With the sun shining bright until nearly 9 every night, there’s no time like the present to host a Southern-style seafood boil in your back yard. I’m outlining all the must-know hosting essentials to pull the party off, so go ahead and invite your friends and family over to partake in some buttery, messy fun.

The Shopping List

A true seafood boil will, without question, include the following key ingredients: red potatoes, onions, corn, lemon, melted butter and seafood boil seasoning. Add in your seafood of choice – be it shrimp, crawfish or crab – and thickly sliced kielbasa, too. Fresh French bread and other seasonings are encouraged, optional additions to the boil. Find the full recipe below.

Stock the Bar (Cart)

Don’t forget to grab some boozy libations on the way home from the grocery store. Boils are casual backyard parties – no need to grab the top-shelf Chardonnay. Opt for refreshing big-batch cocktails, locally brewed beers or try out my personal favorite – the watermelon keg.

Set the Scene

Again, keeping things casual is key here. Line the center of the table with tons and tons of newspaper or butcher paper. You’ll be pouring the boiled feast straight onto the table, so paper is key. Set the table with light, airy accessories and blue accents to give off a beachy, backyard vacay vibe. I’m obsessed with the wicker placemats pictured above. Get a similar set and you’ll be sure to reach for them at every summer soiree to come.

Pretty Paper Goods

Pretty paper plates and napkins are equally as crucial to a successful seafood boil as the paper lining the table. Guests are peeling shrimp, dunking corn in butter and breaking bread with their hands. These classic, red-and-white gingham-print napkins scream summer, don’t they?

Let the Games Begin

Add some fun to the feast with backyard games. You can’t go wrong with a nice set of cornhole games for the adults or an easy, DIY water game for the kids. (Trust me, the parents will thank you for providing water-based entertainment after their kiddos are drenched in melted butter!)

Sticky + Sweet

Provide your partygoers with one last sticky, messy treat before they head home for the evening. These red, white and blue popsicles are easy to make and the perfect way to cool off at the end of the day.

End on a Pleasant "Pop!"

Don’t forget to make our easy, DIY popcorn party favors ahead of time so you can hand them out as guests hit the road. (Because who doesn’t love a salty late-night snack?)