At Mighty Flame Propane Cylinder Exchange we know the value of a great grilling session. Simply put, grilling for others is a blast because it allows you to put your culinary skills to the test for an audience. For some, this is a feeling that is incredibly overwhelming. For others, it’s a chance to entertain and have a bit of fun.

Wherever you find yourself on that spectrum, the opportunity for a barbecue is close at hand. With the summer winding down, school is about to be in session again. It seems like just the other day that we were firing up our grills for the first time this season, but here we are! The good news is that there’s still plenty of time left to do some grilling. For the time being, however, you can plan a backyard barbecue to commemorate the end of the summer and welcome another year of school.

But what do you need to remember in order to be successful at hosting a back to school barbecue? Not to worry, friends and neighbors, because the team at Mighty Flame Propane Cylinder Exchange has you covered! If you’re gearing up for an end of summer bash, we have the tips you need to make it a success. Keep reading to learn more!

What Do You Need for the Perfect Back to School Barbecue?

Ask Your Kids What They Want to Eat

There’s no doubt about it; a summer full of burgers and brats is a true thing of beauty. But since this is a time to send your kids back to school in style, why not make it a point to grill up whatever it is that your kids love the most?

For example, if your son loves your grilled chicken and your daughter loved the time that you made grilled pizzas, put those on the menu for your barbecue. It doesn’t mean that you can’t have burgers and brats as well, however. Instead, it’s just a little something you can do to let your kids know that you love them and that you care, and at the end of the day, isn’t that what it’s all about?

Invite Your Child’s Friend’s Family

Wow, that’s a bit of a confusing sentence. You get what we mean though! Your kid’s friends are an incredibly important part of their life, so why not take this opportunity to let you kids have one last big round of fun before the school year starts? It will mean a lot to your kids, their friends will love the amazing barbecue, and there’s one other great benefit.

We are speaking, of course, about the chance to bond with other parents. It can be all too easy to get into a routine that doesn’t allow for this. Between getting the kids to school, going to work, coming home to make food, and spending time with your family it can be hard to find time to do things with other families.

Why not take this opportunity to invite other families over so you can get to know the parents of your child’s friend a little bit better? No matter how you look at it, it’s a win/win situation.

Pick the Right Tunes

This tip is admittedly a little bit less about your kids, but it’s a great recommendation nonetheless. A barbecue will come together perfectly when the mood is right and what better way to set the mood than with some good music?

Whatever you choose to listen to, just make sure that you have some quality speakers to pump out the jams. The introduction of bluetooth speakers has made barbecues even easier to enjoy thanks to their ease of use. All you have to do is make a playlist, put it on your phone or music device, connect the bluetooth speaker, and enjoy. It really doesn’t get much simpler than that!

And you know, on second thought, why not take the opportunity to get the kids involved with the music? Sure, you might have to listen to that song you’ve heard about a thousand times that’s from the latest Disney Channel special, but when you see the smile on your child’s face it will all be worth it.

Plan Some Activities

It wouldn’t be a true backyard bash without a couple of fun activities, right? You can get as creative with this one as you like. A quick search on your favorite search engine will pull up plenty of ideas that you can tailor to suit your own specific needs.

What is our recommendation, you ask? That’s an easy one! In our opinion, it’s hard to go wrong with the classics. A game or two of pin the tail on the donkey is sure to be a hit. A sprinkler so the kids can put on their bathing suits and have some fun is sure to please. If you want to kick it up a notch, fill up the inflatable pool or break out the slip and slide.

Don’t neglect the adults, though! Setting up a few board games or having a deck of cards on hand can make the experience that much better. While the kids are off enjoying their activities the adults can play a round or two of poker, go fish, or gin rummy. (How do you play gin rummy, you ask? Perhaps that’s a topic for another day.)

Don’t Forget the Propane

At the end of the day, no matter what type of back to school barbecue you host, it’s sure to be a blast. Whether you invite everyone in the neighborhood or just a few close friends and family members, there’s just something special about gathering together with one another and enjoying some delicious barbecued foods, and the beauty of it all is that it’s entirely up to you what to make. Even the simplest of menus still offers a unique experience to share with the people that you care about most. It doesn’t get much better than that.

Of course you’ll need to remember to buy a propane tank if you’re running low. After all, there’s nothing worse than going to fire up the grill only to realize that you’re out of propane. Fortunately for you we have a number of propane tank exchange locations across the country, ensuring that you’re always close to a Mighty Flame location that you can count on to bring you the good stuff. We’re always right around the corner, so drop in today to make sure that you’re stocked up for your back to school barbecue, and stay tuned for more great grilling tips, tricks, recipes, and ideas. Until next time!