The middle of summer can be hot, humid, and frankly a little boring. That’s why you should throw a Midsummer’s Eve party! Bonfires, hot tubs, and twinkle lights all beckon in the summer months, and having your closest friends over always means a good time. To help you organize your gathering, we’ve come up with some ideas to make your backyard a little more special and party-ready.
Setting the Stage for your Midsummer’s Eve Party
Since you will most likely be throwing your get-together at night, ensuring your area is well-lit should be a priority. Not only does lighting make sure that people can see, but it adds ambiance and magic to the air. Edison-style string lights are big and give off quite the glow. These bulbs also look lovely strung up into trees or into a veranda. Larger lights, like paper or Moroccan-Esque lanterns, also are beautiful when hung above your seating area.
Take a seat
Having lots of seating is also important for any party. If you already happen to have a long dining table, you can move it outside for the night, and use mismatched chairs to create an eclectic style. You shouldn’t worry about everything matching perfectly; have fun throwing together your favorite dishes and silverware to create a table setting that’s unique to you.
Setting the table sets the tone.
I take great pride in preparing the table for gatherings. I have different table runners to support a variety of themes. Candles and fresh flowers make perfect table decorations for a midsummer’s eve party. Candles add ambiance as the beautiful fragrance fills the air.
Encourage blooms
Flowers, especially those from your garden, will look beautiful on the party tables. Ask your guests to bring a bundle of blooms from their own garden, and send each one home with a small bouquet from yours. HGTV has lots of great ideas for arranging your flowers to make your party look beautiful.
Midsummer’s Eve Dinner Recipes that your Friends will Love
Start off the night with your signature cocktail, have a small portion at the ready near the front door on a tray and offer your guests a glass as they arrive. This Eastern Shore Honey Sangria is fruity, sweet, and great for parties!
If vodka is more to your taste, try one of our Eastern Shore Honey Vodka specialty cocktails.
Drinks for all my friends
Be sure to have non-alcoholic drinks for your friends who don’t drink alcohol. This sparkling strawberry lemonade is awesome!
This wonderful Watermelon Feta Salad is a perfect dish to make ahead and keep in the fridge for a couple of days of enjoyment. The sweet and savory mix of flavors will be sure to amaze and delight your guests.
It wouldn’t be an Eastern Shore soiree if Maryland Crab Cakes weren’t being served. Serve these as party-size crab balls for your guests.
A Honey House classic, these Bacon-Wrapped Shrimp are crispy and delicious. Light enough to be an appetizer, you should make a whole platter to have snacks for the entire evening.
This Grilled Honey-Glazed Chicken is a hearty sit-down meal that your guests will love. Grill your favorite mixed veggies with the chicken to complete your dinner, and serve with your favorite bottle of wine.
These Seitan Skewers with Chimichurri Citrus-Herb Sauce would be a great meal for your vegetarian friends! If seitan isn’t your thing, tofu, chicken, or fish would also work well with the sauce in this recipe.
These Grilled Chicken Kebabs could be just the right dinner treat that your guests would love. They’re easy to make, customizable, and portable!
Give your guests a jar of Summer Salsa to take home-it’s packed with summer veggies and herbs, and makes a great dip for chips or a topping for Tex-Mex dishes.
For dessert, Bumbleberry Pie is a well-loved Eastern Shore treat.
Fruit and Honey Sorbet is elegant, sweet, and creamy. Use whatever fruits are available to you to whip up a tub of this icy goodness.
