Summer barbecue season
has arrived, and this season
may be an especially
active one.
Many summer barbecues
were called off in 2020 as the
world continued to confront
the COVID-19 pandemic. But
as the number of fully vaccinated
adults rises across the
United States and Canada, outdoor
gatherings like backyard
barbecues are much safer
than they were a year ago.
That bodes well for backyard
barbecue enthusiasts who
can’t wait to cook their favorite
foods over an open fl ame.
Since so many backyard
gatherings were canceled last
year, now may be a great time
to revisit the essential components
that make barbecues
such a beloved summertime
tradition.
• Furniture: In early spring,
fully vaccinated individuals
were given the go-ahead
to gather mask-free with fully
vaccinated people from other
households. That was a relief for
people who are itching to spend
time with family and friends
PARTY GUIDE
after more than a year apart. If
you’re planning to host a backyard
COURIER L 16 IFE, AUGUST 6-12, 2021
barbecue this summer,
inspect your outdoor furniture
for wear and tear, especially
if you did not bother to take it
out of the garage last summer.
A thorough cleaning might be
in order. Many outdoor furniture
retailers have replenished
their inventory since last summer,
when supply chains were
interrupted by the pandemic.
So if your existing furniture
has seen better days, now is the
time to replace it.
• Food: Ask guests if they
have any food allergies prior
to the barbecue. Let it be
known that anyone with a food
allergy can bring their own
foods without fear of offending
hosts. If someone does have an
allergy, set aside some freshly
cleaned dishes for them in
the days before the party.
Make sure those dishes are
not kept alongside other serving
dishes so guests have uncontaminated
plates and cutlery
to use when they arrive.
When planning the menu for
people without food allergies,
don’t forget traditional fare
like hamburgers and hot dogs.
Such foods might not be fancy,
but they will lend a little normalcy
to the festivities. And be
sure to stock up on supplies for
s’mores so everyone can fi nish
the night off with a delicious
dessert around the fi repit.
• Games: A new cornhole
set, some frisbees and even a
few extra baseball mitts and
baseballs can ensure everyone
has something to do in
between hamburgers. If you
have the room in your backyard,
set up a wiffl e ball fi eld
and encourage willing guests
to make teams and play a
game of wiffl e ball.
• Audio/visual entertainment:
An outdoor movie screen
or television and some surround
sound speakers can allow
those interested to watch
a game during the barbecue.
If yours is more of a musical
crowd, some Bluetooth speakers
around the backyard set to
a relaxing summer playlist can
help to establish the perfect
backyard barbecue ambiance.
• Miscellaneous items:
It’s time to revisit the essential components that make barbecues such a
beloved summertime tradition. Metro Creative Connection
Many adults are fully vaccinated,
but the vaccine had yet
to be approved for kids under
16 as recently as mid-spring.
If families with kids under 16
will be coming over, purchase
extra masks to keep kids safe.
It’s also a good idea to stock up
on hand sanitizer and make it
available in the backyard as
well as inside near doorways
and in bathrooms.
As summer hits full swing,
now is a great time for homeowners
to revisit the essentials
for throwing a backyard
barbecue to remember.
– Metro Creative Connection
Backyard BBQ essentials
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