Movie Night Drink Ideas: 16 Outdoor Party Ideas for an Unforgettable Experience

With warm weather and bright sun, it’s the perfect time to start planning an outdoor party. Whether it’s an elegant garden party, classic BBQ, or family picnic, there are endless ways to make your outdoor party memorable.

To help you plan the ultimate al fresco event, we’ve compiled 16 top outdoor party ideas. From venue options to set up, food, drinks, activities, and tips, you’ll find everything you need right here. So let’s get started and make your movie night drink ideas party a success!

Set Up

Before anything else, it’s important to ensure that your guests will have enough space to sit and enjoy the food and drinks. You can choose to have a few large tables or arrange the space in various smaller tables. Scatter some lawn chairs, and add outdoor cushions for extra comfort. If you have trees in the space, they offer a relaxing area for a chat.

Decorations

Decorations can help set the mood for your outdoor party and create a festive atmosphere. Set your tables with tablecloths, napkins, and plates. Add some fresh flowers (real or LED ones) to decorate the space. Hang up banners, lights, or balloons to welcome guests to your party. If you’re planning an evening party, hang up candles, lanterns, and fairy lights that can illuminate the area once the sun goes down. You can also set up a fire pit for an extra cozy atmosphere.

Music

No party can happen without music, so make sure to choose a playlist or CD with all of your favorite tunes. Play the music through Bluetooth speakers, as they don’t require any cables or external power sources and can be put wherever you want. Remember not to blast the music too loud so it doesn’t drown out the conversations. Unless you’re planning some dancing for your party, make sure everyone can hear the music loud and clear!

Essentials Basket

Organizing an outdoor party can get tricky when you have to deal with the elements of nature we cannot control. That’s why, as a considerate host, it’s a great idea to create a basket of essentials for your guests if they need anything. The basket can hold things such as sunscreen, bug spray, hand sanitizer, tissues, and wet wipes.

Themed Parties

Choosing a theme for your outdoor party is a great way to coordinate the decor, food, and activities. It could be something as simple as a set color palette or something more elaborate such as Alice in Wonderland, Coachella, or Hawaiian Luau. You can also ask your guests to dress up accordingly. If you have trouble coming up with what theme you want to choose, check out our list of outdoor party theme ideas.

Food Bars

A food bar is a self-service station that allows guests to choose ingredients to create their own meals. The most popular foods to serve bar-style include tacos, burgers, and hot dogs, but you can also set up a pizza bar (keep in mind that the pizzas need to be baked after assembling, so make sure you can provide an oven) or ice cream sundae bar for the desserts.

Charcuterie Boards

Charcuterie boards are a great option for an outdoor party because they can be prepared ahead of time. They offer a variety of options to suit different tastes and dietary needs. You can load up your board with various meats, cheeses, and fruits. Place your boards on a tray of ice or use ice packs underneath to keep them cool.

Drink Dispenser

A drink dispenser is a convenient and stylish way to serve drinks at your outdoor party. It can keep your drinks cold, and your guests can help themselves to a beverage whenever they want. For drink options, choose lemonade, iced tea, or fruit punch. Make sure to clearly mark which beverages contain alcohol! Serve your movie night drink ideas to ensure that guests can help themselves to drinks without you having to keep track of refills. For alcoholic beverages, you can serve beer and wine. For an alcohol-free option, go for a classic lemonade or tea.

Potluck Party

If you’re looking for easy food ideas for your outdoor party, or don’t have the time to prepare all the dishes, organize your event as a potluck. Simply ask all of your guests to bring a dish to the party. You will just have to prepare a space where they can put it. To avoid winding up with too many salads or muffins, create a list of dishes in a spreadsheet and ask guests to sign their names next to the one they will bring.

Movie Night

This one is a great idea for an outdoor party at night time. Create a movie night by projecting a movie on a large screen or a white wall. Prepare snacks, like popcorn or chips and salsa, and set up blankets, pillows, and comfortable seating for your guests. You can choose to play classic movies or select a new release.

Lawn Games

You can never go wrong with classic outdoor games such as bocce ball, cornhole, or horseshoes. They’re easy to prepare, and probably the majority of your guests will already know how to play them. They can also be enjoyed by people of all ages, making them a great activity for an outdoor party.

Glow-in-the-Dark

Host a party after the sun goes down and provide your guests with glow sticks, black lights, and neon accessories for a unique and memorable experience. If you would like to add another fun activity to the party, you can easily shoot glow stick figures!

S’mores

Set up a s’mores station and provide the ingredients, including graham crackers, chocolate, and marshmallows. This is a fun activity for a cool evening party and can serve as a dessert course. Don’t worry if you can’t set up the bonfire, as you can even toast the marshmallows over a grill!

Adult Activities

If you know the party will not be attended by kids, you can opt for some other fun adult outdoor party ideas. Fun outdoor party ideas for adults include wine tasting, beer pong, or karaoke.

Venue Hire

If you want to throw an outdoor party but you don’t have the space to host your guests or simply don’t want the hassle of preparing the whole party by yourself, consider venue hire. This way, all the food and drinks will be catered (and cleaned up afterward!), freeing you to spend time with your guests.

Venue Options

Let’s see what kind of venue would be a great space for your outdoor party. If you want to host an outdoor event with lots of lovely landscapes, vineyards should be at the top of your list, as they offer winery and brewery tours. Vineyards also offer an opportunity to appreciate breathtaking scenery, so if you’re looking for outdoor party ideas for adults, this is the one!

Organizing an outdoor party by the pool can be a great way to keep your guests cool and refreshed. If you don’t have a pool in your backyard, hire a venue that features one. Just make sure it provides all the necessary safety equipment or even a lifeguard.

Whether you want an intimate dinner party or just a night out with friends, a rooftop venue can be the perfect place to enjoy a night out. Add in great views, beautiful decor, and tasty drinks, and you’re set up for an unforgettable evening.

Did somebody say yacht charters, beach parties, and parties that go down in history? Well, if you want to host a memorable event that people will talk about for years to come, then look no further than a waterfront venue! Even if you hold your party in a hired space, you can make it feel more like home by adding personal touches. Use your favorite colors, create welcome signs for your guests to see when they arrive, and play music with your favorite tunes. You can make custom gift bags or leave small treats on each seat to make your guests feel appreciated and at home.

Conclusion

No matter what type of outdoor party you’re planning, the key to a successful event is to create a fun and welcoming atmosphere for your guests. With the top movie night drink ideas we’ve listed above, plus a bit of creativity and planning, you can create an unforgettable experience that your guests will love. And when it comes to outdoor parties, quite literally, the sky’s the limit, so let this list be just a starting point for your amazing al fresco bash!

Here at Tagvenue, you can find amazing venues that are perfect for your al fresco event. Browse through our listings of patios, BBQ spaces, rooftops, waterfront venues, and many more, to find the best space for your event.

There are several things you can do to transform your backyard into a party space. Start with adding comfortable seating, e.g. lawn chairs, cushions, and blankets. You can add outdoor lighting for an even more decorative effect. Use signs to welcome guests to your party and to direct them to different areas of your yard. Decorate tables with tablecloths, centerpieces, and dishes, and use throw pillows to create a relaxed atmosphere. Use balloons, streamers, and party favors to add a festive touch.

Lastly, we hope these movie night drink ideas and tips help make your outdoor party unforgettable!