There’s never a wrong time to host a party, but as the weather begins to cool, you only have a limited time before winter sets in. Take advantage of an outdoor party while you still can. Invite friends, family, and neighbors to celebrate. Of course, planning this party requires some time, dedication, and knowledge. Fortunately, here’s a brief list of everything you need to host an outdoor party.

No one wants to go to a party where there aren’t foods or drinks available. Therefore, these are essential for any outdoor party. Chips, fruit, and vegetables are all great snack options for hungry guests. Water, soda, juice, and alcohol are nice complementary beverages. Depending on the duration of the party, you should consider meals too. There’s nothing wrong with a nice barbeque with hamburgers, hotdogs, vegetarian options, etc. If there’s a fire, you can even roast marshmallows—a great option for children and adults.

Don’t forget about games. Party games are a fun way to bring people together, especially outside. These can be as creative as you want. For example, you can create your own scavenger hunt for guests with an incentivizing reward. If that sounds like too much work for one party, many places sell large versions of classic childhood games, such as Jenga, Connect 4, Baggo (or Cornhole), and so on. Guests who don’t play games will still enjoy the ambiance of laughter and mingling with others.

You can never predict the weather, even if everything looks bright and sunny. When planning any outdoor party, a canopy tent is a way to protect guests from any external forces. As with any party essential, there are some considerations to know when renting or purchasing a canopy tent. Keep in mind the number of people you expect to show up, how long you’ll use the tent, and the weather conditions you may be up against. Doing so will help you choose the right tent for your party. Plus, if you’re purchasing the tent, you can use it for other parties in the future.

Decorations are also necessary to consider when you want to get everything you need to host an outdoor party. This is especially true if you’re hosting a themed party, such as a birthday, graduation, or anniversary. Setting party favors, streamers, and signs around the yard will liven up the atmosphere. Decorations are a fun way to excite and entertain guests. They’ll also result in many compliments and admiration for the party host and your hard work.