Backyard Party in August - Too Hot?

[Anonymous]

Sprinklers, broad-rimmed hats, sun screen, umbrellas or shade canopies, sprinklers, sprinklers, sprinklers... sounds great!

Did I mention sprinklers?

A pool for parents to dip their toes in would be nice, too.

[Anonymous]

I would drop off DD, but I don't like to sweat.

[Anonymous]

DS has a late July birthday (28th) and we've always had a backyard party. Our backyard gets shady after about 4:30 or 5 so we start them at 4:30 - grill and have lots for the kids to do out back (a lot of the adults hang out on the deck or inside) and by 5:30 it's a nice temp with no sun.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I would drop off DD, but I don't like to sweat.

well aren't you prissy

[Anonymous]

Too hot, but even if you have the sprinkler, etc., beyond that, mosquitos are a HUGE issue.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:By afternoon, the yard is completely shaded. I probably wouldn't be giving it a second thought, but we did a similar party last year and some of the parents seemed pretty unhappy (but the kids had a blast) and it wasn't even on one of the hottest days. People were welcome to go into the house (and some with infants did) but the party was held outside.

My husband thinks we should probably rent out a place based on our experience last year, but I'd really like to have another big family party instead of moving it to a kiddie place.

We'll have a mix of close friends/family and some family's from my son's school. It's the later I'm worried about (my close friends and family I think would be fine).

I would be very unhappy. FWIW.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would drop off DD, but I don't like to sweat.

well aren't you prissy

Right? I have a feeling PP wouldn't be missed at the party.

OP, do your backyard party. Have some bug spray and cold drinks on hand. Light up a few Tiki torches or citronella candles, turn on the sprinkler, and have a blast. The grumpy-ass adults need not attend since they won't be any fun anyway. I'd come to your party!

[Anonymous]

Backyard, all the way! Why have parties gotten so complicated? (Not directed to you, op, just the general sentiment of hiring performers or renting out a place, bounce house, blah blah blah. Just run around and have fun!)

Memorial Day, 4th of July, Labor Day, all holidays where it can get hot, but backyard BBQs are everywhere!

[Anonymous]

were the parents just grumpy about it, or did they not know in advance it was outside? Seems weird they would appear unhappy. Did they get the impression they could not step inside? (doesn't sound like it) I might complain about the heat, but that doesn't mean I think the party was a bad idea.

I second (or third) the idea of fans. I might buy a couple of extra fans just to keep the air moving - that will also help with mosquitos.

Some people will be unhappy. Some folks just don't like the heat. But technically, August is cooler than July (it is! despite what people think. look it up!).

[Anonymous]

This is so bizarre to me. Do some of you just not go outside all summer? You really can't spend a couple hours outside with plenty of cold drinks a sprinkler and so on?
Have the party. It'll be fine. Most people are not this fragile.

[Anonymous]

And the past few years, we've often had lovely weather in early August. Two summers ago was a magical first week of 80 degrees and no humidity before it turned beastly again. We have a lot of late June/early July celebrations in our family and I often find those dates to be much hotter.

[Anonymous]

If it would encourage parents to do drop off, I am all for it. It strikes me as odd that parents want to stay at birthday parties for 4 year old kids, which to me seems old enough to drop off!

[Anonymous]

I had an outdoor wedding in DC in August. It was lovely - it rained early that morning but during the wedding it was clear skies and not too hot. It is hard to predict August weather.

[Anonymous]

I love backyard parties as long as it isn't too hot. Sounds like your backyard gets shady. Awesome that people are free to go inside to some AC. Definitely set up a shade tent too with mosquito netting. Maybe get a mospuito treatment in your yard a few weeks before? Also, do you get a lot of deer? If so, I might have some tick repellant handy for those who may have forgotten to use some. Love the idea of sprinklers. Sounds like a blast to me. I love free play parties so much more than structured stuff. More like what I grew up with.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I love backyard parties as long as it isn't too hot. Sounds like your backyard gets shady. Awesome that people are free to go inside to some AC. Definitely set up a shade tent too with mosquito netting. Maybe get a mospuito treatment in your yard a few weeks before? Also, do you get a lot of deer? If so, I might have some tick repellant handy for those who may have forgotten to use some. Love the idea of sprinklers. Sounds like a blast to me. I love free play parties so much more than structured stuff. More like what I grew up with.

A mosquito treatment would be ideal. I think bugs bug me more than the heat. You can only put on so much bug spray.