How to Throw a Winter BBQ Bash
When you want to throw a party but feel like every theme has been done already, you need something a little different. For the best get-together of the winter, why not try a winter BBQ?
It’s a little unconventional, but with some good planning, you can make an outdoor winter gathering a lot of fun. Here are some tips for a flannel-loving, snowflake-obsessed party that wows your friends and gives you the award for best host!
Invite the Right People to Your Winter BBQ
You can host whatever party you want, but if your guest list doesn’t reflect your adventurous spirit, the party could end up a dud. To ensure the largest amount of success, invite only the people in your life who like to think outside the box. You can add in a couple general naysayers, but make sure they’re surrounded by enough thrill-seekers that they’ll embrace the unusual.
In your invitation, give a hint that your guests will want to wear cozy leggings and boots to help them get in the spirit. A warning ahead of time so they can dress for the weather will go a long way to helping them feel comfortable if you’re spending any amount of time outside in cold weather.
Give It a Theme
You could go with a cabin in the woods theme and ask everyone to wear their favorite flannel shirt and buffalo check or choose something else. Giving your party a theme gives people a reason to dress a little differently and get into the spirit of the event. It’s also a way to help you decide on decor.
If you go with a winter wonderland theme, you can put snowmen and fake snow everywhere, along with sleighs, sleds, igloos, and mittens. For a flannel party you can be more relaxed, with pine trees and bears instead.
Whatever theme you choose, decide it well ahead of time so that you can incorporate the theme into the invitations as well as the decor.
Grill Only the Best
A lot of the focus during the summer is on fresh veggies and lean cuts of meat. Yet being healthy in the winter is also important. Choose nice cuts of meat to grill, ones that are lean and more sought after. Try a local butcher if you’re after something unique like rabbit or lamb.
You can also look for grass-fed meat raised without hormones or antibiotics. A winter BBQ takes place right after hunting season, so showcasing prize game would be a natural option if you or your partner were successful during the fall.
Use a meat thermometer like the Thermopro TP19 to help you tell when the meat is done. This is especially important in the winter when our bodies are thrown off by colder weather and our intuition may be off. Don’t trust your gut to help you tell when the main course is ready or you could make your guests sick by serving undercooked meat.
Spice It Up
Serving food and drink that warms up your guests is important during the cold season. If you’re hosting a winter BBQ, consider adding some unique spices to the meal to give it some robust flavor.
Your unique flavors and spices could go either with the main course or in a hot drink. Think Irish coffee with a bit of cinnamon, or hot apple cider with added cloves and some whiskey. You could even create a signature cocktail to go with the party theme.
Mix a bit of cranberry juice with champagne to sweeten it, and float a garnish of greenery to make it festive. Name it something like Fancy Flannel Fizz to give it a cute name.
Another idea might be a Campfire Cocktail with a winter-flavored vodka and Bailey’s. Rim the glass with graham cracker crumbs and float a toasted marshmallow in the top to give it a s’mores feel.
Set the Mood
Be sure to play music while everyone is hanging out in the cold to get them moving. With a signature cocktail in their hand and some dance music, they’ll get moving right away, and it will help them stay warm.
Provide other ways to stay warm, too. Have a fire pit or clay chimney where people can stand for warmth aside from crowding the grill master. Besides being awkward, it’s not as conducive for conversation and they may feel pressure to cook the meat perfectly with that many eyes over their shoulder.
The other option is to buy outdoor heaters from the home improvement store. They’re only around $150, and they’ll keep your guests from thinking about their toes and focusing on the fun. A lot of rental places stock those, too, if you don’t want to invest in your own.
Harness the Logistics
Besides heating elements for outside, you can add some other items to keep people warm. Stock up on fleece blankets and big mittens in case they want to borrow some. Don’t forget to put out cushions for furniture so people don’t have to sit on ice-cold benches or chairs.
Be sure to schedule some indoor time as well so people don’t feel like they’re forced to stay outside the whole time. Plan to eat inside and offer hot beverages to warm everyone up after they’ve come in from the cold.
The Best Kind of Party
A winter BBQ is not only feasible but also a possible favorite theme for your next gathering. Invite your friends to bundle up and enjoy some delicious grilled eats and cozy drinks while you gather around the fire and enjoy the backyard in the winter.
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