Are you preparing for an upcoming reunion with your friends and loved ones? When doing so, you’ll want to make sure that the event will be fun and memorable. Otherwise, you may encounter a handful of problems and receive numerous complaints. Hosting a bonfire night party can be fun for a family reunion, honeymoon, or high school reunion. Regardless, you need to go to great lengths to ensure that your party is going to be spectacular. Bonfire night parties need to be planned extensively since there are risks involved.
Below, you’ll find advice for planning the perfect bonfire night party for yourself and your loved ones.
When Is A Bonfire Night Party Suitable?
A bonfire party can be a suitable choice for many circumstances. However, this isn’t going to be suitable for all events. For instance, there is a chance that you’re preparing for your daughter’s upcoming birthday party. Whether a bonfire night will be suitable depends on her age. It likely isn’t a good idea to throw a bonfire party for a young girl. However, it would be a good choice for a teenager or adult. Bonfire parties are great for other events though.
You can have a bonfire party when you’re getting together with old friends, hanging out with relatives, and celebrating your birthday. It is also a good choice when you intend to celebrate your wedding or anniversary. You’ll enjoy sitting in front of the fire and roasting marshmallows. If you’re going to host a bonfire night party, you need to do so carefully.
Follow the advice below to ensure that your party will be safe and fun.
Check For Fire Bans
Next, you should go to great lengths to ensure that you’re not going to be breaking any laws. Where there is a higher risk of fire, it is common for local agencies to implement fire bans. You may not be able to burn anything throughout the day or week. Alternatively, you may only be able to burn stuff at certain times. Regardless, you need to pay close attention to the fire bans in your area. If you’re violating the laws, you could be fined.
Thankfully, it is easy to find fire bans in your area. Use Google or another search engine to look for fire bans in your area. During the spring fire season in West Virginia, burning is prohibited between 7 AM and 5 PM. Anyone caught violating the ban could face a fine between $100 and $1,000. Plus, you may have to pay a civil penalty of $200. The rules in your area may be different so be sure to check them before planning a bonfire party.
Safety First
Before doing anything, you should implement safety protocols to ensure that everyone is going to be okay. Otherwise, your bonfire party may transform into a nightmare for you and your loved ones. Suffice to say, you don’t want this to happen. Thankfully, there are numerous ways to minimize the risks. Start by using the advice below to ensure that your bonfire party will be safe.
- Start by checking the weather in your area. High winds could cause the fire to spread. If your area is expected to receive high winds, you may want to reschedule your party.
- All brush and debris must be removed from around the fire pit. Otherwise, embers could cause the debris to catch fire and spread.
- Make sure that you have access to water. Having buckets of water can help. Otherwise, you should have a garden hose nearby.
- Be careful when trying to start a fire with lighter fluid or charcoal. It is safer to use small kindling and newspapers.
- Avoid using gasoline or kerosene.
- Don’t let the bonfire get too large. It should be kept at a manageable size. It should be roughly 4-feet by 4-feet and no larger.
- Keep everyone a safe distance away from the fire.
- If you’re going to drink alcohol, you must moderate. Don’t overdo it.
- When the night is over, be sure that the fire is out completely.
If you follow this advice, you can have fun while minimizing any risks.
How To Plan A Bonfire Night Party
You’ll want to do everything possible to make sure that your bonfire party is going to be spectacular and memorable. Although you should focus on safety first, you’ll also want to plan the party to ensure that your friends will enjoy every minute of it. Use the tips below to ensure that your party is fun for everyone.
Picking A Bonfire Party Theme
When you decide to plan a bonfire party, you’ll want to pretend that you’re planning a wedding. After all, your bonfire party could be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. With this in mind, you should start by choosing a theme for your party. Picking a theme will prove to be very helpful. Once you’ve selected a theme, you can stick to that theme when picking other things. All decorations, food, and forms of entertainment should match the theme you’ve picked. The good news is that your options are plentiful. You can throw an outdoor movie bonfire party, game night, tiki party, or patriotic bonfire party.
Other options include a bonfire sing-along, glow-in-the-dark party, or Halloween bonfire party. Pick a theme that works well for your event.
Plan The Fire Pit
One of the most important aspects of the party is the fire pit. For safety, you must make sure that the fire pit is properly positioned. If it is too close to bushes, trees, and buildings, the risks are too high. You should put the fire pit away from other options to avoid potential problems. You’ll also want to make sure that your guests can sit around the fire pit easily. When your guests are sitting, they should form a ring around the firepit. If you have fewer people, everyone can sit on the same side.
Be sure to check the laws in your city and county. Specific areas have laws that specify how far your fire must be away from structures. Follow these guidelines to avoid getting fined and creating problems for your neighbors.
Prepare The Surrounding Space
You’ll also need to pay close attention to the surrounding space. The fire pit’s location is important for keeping everyone safe. Furthermore, you must make sure that the surrounding area is accommodating and comfortable. It might be cold outside at night. If this is the case, you should place blankets outside so your guests can stay warm. Grab chairs and seats to ensure that your guests have comfortable places to sit. If you’re going to sit on the ground, make sure you don’t have to sit in the dirt or grass.
Throw a few blankets down so you can keep your clothes clean. Be sure to sit out a few stools or tables because your guests will need something to hold their drinks and snacks. Prepare the area around the fire pit to ensure that your guests are going to be comfortable throughout the night.
Use Mood Lighting
One of the best aspects of a bonfire party is the brightness. When it is dark outside, the fire will brighten the area and everything around it. You can enhance the light produced by the bonfire by using mood lighting. Save soup cans so you can turn them into centerpieces. Poke holes in the cans using a hammer and nails. You can also use a drill bit. By placing the cans around your fire pit, you can guarantee that it’ll create a beautiful lighting effect. The cans will glow and add light to the nearby area.
You can also add brightness to the area by using small fireworks. Sparklers and party poppers are good for getting your guests involved.
Don’t Forget The Snacks
Your bonfire night party is going to last until the sun rises. As a result, you have to accommodate your guests throughout the night. Remember that they’re going to be eager to eat and drink. In the middle of the night, they’ll get hungry and thirsty. You must give them what they want. Otherwise, they may go home. Finger foods are highly recommended. You can use cheese and cracks, potato chips, s’mores, and more. You’ll also want to give out drinks. Hot chocolate is a good choice on a chilly night.
If your friends are going to be drinking alcohol, you need to do so carefully. Drinking near a fire pit could be dangerous. Moderate and make sure some of your guests remain sober.
Recently I wrote a guide on what to bring to a bonfire on the beach. If you’re planning to have your bonfire party on the beach then I recommend that you give that a read.
Plan For Games
It is a good idea to play games during your bonfire party. Certain games can help you bond with your loved ones. Truth or dare is a good option. You can also play two truths and a lie. These games will tell you a lot about your friends while helping you develop a stronger bond with them. Other games that you could play include kicking the can, hide-and-seek, red rover, or outdoor scavenger hunt.
I have a page dedicated to guides on outdoors games. I recommend that you check it out by Clicking Here. These games will ensure your guests have a great night.
Conclusion
Your guests are going to love your bonfire night party. When planning the bonfire party, don’t overthink it. Have fun and get your friends involved. Just remember to play significance on the safety of your guests and neighbors. Otherwise, your fun party may turn into a nightmare.
If you’d like to see the animated version of this guide please visit Bonfire-Night-Safety.co.uk.
If you’d like a free printable version of this cheat sheet to use as a teaching aid, visit the child development resource PDF
My name is Eugene Thornhill. I'm an outdoor enthusiast who loves nothing more than being one with nature. I've lived in numerous outdoor homes and even constructed my own. Living off-grid is something I'm very familiar with, more so than living in the city. For many years I've dealt with the many problems of living off-grid. It's time to pass on my knowledge through Cabinguides.