Fast & Fun Gathering Ideas to Round Out Summer

Summer weather means it’s the perfect time for sharing a meal outdoors with neighbors and friends. 

Sometimes it can feel overwhelming to plan an outdoor gathering.  But sharing a “meal” can be as simple as rinsing fruit & plunking it into a bowl.  However you choose to do it, take advantage of these fast-fleeting longer, warmer days and just make the invite.  Whether it’s an ice cream bar or popsicles on the porch, here are some fast and fun gathering ideas to round out your summer… for the Kingdom.

Listen to the Everyday Welcome Podcast Episode 10 here! 

If hosting intimidates you, remember these three simple tips that will help you in any gathering.

• The more you prepare in advance, the better. The stress will be less for you, and you’ll have better participation for those you’re inviting.  Do what you can days or weeks ahead, and always prep everything possible the night before.  It might make the difference in getting a shower before everyone arrives.  😉
• The more you enjoy it, the more your guests will enjoy it.
• Remember, biblical hospitality has a purpose. We are inviting others into fellowship with us as we fellowship with Christ (see 1 John 1). The best preparation we can do is prayer! We set our hearts on Christ, we seek His favor for our guests, and we serve with our best joyful abilities.  Then we enjoy gathering with them!

So here are some ideas to get you started with hosting a summer gathering!

“Garden Party” | Ice Cream Bar | Picnic at the Park 

You can go over the top and plan a garden party complete with table decor, floral arrangements, candles and a full menu… even that level of preparation holds a charm because it’s outside! 

Want something more accessible?  Grab a few cartons of good ice cream (or make your own with recipe inspiration below), and put out some fun toppings.  For even more ease, invite guest participation and assign toppings to bring! 

Some ice cream recipes to try:

• Cereal Milk Ice Cream from Food52 (or try this one from Lovely Little Kitchen!)
• Blueberry “Cheesecake” Dairy Free Ice Cream (SO. SO. GOOD.)
• Grown-up Cold Brew Stout Ice Cream – do try this one.  😉

And if your home setting doesn’t allow for outside hosting, take the party on the road with a fun picnic at the park.  All you need is a blanket and a few snacks.  You can make jar salads (try these Strawberry Poppyseed Jar Salads – so delicious!) and even mason jar iced coffee (that recipe is in the Flourish ebook – grab it here!).

Coffee and Dessert | Coffeeshop Date | A Walk with a Drink

Make a big pot of coffee (or a jar of cold brew) and put out good quality cream and sugar, and a dessert!  It can be homemade or store-bought.  A favorite of mine is a bowl of berries with fresh cream to drizzle!  Sound like too much?  Meet at a coffeeshop – make it a local one to support your neighbors in business – and go dutch if you need to.  And if you only have a few minutes, make a couple travel mugs and meet a friend for a walk.

Snacks and Apps Potluck

Make an appetizer and invite a couple friends or neighbors to do the same.  Pull out lawn chairs and enjoy the sunset together.  One of my favorites is my Cucumber Bites recipe (grab it free with the “Five Fast Apps” download!).  I’ve got my eye on this Watermelon Feta Salad next.  🙂

S’mores Party | Popsicles on the Porch | Watermelon Night

Because you host a S’mores party outside, it seems a little more accessible.  It has the added benefit of zero prep, and it gives guests something to do.  An alternate to this idea is to have guests make their own “toasties” – little pocket sandwiches that remind me of scouting (which I never did, but feel I probably missed out!).  Use these campfire pocket sandwich toasters and set out the bread of your choice with pie fillings or fresh fruit, nut butter, pizza sauce and cheese, you name it. You can get bread and fillings that fit guest preferences, or food, sensitivities, and again, no prep. You can even invite them to bring their favorite fillings and breads.

For an even simpler invite, meet your neighbors or just neighbor kiddos out front for popsicles. Many stores carry inexpensive all-natural ones, or you can make your own (see below for inspiration!). Simplest of all, cut up a watermelon and put it in a bowl and put out a “hey, come on by!” text!  If you really want to make the gathering last, put out lawn games or an old-fashioned slip-and-slide and let everyone get good and messy before heading home.

Love the watermelon party idea?  You can even have friends bring a watermelon “recipe.” Check out these watermelon recipes and these genius ways to cut a watermelon!

Some delicious popsicle recipes:

• Strawberry Mojito Popsicles – these are delicious and really healthy!
• These Blueberry Basil Popsicles are very simple to make and are really delicious.  If you want, you can add yogurt to the recipe for added protein!
• I’ve got my eye on this cookbook Paletas – because who doesn’t need a popsicle cookbook?

Backyard Brunch | Waffle, Toast or Yogurt Bar | Picnic Breakfast 

One of my favorite events I’ve where I’ve had the privilege to speak and co-host was a one-day retreat with my friend Gi at her gorgeous farm in New Jersey.  Together we taught on nourishing body and soul.  Our guests learned how to make focaccia which her chef husband fired up on his clay oven, and which we enjoyed with homemade chicken soup and fresh salad.  The gift of dining outside in their garden (which is their actual business!) was perfect. 

Taking a meal outside elevates it and doing that for brunch is no exception.  Make a simple egg dish, serve with a breakfast meat and some fruit, and you’ve got the perfect Saturday summer gathering.  You can go all-out if you like and set up a full brunch buffet, use a quilt for a tablecloth, and make it a “fancy” affair.  For a no-cook option, put out bread or and a toaster and a variety of toppings in small dishes and you’ve got a DIY toast or yogurt parfait bar! 

And to take the adventure further, pack your breakfast in a cooler (did you know it’ll keep warm foods warm, too?) and head to the beach or the woods and enjoy al fresco.  (I love the idea of wrapped bagel sandwiches or overnight oats and mason jar shaken coffee; the recipe for that is in my Flourish e-book!  Pack whole fruit that is easy-to-peel or doesn’t need to be peeled.

Topping Ideas for a Yogurt or Toast Bar:

1. good quality bread
2. Local honey/preserves
3. Fancy nut butter
4. Seeds/Nuts
5. Fresh berries
6. Goat cheese
7. Hard boiled eggs 
8. Avocado
9. Olive oil
10. Everything bagel season / red pepper flakes

Put out a few pitchers with juice, seltzer and coffee and you have a simple, no-cook meal to share.

Here are a few more of my favorite breakfast recipes:

Breakfast Skillet with Turmeric & Kale

A whole collection of my favorite breakfast and brunch recipes can be found here!

The prettiest yogurt breakfast parfait is simple to make and lovely to serve.

Have you ever made a dutch baby?  This version with salmon is so elegant but isn’t hard to make.

A few more tips for hosting outside:

• Create a spot for trash that’s easy to see (pack extra bags for garbage if you’re leaving home).
• Going outside?  Remember to pack extras – hand wipes, napkins and paper towels, paper plates, and cups might always require extras!).
• Think about shade and light.  If your gathering is during the day, consider setting up in the shade or have umbrellas available.  If you’re inviting for evening, string lights, outdoor lamps or lanterns can help guests see their food and each other’s faces.  Candles add the added option for scent and ambience! (source)
• Think about the sound as well.  You might want to use wind chimes or have an outdoor speaker to set the mood.  Plan your playlist in advance (we love the Amazon Prime Lo-fi Christian channels), and keep the volume low enough that everyone can talk comfortably.
• Don’t forget ice!  Having drinks already in their containers can be more manageable, and have them set up in coolers so guests can easily grab a drink.  You can also make up punch, mocktails or iced coffee in individual mason jars for an even more customized option.
• Make it easy.  Make sure you trim up the lawn and consider seating as well as an easy path for guests to walk and sit.

More summer gathering ideas from around the web:

The Spruce has a fun article with tips for having a great brunch party, along with ideas for fun themes!

There are some really fun summer party ideas at Better Homes & Gardens (the trail mix party and the puppy picnic ideas really got my creative ideas flowing!).

Being a guest also means we have the opportunity to bless others!  Here are some tips for GUESTS at a summer gathering (The Spruce comes in again!).

Williams Sonoma shared some great ideas for upping your game with an ice cream party, and here are a few more from Epicurious.

What are you waiting for?  Grab something yummy and invite someone outside!