Memorial Day Party Planning Ideas: Remembering our Troops

Memorial Day is one of the more exciting three-day weekend holidays that Americans truly enjoy celebrating. It is a great way to kick off the summer up ahead as the weather warms up and school winds down. However, don’t forget that this holiday is meant to celebrate the lives of those who died serving in American wars. Be sure to enjoy this holiday weekend fully and patriotically.

Since it is a summertime party, Memorial Day parties should be outdoor events. Whether you decide to host the party at your house, a park or the beach, be sure everyone knows where to go. Why not have the fun start with the invites? Send patriotic invites online at Evite.com or through the mail.

Decorations are easy and obvious: red, white and blue is the way to go with any decorative items. Flags, colorful carnations, streamers, balloons, confetti and all should be red, white and blue.

For your menu, think of foods that you can toss on the grill. Make it a summertime cookout party with lots of hot dogs, burgers, steaks, chicken, shrimps and anything else you feel like firing up. Keep it simple and fun. Guests can even bring their own meats while you provide the side dishes such as corn, beans, potatoes, salads or you can even host a potluck menu to share a variety of foods.

Plenty of drinks should be on ice for the party as well. Soft drinks and juices are great thirst quenchers for the kids while a cold beer and iced/blended cocktails will keep the party alive for the adults. For desserts you can decorate a sheet cake or cupcakes with patriotic colors.

Any Memorial Day party or weekend is going to be a day of fun in the sun so be sure to have plenty of bug spray and sunscreen on hand for everyone to enjoy the party comfortably.

Plan activities for young and old alike to enjoy throughout the day. Kids love being active, so have them moving around with games like tag and hide-and-seek or hold potato sack races. You can even rent out carnival games and inflatable games such as bounce houses, inflatable obstacle courses and even water slides and games like water-balloon tag if it’s hot out.

Even the adults love inflatable games and water slides; but for the guests who would like to relax a bit more you can arrange a game of cards, charades, karaoke challenges, horseshoes and Frisbee. Everyone should know to dress lightly, but encourage them even more by holding a “best Hawaiian shirt contest”.  Remind them to bring extra clothes if you plan on having water games.

There is plenty to enjoy outdoors in the sun during a Memorial Day party, be sure to do so responsibly. Most importantly, don’t forget to remember those who have served and are currently serving in the United States military. Attend a parade, visit a grave, collect donations for a military fund or simply create your own “thank you” cards with arts and crafts to send to a soldier, sailor or marine. Make Memorial Day a truly memorable holiday celebration.

Party Planning for Cinco de Mayo: Have A Fiesta!

May is here and Cinco de Mayo is right around the corner. Be prepared to celebrate Mexican culture and heritage and enjoy all the festivities that come along with it. A Mexican-themed fiesta is a great way to gather friends and family for a fun time.

Whether you’re Mexican, have Mexican friends or are just looking for a reason to party, celebrating the Mexican militia’s victory over the French puebla army on May 5, 1862 is a great reason to do so.

If you’re going to host a more formal party, draft an invite list and send out Cinco de Mayo or fiesta themed invitations. You can even save time and money by sending invites through email at sites like Evite.com or by creating an event page on Facebook to invite friends and family to RSVP.

As decorations for your party be sure to stay in the Mexican mood. Think red, green and white for your colors and use Mexican culture images and symbols throughout. Chili peppers, cacti, sombreros, ponchos, serapes, maracas and plenty of bright colors and lights should do the trick in setting the scene properly. Plant a Mexican flag to mark where the fiesta is and have little flags decorated all over.

Food and refreshments at a Cinco de Mayo party are easy and stress free. Unless you are looking for authentic Mexican recipes, a fajita, taco or burrito bar with all the fixings should be plenty. You can prepare your own bar or hire a catering service to take care of this. Finger foods like nachos, corn chips with salsa and guacamole dip and quesadillas are perfect appetizers. For dessert it would be easiest to go with churros and flan.

Refreshments should be served ice cold to beat the heat and keep the party alive. Quench your guests’ thirst with plenty of Mexican beer on ice. Dos Equis (XX) and Corona are crowd favorites, but there are plenty to choose from for variety. Margaritas always add to the fiesta mood and are easy to change up with any fruit flavor you choose. Also, don’t forget the Mexican sodas or other soft drinks for the non-drinkers.

There is no shortage of entertainment at a Cinco de Mayo fiesta, but to have some activities in order first consider a giant piñata. Fill it with candies and little toys and offer a main prize for whoever manages to break it. Play the game with whatever twist you’d like to add to it – drawstrings, blindfolds, dizzying effects – just make sure no one gets hurt. You may also have inflatable games as amusements for the little kids. There are plenty of inflatable game designs that may fit a Cinco de Mayo theme.

Hiring a Mariachi band is a great way to make sure your party never dies down. Live music is always fun, but you can even simply play a CD full of Mexican music for your guests to dance to. Latin dancing always spices up the party. You may even ask your guests to come dressed in Mexican attire or as a famous Mexican.

As you can see, there is no shortage of ways to prepare for and enjoy a Cinco de Mayo fiesta. Plan your celebration accordingly or add your own twist. Whatever you do, just make sure to have a fun time.