Simply Living: Porch Party and Gathering Ideas

Large, welcoming porches are a key feature of the homes at Union Village Ohio. In fact, porches literally stand out as you stroll the tree-lined streets or cruise through the neighborhood. Porches are gathering places. They’re meant to get us outside the confines of our house and into the community so we can get to know our neighbors.

With the weather warming up, it’s a great time to get out on the porch and gather with our family, friends, and neighbors. And having a porch party is a great way to do just that.

A porch party is a casual get-together where you can just hang out and have some fun. You can play games or cards, have someone play music, enjoy some good food and drink…it can be as low-key or elaborate as you want. The point is to spend time together.

Below are some tips and ideas to help plan your porch party.

Simply Living: It’s a Way of Life at Union Village Ohio

Keep the party simple and casual. You want to enjoy each other’s company, not to do a ton of prep work or be on hosting duty the entire time.

Decorate as much or as little as you’d like. Simple twinkle lights can go a long way in creating a festive atmosphere.

Make it a potluck and ask neighbors to bring their family’s favorite dish or snack. It will mean less work for you and will also help everyone get to know a little more about each other.

Let everyone serve themselves - set up a DIY cocktail cart or have one signature drink and lay out food buffet style.

Pictured: Food and decor don’t have to be extravagant to be fun. In fact, look for something you can repurpose as a beverage cart and let your guests help themselves. The Camden house plan is one of many at Union Village that offers a great deal of outdoor space for entertaining friends and family.

INSPIRATION FOR SIMPLY LIVING
Take a rainy day to plan your porch party. Our Pinterest page can provide inspiration to get started.

It’s Easy to Find a Reason to Party

You don’t need a reason to get together, but having a party theme can add excitement and make it easier to come up with a menu and decorating ideas.

Have a wine tasting or craft beer pairing. (Neighbors can bring their favorite drink to share.)

Special events and holidays make for great themes. There’s Cinco de Mayo or Derby for May; Summer Solstice and Ice Cream Day are in June; Christmas in July or Hot Dog Day; S’mores Day is in August; and Oktoberfest is perfect for September.

Get together and give back by making it a party for a cause. Your party can be a philanthropic effort to raise money for a youth sports team or the school band, to collect donations for a shelter or food bank, or to just raise awareness for an organization that is important to you.

Pictured: A s’mores bar (presentation by tonyastaab.com) is a fun treat especially for younger guests. The Washington house plan includes a courtyard that’s perfect for a summer soiree. A signature cocktail can lift spirits. The “Union Village Mule” was created by Foxtails for Homearama: Lifestyle Edition at Union Village Ohio.

INSPIRATION FOR SIMPLY LIVING
Does your next home need a larger porch or outdoor living space? Browse Union Village Ohio house plans.

Make it a Regular Occurrence

Make your porch party a standing appointment. Declare the first Friday of the month or every Sunday afternoon as porch party day so everyone knows to stop by if they can.

Set up a schedule with your neighbors to take turns hosting so everyone feels involved and the work is shared.

Pictured: Make your porch a safe place for young people to try their talents in front of a friendly crowd. Games are another fun diversion. A big porch, like this one on The Piedmont, is a space waiting to be filled with laughter and fun.

About Union Village

Union Village is a unique village under construction in Turtlecreek Township (Warren County) Ohio. Designed on the principles of new urbanism, Town Architect Michael Watkins earned the Urban Planning John Russell Pope Award for the Union Village master plan. Touting charming front porches, masterfully crafted homes, beautiful park spaces and tree-lined streets, the Village will grow to include restaurants, shops and amenities in walking distance to homes. At completion, the 1,230-acre Village will have up to 4,500 homes and 10,000 residents while also preserving over 200 acres of open space, woodlands, and meadows.

Interested homebuyers can complete a brief questionnaire or call (513) 409-3190 to schedule a private showing.