Is Labor Day already here? Summer always seems to fly by. Picnics, parties, and festivities abound during the summertime so you are inevitably kept busy. Then, the beginning of the school year descends upon us out of nowhere. Celebrating Labor Day can keep the spirit of summer alive. Here are some tips on making this day fun yet simple.

• Do you have a big backyard? Or is there a public park to host the event? Use outdoor space to minimize the need to do a big clean before the party occurs. Public parks rent their space for a very nominal fee and you also get the perks of playgrounds or other amenities.
• Make it a fun potluck. Divvy up food categories so you don’t end up with 10 bowls of potato salad. Such information is easily discussed if you use an online invitation system like www.evite.com or www.pingg.com. Divide food into categories such as appetizers, main dishes, desserts, and beverages.
• Use a free online service such as Evite or Pingg (mentioned above). People then know who is bringing what and all the basics of the event. These services are free for basic invitations.
• Hit up the local farmer’s market for the freshest and cheapest summer eats! Suggest food items such as a big green salad, melon and berry salads, fruit pies, etc. Not only will you be saving money but you will be eating locally.
• Have the summer essentials on hand: citronella candles to keep the bugs away, sparklers, s’mores making materials, and fun music just to name a few. Add these items on your invitation.
• Make decorating fun and free by using items from nature (late summer flowers, candles anchored in jars of sand, etc).
• Have guests bring extra outdoor chairs to ensure enough seating for everyone. Or blankets can come in handy, too. Also, have guests bring extra coolers so drinks can stay chilled.
• Enjoy the time you have with your friends and/or family. Bring pictures of the adventures you took this summer, stories of trips you took, and any memories you have made.
• Bring fun games for the children and adults to play. Bean bag toss, bocce ball, and volleyball are a few that come to mind. For rainy events, classic board games are always fun, too.
• Take lots of pictures and be sure to email them to party participants. In the age of digital photography this is easy as 1-2-3 and a nice thank you to your friends and family.

Labor Day can be a great way to celebrate the simple joys in life; good food, good friends, and good times. I hope these tips can help you in celebrating!!