Outdoor Party Ideas | Strawberry Cucumber Drink
This Outdoor Party Ideas and Strawberry Cucumber Drink post is sponsored by Ball® Mason Jars. All opinions are my own.
Enjoy some warmer weather fun and this fizzy berry cucumber drink!
Entertaining can be as stress-free or tedious as you allow it. I personally love simplicity and wanted to share my top entertaining ideas plus I’ve added a tasty strawberry and cucumber infused drink that’s perfect for sharing with friends and family.
Whether you’re planning a virtual gathering, an intimate dinner party, or a memory-making family night, it can still take some preparation and inspiration. I’m a firm believer that some of the best entertaining or party ideas are the simplest.
Let’s start with some outdoor entertaining basics:
Regardless of what type of party your planning, you will need to keep on hand a few items that will make all the difference.
- A stash of napkins, cloth and/or decorative paper napkins.
- Plain white serving dishes, they will go with everything.
- Plain white bowls, plus dinner, salad and dessert plates. If you prefer, you can also use melamine dinnerware, just remember that any pattern will limit how you can decorate.
- Cutlery! Really, it seems like a no brainer, but one of the most easily forgotten items. If you don’t want to invest in stainless steel cutlery, you can find silver-colored plastic that looks nice as well. Just try to avoid flimsy cutlery.
- Drinkware! I adore these Ball Flute Jars, they are ideal for backyard drinks, and can also be used to serve desserts such as ice cream or parfaits. You can also use the decorative Ball Flute Jars for canning, as a vase for some lovely flowers, or to put tealights in to light up your table.
- And last, don’t forget the ice. Buy a couple of bags, stash them in a cooler or large freezer, and you’ll be set for keeping your drinks cold and flowing.
You can find Ball Flute Jars in-store at your local Kroger or Walmart, and for inspiration don’t forget to follow them on Facebook here, Instagram, and their must-follow Pinterest boards here.
Here’s a Few Party Ideas and Movie Night Tips:
- Think Drive-In Movie in your backyard
- Make it a Luau, no pig required unless you really want one.
- Pool Party! Really, who doesn’t enjoy a pool party?
- Go a little more elegant, and make a dining area under the stars, and have everyone dress up for the occasion.
- Cocktail tasting party, just remember to drink responsibly.
- Afternoon Tea, go for the fancy British tradition and enjoy tea in the garden.
- Wine or Beer tasting party.
- How about a little cooking competition night? Select some crazy fun recipes or keep it simple and see who comes out the winner.
- Pick a cuisine from around the world, then enjoy recipes from that cuisine, possibly add in some music from that country, and discover the world through food!
- A southern fish fry, or a seafood or creole crawfish boil.
- And of course, I can’t leave out the classic BBQ.
Tips for an Outdoor Movie Night
- My ideal favorite warm-weather party is an outdoor movie night on the lawn with plenty of snacks and a few cocktails like this blueberry buck for the adults and the mocktail recipe below for a fizzy strawberry and refreshing cucumber drink.
- Send invites either through snail mail, e-vites, or even as an event through Facebook. It’s a great way to get everyone excited about getting together, plus it will give you a better idea of who will show.
- Want to enjoy this party idea virtually? There are so many ways now to watch a movie together virtually and this article has a great list of options.
- Plan your snacks and finger foods. We love things like hummus, charcuterie boards, popcorn balls, and chicken lettuce wraps.
- Don’t forget the drinks! Make a self-service drink station, so you’re not running back and forth to the kitchen. You don’t need a long list of drinks, just pick a couple of signature favorite cocktails, a non-alcoholic selection, and a bucket of ice and that’s really all you need.
- You’ll need to gather your serving plates, cutlery, and drinkware. To serve your drinks, I love Ball Flute Jars! They are perfect for a dinner party and your drinks will look gorgeous in these made for entertaining glasses.
- Decorate! Think of it as a sort of picnic setting with blankets and throw pillows to lounge on, then add a few strings of lights, and maybe some citronella candles.
- Don’t forget to pick a movie! Then create your setup. If you have a projector, perfect, all you need to add is a solid wall or a white sheet to hang up as your screen. No projector, no problem, watch this video to DIY your own projector.
It’s one of those crazy things in life, but strawberries and cucumbers make a gorgeous combination. When you take these little BFF’s and add them to some sparkling drinks, add great conversations with family and friends, that’s when you know that summer has met its match.
This cucumber drink is so simple to make and looks beautiful sitting there ready to enjoy in the Ball Flute Jars. If you really need it a bit more of an adult drink, you could add in some Pimms or a nice London Dry Gin.
All that’s left now is to sit back, sip on your refreshing strawberry and cucumber drink, and enjoy the sunsets.
How to make a strawberry cucumber drink:
Sparkling Strawberry Cucumber Drink
A refreshing sparkling drink to enjoy this summer, Strawberry Cucumber Refresher! Perfect for entertaining, parties, and BBQs.
Ingredients
- 1-liter sparkling lemonade
- 1-liter club soda
- 1 cup strawberries, sliced
- 1 English cucumber, sliced
Instructions
- In a large pitcher or jug, add together the 1 liter of sparkling lemonade and 3/4 of the bottle club soda, along with the strawberries and cucumbers.
- Give it a gentle stir, taste and adjust if needed by adding more Sparkling Water. Allow to mellow together for about 20 - 30 minute in the refrigerator until ready to serve.
Notes
You can easily double and triple the amounts. If you prefer a stronger lemon flavor, for 1 liter of sparkling lemonade use about 3/4 of a 1 liter bottle of club soda.
You can also use the pink sparkling lemonade as well, which taste just a wonderful. If unable to find the sparkling lemonade, you can substitute 7Up or Sprite.
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 6 Serving Size: 1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 84Total Fat: 0gSaturated Fat: 0gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 0gCholesterol: 0mgSodium: 10mgCarbohydrates: 22gFiber: 1gSugar: 19gProtein: 1g
Stacey is a Southern girl with a taste for travel, thriving on the discovery of the world through food. After spending many years traveling and living overseas, she’s now back home in her beloved deep south enjoying life with her three little ones and loving the adventure. She’s a food stylist and food photographer, as well as, the creative behind Little Figgy Food, where she loves to inspire others to try new flavors and foodie techniques.