Can you believe it’s almost time for Labor Day again? This summer has flown by. But before we start wrapping up in scarves and ordering pumpkin spice lattes, there’s one more holiday filled with family and fun to look forward to. So why not end the season in style and throw a Labor Day party? For some, it’s the last chance to go all-out with summer food and drink and take advantage of the weather for outdoor entertaining.

To make planning a little easier, here are seven Labor Day party ideas that will help you throw a memorable bash!

Set up a sangria bar. Sangria is a perfect summer party drink and oh-so-simple to do. Make it a fun Labor Day party feature by setting up a sangria bar where guests can create their own. Start with a couple of pre-made sangrias in drink dispensers – a red, a rosé, and a white are always a good idea. Set out lots of fruits and herbs as garnishes as well as additional juices, sodas, and wine. Guests can get creative with their own combos.

Use LED candles. Flickering candlelight is a must for creating ambience on a summer evening. However, open flames can cause problems. The easiest way around it is to buy some LED pillar candles and place them around your party space. Strings of café lights are another good lighting option.

Set up cozy seating areas. Ahead of time, put some thought into the flow of the party. Identify the places where people will gather (or where you want them to) and set up comfortable seating areas that will encourage conversation. And, because September weather can be unpredictable in some parts of the country, be sure to have a Plan B if you need to move inside.

Provide outdoor essentials. A good host always anticipates their guests’ needs. For a summer party, that means providing outdoor essentials like bug spray and sunscreen. Create a cute station where guests can help themselves.

Serve build-your-own burgers. What would a classic Labor Day party cookout be without burgers? Make this favorite meal extra delicious and interactive by encouraging guests to build their own gourmet burger combinations. As well as standards like cheddar and bacon, provide alternative toppings like blue cheese, feta, sweet onion, tzatziki, and cremini mushrooms. And don’t forget the vegetarians! Grilled eggplant slices make a great veggie alternative to beef burgers for your plant-based friends.

Set a white dress code. We all know the tradition of not wearing white after Labor Day. So why not play on this with an all-white dress code? (You probably don’t want to combine this idea with the sangria bar though!)

Plan a Part 2. Once the swimming and barbecuing are over, a Labor Day party tends to move inside and die out. So why not plan a second part to your outdoor celebration? For example, you could set up an outdoor movie theater and watch a favorite film or have a little dance party under the stars. A bonfire (with s’mores, of course!) also makes a fitting end to the event.

Will you be throwing an outdoor Labor Day party this year?

xoxo,
Mindy