Indoor beach bash

Invitations

• Send a lei with a tag outlining all the party particulars, including the theme. Ask everyone to wear or bring summer clothes.

Decor:

• Move the furniture out of your family room, lay down some picnic blankets and gingham tablecloths, and bring in some lawn chairs.
• If possible, add a sandbox. But not if you have expensive carpeting.
• String patio lanterns across the room to create a summery mood.
• Play music by Caribbean artists, such as Toots & The Maytals.

Food & drink:

• Whip up food you would serve at a picnic, like taco beef burgers, crescent dogs and roasted garlic oven-baked chicken, sweet peas and pasta salad, and warm toasted marshmallow s'more bars, plus lemonade.
• This big burger cake is the perfect finale.

Fun & games

• Play non-beach volleyball using a balloon. Split into teams and bat the balloon back and forth; the object of the game is not to let it touch the ground.
• Create your own version of Beach Blanket Bingo. Make cards, each with nine balmy weather-related words like "pool" and "park." Hand them out and call out your list of words one by one. The first person to fill their complete card wins.
• Other options: lawn bowling, tug of war, and Hula Hoop competitions.

Download Beach blanket bingo cards.