Hosting a Memorial Day party can be a meaningful way to honor and remember those who have served in the military and have given their lives for their country. It’s a great way to bring friends and family together to celebrate their memory and the freedoms they helped protect. It can also be a time to enjoy the start of summer, with good food, company, and fun activities that everyone can enjoy. Memorial Day weekend is often spent at cookouts, hosting or attending parties, poolside, or lounging in the backyard. Here are easy Memorial Day party ideas to get your family and friends moving with several activities for Memorial Day as well as some great suggestions for Memorial Day snacks.
Celebrate Memorial Day With These Easy Party Ideas
These Memorial Day party ideas are shared with us today by Dyan Damron of Coach D Consulting which offers health, nutrition, and exercise advice. One of her main focuses is getting children and families healthy. She takes a “whole-istic” approach to a healthy life and comprehensive wellness. Here are some fun Memorial Day party activities. To kick the party off, it is the perfect time to take a moment to remember and honor those who have served with a moment of silence or a reading of a patriotic poem or passage.
5 Memorial Day Party Activities
Here are ways you can burn some calories while also commemorating the heroic men and women who bravely fought for our freedom. Before the party starts, get ready for your cookout or party by mowing the lawn. Use a push-mower & pull weeds by hand. You’ll improve your appearance as well as your yard’s before the memorial day celebration.
1. Pool Time
Most pools will open this weekend, so jump right in. Swim with your kids, or swim alone. It can burn more than 500 calories an hour. Even if it’s not proper (or pretty) form, just make sure you’re not resting on the pool floor & you’re moving both your arms & legs.
2. Badminton
Play tennis or badminton. Set up “court” in your backyard or even in the pool. You’ll burn calories while having fun & developing teamwork among your family.
3. Classic Backyard Games
Play old-school games with the entire family. Remember how much you used to enjoy corn hole, Red Rover, Duck Duck Goose, Hide- &-Seek, Hopscotch, Leap Frog, chasing bubbles, water balloon toss, and Three- Legged Race? Backyard games like giant jenga are enjoyable, engaging, & high energy.
4. Backyard Sports
If you have enough people, play kickball, volleyball (even with a beach ball), baseball, touch football, or soccer. Everyone gets exercise & kids can develop eye-hand coordination as well as leadership skills!
5. Patriotic Crafts
Have a Memorial Day crafts station where guests can make patriotic decorations or flags. These can even be displayed as Memorial Day decorations.
No matter what you do, don’t just sit. Lawn chairs are uncomfortable & leave embarrassing marks on the backs your legs. So, get up, move, have fun, & celebrate our military heroes. I hope you enjoyed these Memorial Day Party Ideas for active activities for Memorial Day! You may even want to create a playlist of patriotic songs and have a dance area where guests can dance and celebrate. Also, set up a photo booth with patriotic props and backdrops for guests to take fun photos.
Memorial Day Party Snacks
Typical Memorial Day snacks consists of hot dogs, deep fried potato chips, high-fat pasta salads, baked beans drenched in sugar & bacon, & calorie-loaded brownies. But you can still enjoy the holiday – including the summertime spread – while staying beach-body ready. There are lots of Memorial Day party food ideas that are healthy and crowd-pleasing dishes all in one.
Here are some ideas for making the Memorial Day snacks delicious without destroying your waistline.
1. If you’re attending a party, offer to take a dish. You will be helpful while also ensuring you’ll have a healthful snack option.
2. Make coleslaw or potato salad by dressing with spicy mustard, extra virgin olive oil, vinegar, salt & pepper. Also use this dressing in deviled eggs. This is much tastier than mayo & won’t spoil in the heat.
3. Use shredded carrots & broccoli stems, green & red cabbage, red onions, even sliced raw mushroom in your coleslaw. Vary textures & colors to enliven the visual & flavor appeal.
4. Leave skins on potatoes when making potato salad. Most of the nutrients & fiber are contained in the skins. For best taste & appearance, opt for red skin, new, or baby potatoes.
5. Make baked beans with one part canned baked beans with one part canned black, pinto, or white beans. This will perk up the taste while limiting the sugar. When baking, top with deli ham or turkey rather than bacon.
6. Try grilling lean meats and veggies for all the flavor and less of the fat. Here are some more fun grilling ideas.
Memorial Day Dessert Ideas
8. For dessert, go for fresh fruit in colors of the American flag for a patriotic touch. They won’t spoil and it’s colorful & eye-catching. Plus, berries & melon with high water content will keep party guests feeling full longer. Buy whatever fruit is cheapest – it means it’s in season & most flavorful!
9. American Flag Cheesecake Squares
10. Coconut Macaroon Cherry Bombs
Conclusion
To wind down your Memorial Day party, you may want to finish with an outdoor movie night. Set up an area and show movies with a U.S. military theme, such as “Saving Private Ryan” or “Top Gun.” If it’s allowed in your area, end the evening with a fireworks display to celebrate and honor the day.
Remember that Memorial Day is a holiday and we should celebrate. For most of us it is the unofficial start of summer season. Allow yourself to have a treat, just don’t overdo it. I hope you enjoy the perfect Memorial Day Party and these ideas help you plan a healthy, fun get together. What are your favorite activities for Memorial Day? What are your favorite Memorial Day snacks?
If you want more Memorial Day Party Ideas, check out this Pinterest Board.
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10 Educational Memorial Day Activities For Kids
Chris says
There is better way to start the summer holidays than these fun memorial day party ideas. I’ll definitely be saving this post to Pinterest for later use too!
Keep up the great work.
Erika English says
Thank you for sharing these simple memorial day party ideas. I like the idea of having fruit for dessert for a change so I’ll definitely be adding that to my list. Also, I love the idea of outdoor games.
Krishna says
Thanks much for sharing such an excellent way to put the patriotic theme of this long weekend forward. All the best and keep rocking!
Kidzonia says
What a fantastic list of ideas for a fun Memorial Day party! At Kidzonia, we believe in the power of engaging activities and nutritious snacks to foster learning and joy, just like the wonderful suggestions here. Happy Memorial Day from our Kidzonia family to yours!