon!
Treat them to a s’mores station
A s’mores station makes dessert a breeze! Just line up graham crackers, marshmallows and chocolate bars on trays. Then invite guests to toast marshmallows over a grill (or nestle a Sterno can in a fireproof bucket filled with rocks) using metal skewers. For extra fun, include unexpected treats like peanut butter cups or caramel-filled candy bars.
Wow with a ‘campfire’ spread
Make the buffet at your backyard “campout” a standout by showcasing festive treats and woodsy accents, like party pro Laura Russell (Makelifelovely.com) did here. For a similar look, set a green cloth atop your table; add a faux turf runner for a grassy look. Top with wood slices, crates and baskets full of treats for a rustic touch. Then, line up berry bins and paper cups filled with Goldfish crackers and gummy worms (“fish bait”). Hint: Create a fun centerpiece by placing an inflatable fire (Orientaltrading.com) on top of a wood stump.
Add style with festive settings
Russell furthered the camp-inspired feel with fun place settings! To get a similar look, lay a bandana ($10 for 12, Orientaltrading.com) down and top with a camping-themed paper plate (we like Camco Life Is Better at the Campsite Paper Plates, $ 5 for 25, Amazon.com). Add on-theme napkins and trinkets.
Simplify serving with a pretty picnic-style setup
Limit trips back and forth to your house for supplies by placing everything you need in a classic picnic basket. First, line the basket with a small towel to protect the base from spills. Pack your heaviest items on the bottom (like bottles of juice or water) and layer another towel on top—wedge the towel between bottles to keep them from rolling and to add a little insulation. Then, bring out plastic pitchers, cups and other serving helpers on an easy-to-tote tray.
Refresh guests with a signature mason jar cocktail
The light, refreshing flavors of mint and lime in mojitos awaken taste buds between bites of delicious treats. For camp-inspired flair, serve each in a mason jar. (Bonus: You can prep them before your party, add a lid and tote to your campsite in a cooler.) To make each: Muddle 4 to 5 mint leaves with 2 Tbs. of sugar and 2 Tbs. of lime juice in the base of a mason jar. Fill with ice, then add 1 oz. of white rum; fill the rest of the glass with club soda. Gently stir all the flavors; garnish with mint leaves.
Light up the day with bloom-kissed lanterns
All it takes is some cheery blooms and a few seconds to create a lovely lantern that also acts as an eye-catching centerpiece! (Plus, the glass lantern helps show off a pillar with interesting texture— like the beeswaxwrapped candle shown here—while also shielding it from breezes.) Get the look by “shopping” your home for an old lantern or picking one up from the craft store (like 13" White Wooden Lantern, $17, Michaels.com). Then, pop a candle or battery-run votive into the glass lantern; sprinkle base of candle with a few daisies or mums. Place the lantern on a table and surround with snippets of flowers and a few candles in ceramic holders.