With Winter Break fast approaching, there will be tons of down time to have fun and hang out with friends. What better way to do that than hosting a bonfire party? This is the perfect time of year to gather up your friends, sit around a fire, eat, drink, and as The Cars would say, let the good times roll.
There are a few things that make a bonfire party a success.
First things first, the fire… You can’t have a bonfire party without a bonfire. If you have a fire pit you’re one step ahead of the game. But if not, don’t worry there are tons of DIY bonfire tips on the internet.
Twigs and branches from your yard, wood pallets, or firewood from the store are all good options for firewood. If you or any of your friends aren’t gifted in the pyrotechnics, I suggest getting a fire starter log. No matter what, make sure that the fire is contained safely.
Make sure you have enough chairs for a majority of the friends you invite. You could also lay out blankets to sit on as well. Fires are all warm and toasty but having blankets out for extra warmth can up the cozy level of your get together.
Moving on to a vital part of a bonfire party: the food. Roasting your food over the fire is a fun and classic activity to do at a bonfire. Plus it saves you from cooking beforehand. Hotdogs and sausage are great for bonfires. Make sure you have buns, toppings, and plates.
S’mores, a bonfire staple, is the obvious choice for dessert. Load up on the Jet-Puffed marshmallows, Hershey’s chocolate, and Honey Maid graham crackers. You can switch up this old favorite by trying Jet-Puffed Pumpkin Spice Mallows or Hershey’s Cookie ‘n’ Crème Chocolate.
Don’t forget to get skewers to put the dogs and mallows on to roast over the fire. Nothing’s worse than having a bag of marshmallow goodness at a bonfire and no way to roast them.
With all that deliciousness being cooked you’ll need something to wash it all down with. I suggest filling a cooler with soda, water, beer, and maybe some apple cider. The cooler adds convenience so you don’t have to go back inside every time you finish your drink. Plus it can double as a seat!
Hot Chocolate is a must at a bonfire. Swiss Miss Marshmallow made with milk rather than water is my personal favorite. If your 21, you can have spiked hot chocolate! Here are some great recipes for alcoholic hot coco: http://tinyurl.com/l2nyc72
No party would be complete without games. My friends and I love to play “Catch Phrase” at our bonfires, it is so much fun! “Would You Rather” and “Never Have I Ever” are also good around the fire games. Another cliché but fun thing to do is to tell ghost stories. And when you’re not playing games having music playing is always good for the mood too.
With these bonfire essentials you will definitely be hosting the hottest bonfire party of the break! (See what I did there?)
So….