It’s Summer! That means Outdoor Parties and Backyard Celebrations!

Graduation parties are happening now!

If you have to give or host a graduate party… but don’t know where to begin… We have some fun and unusual ideas to help get you started. With the help from QCTV, we’ve listed some very cool themes, decorations with personality and fun entertainment ideas for an unforgettable outdoor graduation party. 

1.  Oldy Tyme Fun:   

Use old newspaper print, black and white photos, recycled items to create a vintage shabby chic party look. An outdoor movie theater or a bonfire are other great options to keep things lively into the evening. For the tables use cool newspaper sheets as table runners, add fun facts about the graduate printed on them… add a pop of color using geraniums or other flowers in a bucket. Forget the old standard coolers… instead use an old washtub and a wheelbarrow to hold ice and beverages.   

2. Bon Voyage Party:   

For a child going off to college, add paraphanalia from the college they’ll be attending. Have a last dance… dance floor. Frame the dance floor using shepherd hooks and lights wrapped around the outer edges to define the area. 

3. Sundaes on Saturday:  

Tubs of ice cream and sauce are the only things on the menu! Set up tables with centerpieces to match the theme of your party. Ask your local florist about floral sundaes for centerpieces and decoration. Instead of posters of your graduate… cut out several 5″ x7″ pieces of colored paper and adhered 4 x6 photos on them… punch holes at the tops of them and string through some ribbon or string. Hang the photos in various places throughout your party area. Dance off those Sundae Calories by having a dance floor and music.

4. S’more Party:  

Have an evening bonfire with a S’more bar. Include decadent chocolates and gourmet marshmallows. Go to www.smoresbook.comto find S’more great ideas! Add friends with guitars, tell stories and sing around the campfire and reminisce about the High School Days. Remember to have your HoeJoe handy.

If you want to see these ideas and more ideas like these…

check out this video 
www.qctv.org/suburbanmix/full.php 
(Click on “watch full episode” to the left of the video screen for entire episode) 
Within it you’ll see Kelli Kaufer in the “You’re Invited Segment” showing Grad party ideas.

Memorial Day Camp Out & Picnic

Want to plan a Memorial Day Weekend celebration with friends and family?
A Camp out really does sound like a great Idea. It’s an excellent way to get away from the norm…to spend quality time with each other, to remember what has been given to us, those who have passed, and to celebrate American life and tradition. We’ve collected some nice ideas for a camp out, in keeping with the Memorial Day Holiday.

• First, find the perfect camp out location, keeping family tradition in mind. (Family Cabin, Grandma’s Backyard, Family home town, Favorite lake, Park or Place that brings back memories)
• Be sure to check the weather (know what to pack, know what activities and possibilities to plan for)
• Make some new memories while remembering!
  Bring some traditional American spirit to the weekend with favorite past times and traditional indoor or outdoor games. Ask the older guests for their input.
• Gather and honor those who have contributed to this great free country of ours by dedicating time for remembering and sharing stories around a picnic, or bonfire. 
• Family and friends can each bring their own albums and photos of loved ones lost to share (especially of those who have served our country)
• Set up a special place to display photographs and memorabilia of these heroes.
• Share, swap or use old and traditional recipes at your memorial picnic or BBQ. You may have an old family recipe that deserves to be passed on. Maybe some one who passed had a favorite recipe?
• Have the musicians of the group to bring their guitars, or play some patriotic music to add to the reminiscing mood. 

Thanks to the New Twins Stadium, Downtown Minneapolis has been transformed.

Downtown Minneapolis is a newly hip cool place for folks to wander the streets, enjoy the outdoor venues, travel on the light rail and feel like they are on vacation in their own backyard. 

The HoeJoe staff enjoyed the inaugural events at the 2010 Twin’s Opener. The fanfare was awesome… bringing back star players to raise flags, and celebrate outdoor baseball! If you’re heading to a game, you may want to know that parking can be tough downtown… especially during day games. Be sure to check the various public transportation schedules for buses,  North-Star Rail and the Light Rail to see if they run before and after game times… it could relieve some stress and help you avoid paying $20.00 or more for parking.
 
The HoeJoe folks hope you take a tip from this new outdoor baseball scene and get outside and enjoy the great Minnesota summers. If you’re a Twins fan but can’t get out to the new outdoor stadium… we can suggest that you create your own outdoor baseball party and invite the neighbors! We think this would be fun, here are some of our ideas…

• 1. Suggest everyone wear Twin’s gear and head on over to your backyard.
• 2. Set up your TV set outside on the patio and bring out the lawn chairs.
• 3. As the day turns into evening… start a bonfire to keep folks warm and create a cozy ambiance while you recap the game highlights.
• 4. Serve up hot dogs and beer… place the beer in buckets of ice…
  Hamm’s or Beer from local breweries are a great way to set the stage.
• 5. Instead of heating the dogs yourself… get roasting forks and allow folks to roast their own over the open bonfire or outdoor fireplace.
• 6. For dessert have a S’more bar… include marsh-mellows, graham crackers, slices of apples, peanut butter and chocolates… folks can create their own unique treat.
• 7. And of course… Don’t forget to have your American made HoeJoe handy so that the fire can be safely maintained throughout the festivities!

This could be a memorable night, a once in a blue moon kind of night, literally. 

Celebrations will tip toe outside tonight to admire a brilliant blue moon for the New Year.  By popular definition, a blue moon is the second full moon in a month.  Don’t be fooled, It won’t really be blue… but it is rare and extra special for a New Year’s Eve night.  Take the party people outside to howl at the moon with Bonfire heat.  Grab your Blue Moon Beer and your HoeJoe to fire up the bonfire pit this memorable Lunar night!  Gather in anticipation with bright Wintry full moon to ring in the New Year in a memorable and firey way. 

Happy New Year from your Friends at www.bonfirecentral.com
Remember… Have Fun but drink responsibly, Please don’t drink and drive.  Start the New Year responsibly and with care for others.

A Winter bonfire is a bright idea!

Maybe you think it’s odd to have a bonfire in the middle of winter.
Who would want to freeze outside, right?
Actually it’s quite common and here are some reasons why.

• Winter Bonfires keep Holiday parties socially interesting.
• Bonfire games and big conversations.
• Earlier bonfire parties, it gets dark early!
• Less risk of spreading forest or grass fires
• Star gazing… bright Winter stars are amazing. 
• Watch ice melt and sizzle on the fire
• Snow comes in handy to tame the bonfire.
• Fresh & exciting outdoors vs. stuffy & dull indoors.
• With warm clothing it’s toasty warm!
• Do it yourself Snacks of S’mores and Weenies.
• Hot drinks such as Cocoa and Cider hit the spot outside.
• Nice addition to wintertime hot tub parties.
• If some guests get restless, building snow forts and snowmen is quite fun and enchanting by the light of a bonfire. 
• NO BUGS! 

www.hoejoe.com

Outdoor Halloween Party

Here at Bonfire Central we’re thinking of Bonfire Parties for Halloween!  Could there be a better time to have a bonfire?  The magical glow and woodsy scent really fit the Hocus Pocus theme of  Halloween!  A Bonfire along with candles, creepy lights, graveyard tombstones and the full moon set the stage for spooky Halloween fun outdoors!
Add a little ease to your wicked Bonfire with the HoeJoe.  The HoeJoe is a useful party tool and conversation piece.  It will also keep the fire tamers interested and out of trouble.  The HoeJoe  makes a perfect host gift for a bonfire party as well!  Thank your host or hostess with something unusual.  Everyone will be able to enjoy it’s practicality right away and think of you as a genius gift giver.  Unique from a bottle of wine the HoeJoe will be used for years to come.  Explore our bonfire central site for more details about the HoeJoe.