How to Throw an Outdoor In-Person Party Safely!

We are all learning to get on with our lives and get back to socializing and spending time with family and friends.

Parties are long overdue, and as long as we do them sensibly and safely, we can all be together again and try to stay safe and healthy.

Check out our tips on how to throw an outdoor in-person party safely and make sure you don’t miss our ideas on how to serve food safely too!

How to Throw an Outdoor In-Person Party Safely!

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Let us get started…

Outdoor Party Set-Up

Outdoor settings significantly reduce risk and are safer for socializing.

Bring the indoors outdoors and recreate an intimate indoor setting outside. Bring out a rug, and maybe a small couch and chairs. Make sure everyone is spaced out.
Instead of setting up large tables, ask everyone to bring picnic blankets, lawn chairs, pillows, etc., and have people set up on the lawn with lots of space.
If the weather is cold where you can try renting some heat lamps and put out blankets to keep everyone warm.
You can even do a tailgate, where people use the trunks of their cars as party spaces.
Everyone loves a BBQ and it’s a great excuse to have everyone over in your backyard.

Set Up Sanitizing Stations

Put out hand sanitizer stations throughout your party and encourage your guests to sanitize at the beginning of the party and throughout.
Place hand sanitizing wipes on each table for people to use before eating.
Put rolls of paper towels inside and outside the bathroom door. This way, people can use a sheet to open and close the door. Also, set up liquid soap and paper towels for handwashing, and even a bottle of hand sanitizer.
Some people might not yet be comfortable being out in the world without a mask, so provide a box of disposable surgical masks so your guests can take one, just in case they haven’t brought their own.

Safe Individually Packed Party Food Ideas

All party food should be served in individual packaging to guarantee safety. We’ve put together a roundup of tips on how to serve party food safely to give you inspiration and easy recipes for your party.

Check out some of these cool ideas for safely serving party food at your outdoor party:

Served individual lunches in takeout boxes to your guests that you’ve packed beforehand. Include napkins and all silverware in the box.

Place sandwiches in individually packed sandwich boxes out of a table so your guests can help themselves.

Serve party food, such as salads in round plastic containers with a lid, which protects the food, and helps keep it germ-free.

Treat your guests to individual bags of chips so everyone can help themselves.

Serve your barbecue beans in mini mason jars so that each guest can grab their own.
Decorate each jar with a fun label or alternatively cut out circles of pretty paper and glue them to each lid.

Serve all drinks in bottles or cans—bottles of water, cans of soda, juice boxes, etc.

Instead of a birthday cake, how about serving your guest’s individual cupcakes in separate boxes?

Instead of setting out bowls of snacks or platters of fruit, try serving snack foods in individual serving cups.

Place desserts, such as cookies, ice cream sandwiches, or even popsicles in plastic bags. Stick a label on the bag to make it look pretty.

Safe Party Activities

You can still have fun and keep your guests entertained at your party. Here are some easy party activity ideas:

Host a Movie Night—You can host a movie night party by putting up an outdoor projector in your yard, and having your guests sit on lawn chairs or on blankets. Make sure you use our FREE movie night printables!

Host an Art Party—Set up separate workspaces, with individual art supplies, and let your guest go to town creating his or her masterpieces.
Hire an Entertainer—Bring in an entertainer, like a magician or juggler to perform.

Karaoke Night—A fun idea is to set up a karaoke machine in your yard, then have your guests take turns singing their favorite turns. I’d skip the mic though, so no germs are shared.

Old-School Games—Games make people feel closer together so play some old-school games like Simon Says, Red Light Green Light. Even playing a game of trivia could be fun.
Multiplayer Phone Games—If everyone at the party has a cell phone, you can organize multiplayer online games that people can play against each other on their phones while giving each other space.
Talent Show—Set up a makeshift stage and asks your guests with special talents to perform at your party.
Activity Party—This one is a great idea for kids. Give each guest a hula hoop, jump rope, or kiddie pool filled with bubbles and bubble wands so your guests can burn off steam at your party, be together while apart.

Sidewalk Chalk Art—Turn your driveway into a large canvas. Spread your guests out. Give them each a box of sidewalk chalk and turn them into little Picassos. You can even give out awards and prizes for their creations.

With a little planning, throwing a safe outdoor party isn’t that hard. We can all be together and celebrate life’s big events. It’s time to feel our humanity and community again, but with confidence and safety.

If you have a special occasion to celebrate then we hope this guide will give you peace of mind, while making memories with the ones you love.

Let us learn to celebrate together… just in a new way.