Coming to a Street Near You: Driveway Socials, the Hottest Hosting Trend of the Year

These days, the driveway is where friends and neighbors meet for lively conversation and fun. Experts share their best tips for throwing a party on the pavement.

Search “What is a driveway social?” and not much comes up. But the truth is, driveway socials have been around for a few years. “During the pandemic, driveways were a common place to gather and enjoy each other’s company, while still prioritizing safety and social distancing outdoors,” says Olivia Pollock, etiquette and hosting expert at Evite. “Today, these get-togethers have become regular events in many neighborhoods.” 

Driveway socials are also a chance for people to get together without a lot of notice. “They’re sort of the anti-party,” says Beth Helmstetter, creative director & founder of Beth Helmstetter. “They highlight an intimacy that comes along with having the type of relationship with your neighbors where you can just say, ‘Hey, come over for a glass of wine’ without a lot of notice.”

 Ahead, entertaining experts share how to pull off the perfect party on the pavement. 

Meet Our Expert

• Stephanie Nass is the founder of Chefanie and the author of Swing By! Entertaining Recipes and the New Art of Gathering
• Renee Patrone Rhinehart is the founder and CEO of Party Host Helpers
• Olivia Pollock is the etiquette and hosting expert for Evite 
• Beth Helmstetter is the creative director and founder of Beth Helmstetter
• Rob Pausmith is the founder of the Pausmith Group
• Callista Osborn is the owner of Callista & Co., which offers full-service event planning and design

Choosing a Host

“You may want to start by taking on the hosting duties yourself,” says Rob Pausmith, founder of Pausmith Group. “These gatherings are meant to be casual, so there’s less worry about being the perfect hostess. During the party, get everyone excited about taking turns hosting. Then when it’s time for the next round, pass the baton by dropping a friendly note in the mailbox of the next host. The key is communicating up front to make sure your neighbors are on board so that no one feels pressure hosting a future event.”

“Often, it’s the person with the most accommodating driveway who hosts,” says Stephanie Nass, founder of Chefanie. “Other times it’s someone with something special to celebrate.”

“I love the idea of every neighbor taking a month to host throughout the year,” says Renee Patrone Rhinehart, founder and CEO of Party Host Helpers. Or assign different seasonal themes, “like an April garden cocktail party or October football Sunday,” says Pollock.

Invitations Optional

“I like to send a Paperless Post with the subject line ‘Driveway Social,’ embracing the concept loud and clear,” shares Nass. Rhinehart prefers a flier made on a platform like Canva or a simple social media post. “Ask everyone to bring a picnic blanket and chairs and be specific with whether guests should come empty-handed or not,” she says. “Make sure to include an end time as people tend to linger longer outdoors.”

Another way to invite friends and neighbors is through an Evite, where the host can include a SignUp Sheet for food, beverages, and games. 

Some prefer no official invite, instead letting the impromptu feeling of a driveway social speak for itself. “I don’t think there needs to be a formal invite. In fact, formality can take away the charm,” shares Helmstetter. “I like the idea of walking down the block, running into your neighbors, and saying, ‘Hey, come on over, we’re all getting together for a bit’.”

Keep Decorations Simple

The casual nature of a driveway social suggests you don’t need to go crazy with the decor. “A driveway social is meant to be simple,” says Pollock. “Grab some sidewalk chalk and write a few personalized welcome messages to guests on the pavement. Or add some cute string lights and lanterns to cozy up the event.” 

“The point is not to stress,” says Nass. “It could be as simple as tying balloons to your mailbox and planting American flags in the grass.” Agrees Helmstetter, “Don’t overthink the details. Remember it’s all about easy gathering, one where the next host shouldn’t feel the pressure to throw the next get-together because the current host went above and beyond.”

Family-Style Food

One of the best things about driveway socials is the community aspect, so it’s fine to ask your guests to each bring something. “Asking everyone to bring a dish relieves some of the hosting pressure and can be themed for each party to keep things interesting. For example, guests could be asked to bring a favorite childhood dish,” says Callista Osborn, owner of Callista & Co.

“If you’re hosting on a brisk autumn night, I recommend a chili bar with toppings and cornbread,” says Pollock. “A charcuterie-themed party where everyone brings their favorite board arrangements can be fun too.” Rhinehart likes to serve meatballs in a slow cooker, turkey and cheese sliders, pizzas (even more fun if you have a pizza oven), cheesesteaks on a Blackstone griddle, walking tacos, ice cream sandwiches, and popsicles.

“These types of gatherings are built for potluck snacks and dishes. Think small containers with a utensil in place,” suggests Helmstetter. “Grilling is lovely if you have someone willing to provide their talent, but even that could feel like too much effort. As a host, I’d ask people to bring food and drinks but be prepared to provide things like plates, napkins, utensils, coolers, ice, wine keys, and tables to place the food on.”  

“It’s a splurge, but I love a food truck or ice cream cart for a driveway social,” says Nass. “Hand pies are also a good idea as they’re cute and don’t require complicated serving or eating utensils. If you’re doing a potluck-style gathering, plan for things that are mostly room temperature, so that standing items won’t be compromised.”

Self-Serve Drinks

“A mixed batch cocktail in a punch bowl is a fun way for adults to share a drink,” says Nass. “Otherwise, you can fill a tub, blowup pool, or even an old canoe with beverages like canned cocktails, seltzers, and beer. Just make sure you keep the kids’ juice boxes, soda, and water bottles in a separate container.”

If you have a garage fridge, even better, as you won’t have to worry about ice. “Anything that’s single-serve to avoid the need for cups and doesn’t require a lot of preparation is best for a party like this,” says Helmstetter. 

“Take advantage of your kitchen and refrigerator until the very last minute by keeping things indoors until everyone starts to arrive,” adds Pausmith.

No-Fuss Tableware

Keep things low-cost and planet-friendly by bringing out your daily serving bowls and utensils. “Beyond that, ask your guests to bring their dishes in bowls and plates that they can be served from,” says Pollock, who loves to place food in paper food boats and uses paper food boxes for guests to bring home leftovers.

“As a host, I keep a stock of wood picnic plates that can be washed and reused but should you opt for disposable ones. These are a step up from the traditional boring paper plate. I also love to embrace sustainability by using disposable compostable cutlery,” says Helmstetter. 

Osborn loves Tossware, a quality option for non-breakable drinkware with multiple styles to choose from that can also be reused for future events.

As for seating, “driveway socials are meant to be casual, so use what you’ve got,” says Pausmith. “Patio furniture and lawn or camping chairs can be set up for some casual seating.”

Related: 6 Ways to Throw an Eco-Friendly Party at Home

Music Is a Must

These gatherings are a great opportunity for local talent to shine. “Whether it’s a youngster on a violin or a small-town three-person band, live music always has more personality than a playlist over a speaker,” says Nass. Agrees Rhinehart, “If someone on the street has musical talent, why not ask them to come play for an hour? Memories of an acoustic guitar or impromptu jam session with a bunch of neighbors will be the talk of the neighborhood for a long time.” 

If speakers are easier, check out Evite’s smart Spotify profile, complete with playlists to curate a specific ambience, from Summer Soiree to Mystery Halloween to Dinner with Friends. A Sonos or Bose speaker dock allows you to switch between playlists without requiring power. 

Break the Ice with Games and Activities

“My favorite outdoor games include life-size Jenga, Baggo, Ladderball, and trivia games about the town you live in,” says Rhinehart. “Don’t forget old-fashioned relay races, a scavenger hunt around the yard, and small craft stations and board games. You can even set up a temporary pickleball net in your driveway.”

To help savor the memories, set up a DIY photo booth with a tripod for your phone. “The kids can design a fun background and use props from the garage in their photos,” says Pollock.  

Adult games are a great icebreaker too, sparking some friendly competition, especially if neighbors don’t know each other well. “Classic games like cornhole or Spikeball are always fun and allow for easy conversation,” suggests Pollock.

Close your garage door to create a blank wall space, then connect your phone, laptop, or tablet to a projector to show a movie or sports. “It’s a conversation piece as people mingle and watch, plus it’s an easy way to encourage guests to come to the party without the fear of missing their favorite team,” says Pausmith. 

Related: The 5 Best Outdoor Movie Screens, According to Testing

Time It Right

A party in the driveway is definitely weather-dependent, with fall, spring, and summer being the optimal seasons. “I love adding a fire to the mix and providing s’mores for my guests in the fall, while summer is the perfect time to put drinks and ice in a baby pool and to turn on the sprinkler for the kids to cool off,” says Rhinehart. 

As for when to time the event, weekends are prime hosting, when most guests don’t have to worry about work. “However, due to the party’s spontaneous nature, weekdays can also be a great time to celebrate, even if just for an hour or so,” adds Pollock.

Quick Cleanup

They say teamwork makes the dream work. “Set up a few clearly labeled bins for recycling, compost, and trash so everyone knows where to toss their stuff,” says Pollock.

When the party winds down, there’s no shame in asking your guests and their kids to help clean up your driveway. “Nobody wants to run over a half-eaten hamburger with their car the next morning,” says Pausmith.

Keeping a basket that contains supplies like paper towels and garbage bags makes cleanup fast and easy. “Remind guests to bring home whatever they donated to the party, whether that’s leftovers, a table, bowl, or serving utensil,” says Pollock.

For more Better Homes & Gardens news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter!

Read the original article on Better Homes & Gardens.