Family, Friends and Fun!

August 29, 2024

Where did the summer go? The days are getting shorter, and the weather, while still hot, is subtly changing. I want to take advantage of that laid-back summer vibe before the hectic over-scheduled Fall begins.

I surveyed my friends and family about what they like to do on Labor Day. To take a moment and think about what they have done in the past and what they intend to do this year. Across the board, everyone said they intend to have or participate in a cookout. There seems to be a shared feeling that as the unofficial end of summer, Labor Day, is an opportunity to enjoy a meal outside. Some folks said they were getting together with friends, and some said it would be a family affair.

I found it so interesting that what everyone wants to do is enjoy a meal with friends and family. They didn’t mention taking advantage of Labor Day sales, or catching up on chores. Some mentioned going to the beach, camping or hiking, but all finished with a cookout. Food, friends and family are at the center of our celebrations and connect us in ways that are important to our happiness.

At my house, the food for a Labor Day picnic can run the gamut from hot dogs to ribs. All my side dishes take advantage of the abundance of fruits and vegetables piling in fresh from local farmers. Corn, zucchini, peppers, tomatoes, peaches — yum. I’m making myself hungry! These vegetables and fruits shout “summer,” and I’d better take advantage of what is available. I tend to make more than two side dishes for a cookout so everyone has options. It makes me happy to share beautiful, tasty and healthy dishes with my friends and family.

Make the Food Fabulous and the Games Great!

Keep your guests occupied with some well-loved traditional picnic activities. Playing is not just for the children. If you really want to have some laughs (and laughter is so important) embrace the games and activities with the kids. I have the best memories of playing softball, touch football, relay races and tug of war with all the grownups at summer picnics. #Makingmemories!

Games Area: Horseshoe Toss, Croquet, Badminton and Tic Tack Toe are classic games that anyone can wander over to play. DIY a Tic Tack Toe board. You can either make one with plywood, strips of cloth, rope or paint a 3’X3’ grid on the grass. For extra pizazz, use glow-in-the-dark spray paint so when the sun goes down the fun continues.
Coloring Station: Put out markers and crayons with coloring books and paper and let the creative juices flow. Print out these Labor Day inspired coloring pages. Don’t be surprised that all ages take advantage of coloring-fun!
Sprinkler Area: Who doesn’t love running through the sprinkler? There are all kinds of fun water slides and cool sprinkler sets to buy, but a good old-fashioned sprinkler is all you really need for a budget-friendly option. Cue the giggles!
Scavenger Hunt: This requires planning and advance execution, but it is so worth it. Brainstorm riddles/clues that all ages can figure out. For added fun, add in some obstacle course sections to complete the tasks. Players find clues waiting at the end of an obstacle (wiggling through a noodle tunnel.. . or jumping over a series of logs…running around a tree three times.) They have to crack the clue and complete the next obstacle. Break up your guests into teams of all ages so everyone has a chance to win.
Relay Races: Be prepared with any props needed such as feed bags for the Sack Race, long strips of cloth for the Three Legged Race, rope for the Tug of War, and spoons and fresh eggs for the Egg Race. Check out this source for more ideas. One epic race that I remember from my childhood required a huge shirt. One half of the team were the “runners” and the other half were the “swimmers”. Each participant had to wear the shirt to complete their part of the relay. The “runners” had to run down a long field and then back to their teammate, exchange the shirt and then the “swimmer” had to swim the length of the pool and back. The shirt would move to the next runner, sopping wet, which made for more hilarity. Other relay races like the Wheel Barrow Race and the Crab Race only need a participant’s energy and ability not to laugh too much and fall!
Take A Picture: Assemble all the guests for a group photo. Everyone will want a copy! I always intend to take lots of photos throughout the party, but get caught up with talking and playing, so I’ve learned to ask others to take pics and send them to me. We have kept a specific album of those photos from parties and it’s so much fun seeing how the kids have grown or Uncle Dave’s hair used to be sooo long (and not grey!).