How to Throw a Festive Memorial Day Party

Kick off the summer season with a blast this Memorial Day!  It's the best time to welcome the warm weather with a perfect summer-themed Memorial Day Party. Here are some tips on how to throw a perfect patriotic fête, the best cocktails, delicious food, and patriotic-themed decorations.

Patriotic Decorations

Patriotic Color Themed-Decor

For holiday celebrations, the best color scheme is to combine the American flag colors, red, white and blue to your decor.  Decorate your porch or doors with flags or wreaths. An epic patriotic bundle of balloon display and party set completes the party. We’ve teamed up with an awesome brand for party decor Bobee Party Decorations. Check them out for some stunning inspiration.

All American Classic Foods

A Memorial Day Party food should include all-American classics. An outdoor party with BBQ or you can grill everything. Just stick to a simple menu like burgers, hotdogs, steak, and grilled vegetables. You can also add some sandwiches, pasta, potato salad, fruit slices, chopped veggies and a platter of nachos and cheeses. And for dessert, an American Flag cupcake or cake is great or you can even make your own patriotic-themed ice cream to beat the heat.

Here are some ultimate Memorial food recipes for you:

BBQ Shrimp with White Sauce

A grilled shrimp drizzled with a white sauce. This zesty dish is healthy and delicious.

Yields: 8

Prep time: 20 minutes

Total prep time: 20 minutes

Here's what you need:

• 1 cup mayonnaise
• 1/2 cup cider vinegar
• 2 tbsp prepared and drained horseradish
• 1/2 tsp cayenne
• Kosher salt
• 2 tbsp paprika
• 1 tbsp Black powdered pepper
• 2 1/2 lb large peeled and deveined shrimp
• Skewers
• Toasted bread, potato chips, salad greens - for serving

Here’s how to cook it:

1. Heat grill to medium heat.
2. In a small bowl, mix the mayonnaise, vinegar, horseradish, ½ teaspoon each salt and pepper, 1/4 teaspoon cayenne and set aside.
3. In a small bowl, mix the paprika with the remaining cayenne, salt, and pepper.
4. Thread the shrimp on skewers and season with paprika mixture.
5. Oil the grill lightly. For two minutes, grill the shrimps, 1 minute on each side. Brush with 1/4 cup of the mayonnaise mixture on each side and cook until thoroughly opaque. Then brush with the remaining 1/4 cup of white sauce and place on a platter.
6. Serve the grilled shrimp with the remaining white sauce, toasted bread, potato chips, and salad greens if desired.

Meringue Fruity Wreath

By: WOMAN'S DAY KITCHEN

A pretty and healthy dessert is best served after a sumptuous brunch or dinner. Wreaths are not just for your doors - this lighter than air meringue recipe belongs in your belly.

Yield: 1

Prep time: 25 minutes

Total Prep time: 2 hours

Here's what you need:

• 1 tbsp. cornstarch
• 1 1/2 c. superfine sugar
• 1 tsp. white vinegar
• 1 tsp. pure vanilla extract
• 1 c. heavy cream
• 6 large egg whites
• 8 oz. strawberries
• 1 6-oz. pkg. raspberries
• 1/2 c. blueberries
• 2 tbsp. granulated sugar
• 2 tsp. lemon juice
• Edible flowers, for serving

Here's how to cook it:

1. Heat oven to 275°F.
2. Prepare a large baking sheet with parchment paper. Draw a circle on the parchment about 8-inch, then turn the paper over.
3. In a medium dry bowl, mix the cornstarch and superfine sugar.
4. In a large bowl, beat the egg whites and vinegar with of an electric mixer on medium-high speed for 1 to 2 minutes until it reaches foamy peaks form. Slowly add the superfine sugar mixture about 1 tablespoon at a time, beat for 1 minute between additions, until the whites become stiff and glossy. Gradually add the vanilla, and then beat for 1 minute. Put the mixture in a large piping bag with a large star tip.
5. To stick the parchment on the baking sheet, use 4 small dabs of meringue. As a guide, use the circles; make sure to pipe the meringue mixture into 8 nests and each nest should touch on two sides around the circle. Create a divot by using a large spoon in each one and start piping small stars in between the nests
6. Bake for 1 hour 30 minutes in the oven. Turn it off and let the wreath cool and during this time, do not open the oven for at least 3 to 4 hours or more.
7. Before serving, 20 minutes approximately, mix the fruit with the lemon juice and granulated sugar. Whip the cream until it reaches the soft peaks form. Fill each meringue nest with cream, then top with berries. Dust with edible flowers, if desired.

Colorful Refreshing Drinks

Flowing cocktail and mocktail drinks setup is essential to any Memorial Day party. A summer BBQ party is not a party without some drinks. A signature cocktail is important for this memorable event.

Blueberry Salute Cocktail

By: Emily Price

Here's what you need:

• 1 ½ oz IZZE Sparkling Juice Blueberry
• ½ oz blueberry schnapps
• Fresh blueberries
• ¾ oz coconut milk
• 1 oz rye whiskey

Here's what you need:

1. Add Blueberry, lemon wheel, and fresh blueberries to shaker.
2. Shake the mixture and strain into an ice-filled glass.
3. Top the mixture with IZZE® Sparkling Juice – Blueberry
4. Garnish with fresh blueberries.

Captain America Kids Drink

By: T WORTHEY

Here's what you need:

• 1 can of Cherry 7-Up
  1 Cup of Blueberry Kool-Aid or blue Gatorade or Blue Hawaiian juice
• 1/4 cup of Piña colada mix
• 1 oz of Grenadine (for bright red color)

Here's how to mix it:

1. In a large ice-filled glass, pour the Cherry 7-UP with 1/3 Grenadine
2. Layer the Piña colada mix 1/3 of the glass
3. Top off with the Blueberry Kool-Aid or any of the blue mixture
4. Add a Star and Stripes straws and Cherries {optional}

Tip: If you have a taller glass, repeat the steps 2-4. For the adults, you could spike some “alcohol” to give it a little kick.

In addition to your refreshing Memorial Day drinks, make sure that you have some this set of Patriotic Red White & Blue Wine Charms. This fun and colorful collection of stars, fireworks, and star-speckled banner charms that will look great on your wine glasses and Mason jars for Memorial Day and Labor Day parties.

There's no better way to celebrate USA than with an all American backyard party jammed with summer-inspired food, drinks, and laughter with family and friends.

Cheers!