Most of the time, the heat of the summer days carries over into the evenings. Usually, these evenings are spent playing volleyball in the park, having barbecues, and doing other activities outside. But what do you do when it’s cold outside? Coming up with family party ideas for cool summer evenings presents a bit of a challenge. However, with some ingenuity and the right clothes, you can create a family party no matter what the temperature. Here are four ideas to get you started.
Host a Murder-Mystery Game
Have you ever dream of being Sherlock Holmes? Of solving the impossible crime? Of living in the game of Clue? Then maybe you should think about hosting a murder for family and friends. These types of events are good for smaller groups of people. Punchbowl.com suggests limiting the number to between six and 10 guests. Give your guests the option of getting dressed up as their favorite sleuth or another character. Or base your evening around the game Clue and assign characters from that. (Or purchase a board game for it; actual board games also exist specifically for this purpose). For extra fun, cook food that is mentioned in the game or your favorite mystery novel.
Movies on the Lawn
Movies on the lawn are actually a good way to spend a cool evening, because you have the option of bundling up. You can project the films onto a wall as HGTV suggests. Or you can buy an inflatable screen and projector. Bring out comfortable chairs, picnic blankets, and large pillows for your guests. Serve warm beverages like coffee and tea and even offer soup in a cup. Naturally, you’ll want to have some extra blankets and sweaters on hand to ensure that everyone stays warm. Pick out classic movies like “Casablanca” or go with a more modern option like “The Matrix.” And of course, don’t forget the popcorn with plenty of butter to capture that moving-going feeling.
Hot Tub Party
This is sure something to delight everyone who participates. Nothing keeps you warm quite like a hot tub party. And given that you’ll be sitting in some pretty warm water, it offers you a nearly perfect solution to your cool-summer-evening dilemma. Like the murder mystery, hot tub parties are best if the crowd is kept small. To make your guests comfortable, be sure to have extra towels and maybe even some flannel sheets or blankets available. The towels will keep everyone dry. The flannel sheets and blankets will keep people warm between dips. Keep food and drink on hand in case people get hungry. You may want to set up a game table inside your home for good measure to give people something to do while they’re drying off.
Scavenger Hunt
The Party 411 website suggests having a scavenger hunt when you’re looking for a family-friendly activity. The nice thing about the scavenger hunt is that it can be conducted inside or outside. If you plan on doing an outside trek, be sure to tell your guests to bundle up. Brew plenty of coffee and cocoa for thermoses. Write up the list of items that each team must find and send your teams out. Give them a time limit – maybe two hours – to find all the objects on their list. Ask them to use cell phones or digital cameras to take photos of their finds; This ensures that you’re not asking your neighbors to part with their favorite pair of shoes. Serve refreshments after everyone has returned.
Finding a way to while a way a cool summer evening can be challenging. However, plenty of fun options exist that will make you forget about the weather and encourage you to have fun. From the hot tub party to movies on the lawn, these activities are sure to be a hit with you and yours in the coming days as the summer nights get cooler going into fall.
