Fun And Creative Themes For Your End-Of-Summer Barbecue

As the last days of summer sneak up on us, cooler days will soon force us to head indoors for our festivities. That means it's time to host the last few backyard barbecues of the season. Since these are the final days of summer, make your last barbecues a little more special. Elevate your average summer grilling session to a full-blown end-of-the-season bash with themed décor, amazing dishes, and activities that bring the fun.

Fun and Creative Themes for Your End-of-Summer Barbecue

Memories of summertime fun recall family vacations, trips to the beach, outdoor movies, and songs around the campfire. We took these classic activities and used them to inspire themes for your end-of-summer parties. Think s'mores and campfires for a camping cookout and leis and tiki drinks for a luau barbecue. Just pick your favorite summertime activity or memory and build your barbecue theme around it. Read on for more inspiration.

Barbecue Beach Day

Nothing is more summery than a day spent at the beach. Showcase the seaside by grilling up lobster tails and shellfish. Clams, oysters, and mussels do especially well on the grill. If you're feeling a little more chef-like, make Maine-style lobster rolls. For those who might be allergic to shellfish, grilled salmon or cod are healthy and delicious alternatives. Create placecards for each guest by writing his or her name in permanent marker on a shell. Make centerpieces by placing flowers and utensils in sand buckets in the center of the table, and give your friends inexpensive sunglasses as a take-home favor.

Carnival Night

Bring the fun of a night at the fair to your backyard with a carnival-themed barbecue. Easy homemade spun maple sugar echoes florescent blue and pink carnival cotton candy. Any food on a stick is "fair" game for this party, so serve your guests beer-battered corn dogs and watermelon slices or grilled corn on popsicle sticks. Candied or caramel apples are the perfect treat for dessert. You can easily set up carnival games for guests to play while the food is grilling. Corn hole, darts, horseshoes, or ring toss are easy enough to play with a corndog in hand.