How to throw a perfectly patriotic Memorial Day party
Celebrate the national holiday with a memorable summer-themed celebration
Celebrate the national holiday with a memorable summer-themed celebration
Celebrate the national holiday with a memorable summer-themed celebration
to kick off the summer with the first warm-weather party of the year. If you're gearing up to celebrate by hosting a patriotic fête, here are the best cocktails to serve, food to grill and decorations to buy for the event:
1. Start With Summer-Themed Invitations
As the unofficial start of summer, a Memorial Day party should include everything we love about the season. Make it a cookout so you can spend time outside in the warm weather. An invitation like will make the theme very clear: barbecue, a cookout and an ode to all things summer.
2. Red, White and Blue Is Your Color Scheme
The nature of the holiday makes your decor choice fairly simple: Stick to red, white and blue. Incorporate the American flag into your whenever possible, with flags or wreaths. If you have an American flag waving proudly at your home, remember that citizens are before noon on Memorial Day.
3. Stick to Summer Staples on the Menu
Your Memorial Day party menu should feature all-American classics. Maximize your time outdoors by hosting a barbecue at which you can cook everything on a grill. Stick to a simple menu of burgers, hot dogs, skewers and grilled vegetables. If you're planning a grill-free picnic instead, have a few sandwich options with a pasta or potato salad, watermelon slices and chopped vegetables with hummus.
For dessert, take advantage of the patriotic theme with an American flag cupcake display, like from Williams-Sonoma. If you're looking for even more dessert inspiration,
4. The Drinks Should Be Flowing
A strong drink setup is essential to any Memorial Day party, because what is a summer BBQ without a full cocktail list? In addition to your basic drink offerings, create a signature cocktail for your event. This is equal parts refreshing, delicious and completely on theme. For even more Memorial Day cocktail ideas,
As with any summer party, expect plenty of beer drinkers who will want to sip a refreshing brew. But you can also please beer and booze lovers at the same time with a beer cocktail, like a
5. The Most Important Addition to Any Party: Rosé
, so make sure you have a few pink wine options for your guests. Rosé is available in a range of princes, so there's something for every budget. One inexpensive option is , which is imported from Italy. For a sparkling wine, try . It has a hefty price tag but will please any party guest. If you're on the go or heading to a picnic, choose from a plethora of canned rosé options, many of which are surprisingly good. The is a great starting point.
6. Make a Donation to a Military-Focused Charity
Memorial Day is a time to remember and honor those who lost their lives while serving in the military. Consider making a donation of any size to a military-focused charity in honor of the occasion and urge your guests to do the same in lieu of bringing food, drinks or gifts. Here are three charities that can help you make an impact on Memorial Day: the has been supporting families of military members since 1969. One of the organization's highlights is the Operation Purple Program, which offers a summer camp experience for military children along with family retreats and healing adventures for military families.
Originally founded to help families who lost a loved one on Sept. 11, 2001, provides assistance and support to families and communities grieving after traumatic loss. The organization has a of fallen military members.
works directly with veterans, military families and families of fallen military members. It offers a range of services, including peer mentorship programs, military spouse scholarships and health and wellness support for veterans and families.