Hosting a Backyard Bonfire and S'mores Night This Fall

A backyard fire turns an ordinary fall evening into an event. It takes little effort, works for kids and adults, and the food is famously simple. It also involves open flame, falling temperatures and marshmallows on sticks, so a little planning goes a long way.

Here's how to host a bonfire night that feels cozy and stays safe, from the rules you should check first to the invitation guests will actually need.

Check the rules before you invite anyone

Fire rules vary by city, county and season, and dry spells can bring temporary burn bans. Before you set a date, check each of these:

• Your local fire department or city website, for open-burning rules and any current burn ban
• Your HOA or rental agreement, which can be stricter than local rules
• That you have a proper fire pit or fire ring, rather than a pile of wood on the lawn
• The forecast for wind, since a breezy evening is a good reason to reschedule

If an open fire isn't allowed where you live, a propane fire table or a patio heater with string lights creates a similar mood, and s'mores work fine under the oven broiler.

Set up the fire area safely

Most of fire safety is decided before the first match is struck:

• Put the fire pit on a nonflammable surface, well away from the house, fences, trees and low branches
• Arrange chairs in a wide circle a few steps back from the fire, with a clear path behind them
• Keep a hose, a bucket of water or sand, and a fire extinguisher within easy reach
• Burn dry, seasoned firewood, and never use gasoline or other accelerants to start or revive the fire
• Choose one adult to tend the fire all evening, and never leave it unattended
• Before bed, drown the fire with water, stir the ashes, and drown it again until everything is cold to the touch

With kids around, set one simple rule, such as staying behind the chair circle unless an adult is roasting with them, and say it once at the start of the night. A short rule said clearly works better than constant reminders.

S'mores math and simple food

S'mores disappear faster than you expect. A practical plan is two to three s'mores per adult and one to two per child, so a party of 12 adults and 6 kids needs about 40 s'mores. Here's what that means for your shopping list:

• Marshmallows: one per s'more, plus extra for the ones that catch fire
• Graham crackers: one full sheet, broken in half, per s'more
• Chocolate: one small section of a bar per s'more
• Roasting sticks: at least one for every three guests, long enough to keep hands well back

A few swaps keep things interesting: peanut butter cups instead of plain chocolate, chocolate chip cookies instead of grahams, or a thin slice of strawberry for the adults. Round out the menu with a pot of chili or soup, hot dogs cooked on sticks, and warm drinks like cider and hot chocolate. The party food calculator can size the rest of the food and drinks from your headcount.

Plan the evening's flow

Start about half an hour before sunset. Guests arrive in daylight, find a seat and get a warm drink, and the fire is at its best just as it gets dark. Check the sunset time for your date, since it arrives noticeably earlier each week through the fall.

1. First half hour: arrivals and warm drinks, then light the fire once most guests are there
2. At dusk: dinner, such as hot dogs on sticks or a pot of chili
3. After dark: s'mores, stories and music
4. Last half hour: let the fire burn down and start putting it out while guests say goodbye

Simple activities keep kids busy and adults relaxed: glow sticks and a flashlight scavenger hunt, a round of age-appropriate ghost stories, someone playing guitar, or a few minutes of stargazing once the fire burns low. Two hours is plenty for families with young kids, while adult groups often stay longer.

Keep guests warm and comfortable

Fall evenings cool off quickly once the sun goes down, and the side of you facing away from the fire stays cold. A few small comforts make people want to stay:

• A basket of blankets and a couple of spare hats
• Enough seats, plus cushions or sturdy logs for extra guests
• Lanterns or string lights along the path to the back door and bathroom
• Bug spray for early fall evenings
• Wet wipes for sticky hands, and a trash can with a lid

Smoke drifts toward whoever sits downwind, and the wind shifts during the night. Leave a couple of seats open so people can move without making a fuss.

What to put on the invitation

A bonfire invitation has a few details that a regular party invite doesn't:

• Date and start time, with a note that it's outdoors after dark
• What to wear: warm layers and closed-toe shoes
• Whether to bring a camp chair, a blanket, or a favorite s'mores add-on
• A weather plan, such as a backup date if it's windy or raining
• Whether kids are welcome
• An RSVP date, so you can buy supplies for the right number of people

S'mores and stories around the fire. Saturday from 6:30 PM in our backyard. Dress warm and bring a camp chair if you have one. If it's windy, we'll move it to Sunday.

Weather can change plans at the last minute, so it helps to use an invitation you can update and message all your guests from in one step. Guests can also claim what they're bringing on a sign-up sheet, which keeps you from ending up with six bags of marshmallows. Browse party invitation designs or pick up a line from our party invitation wording.