Summer entertaining ideas for a porch party {Maryland Style}
Setting up a summer entertaining hub at the beginning of each season allows you to entertain easily throughout the season, whether it’s for 10 minutes or two hours. One summer tradition Marylander’s have is hosting crab feasts. It’s basically just a day of sitting around a big table, picking crabs, getting messy, telling stories and drinking beer.
I usually kick-off summer with a crab feast on Father’s Day and have found that the setup, décor, and menu ideas work well throughout the whole entire summer for various hosting’s. Therefore, when planning this party each year, ordering extra supplies keeps the summer shindigs happening all season.
Summer Entertaining Placesetting Ideas:
Butcher Paper down the middle of the table to help with the crab mess. It’s also great as a place for kids to color and keep written memories on who has visited.
Red Checkered Disposable Trays are the perfect way to serve large amounts of food to guests. Use them as individual plates or platters to display summer bites.
Red Plastic Food Boats are a go-to in this house all summer long. Easy to clean, stack, and keep outside as plates for grubby summer food.
Summer Entertaining Menu Ideas:
A Traditional Maryland Crab Feast includes…
Blue Crabs Steamed with Old Bay and Melted Butter
Corn
Hush Puppies
Fries and Vinegar
Steamed Shrimp
Summer Entertaining Drink Ideas:
Drink Station on the porch is stocked with cups, napkins, straws, dispensers, and an ice bucket so that adding a drink last minute is quick and easy.
DIY Lemonade is super simple. Just be sure to pick up a bag of lemons at the grocery store each week and let guests custom make their own lemonade in mason jars.
Home-made Iced Tea is made fresh every Sunday in a big batch and is great for a dispenser.
Easy Kid Option such as powdered Raspberry Lemonade or Fruit Punch is quick to whip up and add to a dispenser when needed.
Summer Entertaining Decor Ideas:
Focal Point. The best advice I’ve ever gotten is to choose a focal point and concentrate there. I use the drink station as the main focal point on our back porch and add touches like throw pillows or candles throughout the rest of the space.
Ready To Go. Just like we pre-set the dinner table, pre-set your entertaining space with non-perishable items, even if it sits there for 2 weeks unused. It’s cute, it’s done and gives you an excuse to invite someone over for a drink.
Fun Baskets. Stock a basket with summer fun for kids (that the adults will likely end up using), like glowsticks, poppers, and sparklers.
The best summer hangouts always happen spontaneously. The neighbors walk by and stop in for a hello, then end up staying for hours. Or your best friend calls and is driving through your town. Friendships and memories made, hanging out late into the warm, glowing summer night. I hope this blog post on 10+ summer entertaining ideas for a porch party {Maryland Style}, gives you some ideas for hosting this summer!