12 Must-Have Tech Gadgets for Outdoor Entertaining

Add ambiance and music to your outdoor gathering with this two-in-one wireless lantern and Bluetooth speaker from Food52. The compact design makes the lantern a natural centerpiece for coffee and dining tables alike, plus it comes with a sleek lucite handle for stress-free mobility. And the best part? It comes with seven different colors that you can change with just a click of a button to suit the mood for your alfresco event.

Get your glow on after dark with this festive outdoor side table. The chic light-up accent table tucks neatly between a pair of your existing outdoor chairs and creates the perfect spot to place drinks, snacks and more. Another idea: Use your light-up table as a radiant pedestal for potted plants on your patio.

What’s a summer soiree without some blended boozy drinks? Serve up spirited sips and smoothies at your next outdoor event with the ZWILLING Blender. The powerful blender comes equipped with high-carbon steel that cuts through ice like butter and features six preprogrammed settings for the perfect blend every time. Our favorite part, though? The self-cleaning setting allows you to spend less time over the sink and more time clinking glasses with friends and family.

Nervous about cooking for a crowd? The Yummly Smart Meat Thermometer is your secret weapon for serving delicious burgers, steak and barbecue chicken all summer long. The foolproof gadget connects to Bluetooth and allows you to monitor the internal temperature of your grilled goodies from up to 150 feet away. Even better: The device comes pre-programmed for meats, fish and poultry and tells you when to flip something or adjust the temperature for mouthwatering results.

Nothing kills the buzz at a party quite like being eaten alive by pesky mosquitos. The Thermacell Patio Shield Mosquito Repeller is here to save your soiree with trusty Thermacell technology that blocks mosquitos for a 15-foot radius. The flame-free design is compact, easy to move around and comes in 11 eye-catching colors to fit your outdoor color palette. Plus, at $25 a pop, you can afford to buy a few to scatter throughout your backyard for a comfortable, bite-free event for all.

Move your Friday movie night from the sofa to the outdoor sectional in a snap with this handy portable projector. The pint-sized gadget packs a punch with clear video quality with up to 150-inch imaging and 16.7 million display colors. Each projector comes with HDMI and micro-USB hookups and wireless mobile connectivity options.

Is this outdoor movie screen a gadget? Debatable. But what’s not up for debate is that this screen pairs seamlessly with the pocket projector above to create a real-deal movie viewing set up in your backyard. Invest in the steel-framed movie screen now and bring it out for years to come. Each screen measures 112-by-100 inches and comes with 10 steel stakes for an easy (yet solid) lawn installation.

The Ultimate Ears wireless speaker is a crowd favorite with a 4.7-star rating and 2,000+ glowing reviews. This lightweight design boasts a 15-hour battery life and is dust and waterproof for up to 3.3 submerged underwater. It's perfect for pool parties and yardwork alike, and the Ultimate Ears speaker comes in your choice of four flashy hues: night black, lagoon blue, ultraviolet purple and sunset red.

Put the days of gas station ice runs behind you and enjoy stress-free party prep with the Newair Portable Ice Maker. Don’t be deceived by the compact design — this portable ice maker makes several pounds of bullet ice each day. Each ice maker includes a handy scoop for serving and a removable ice bin for easy cleaning between events. Choose between three finishes to match your outdoor space: black, stainless steel or white.

There's no need to put away your umbrella after hours with this LED-equipped design on your side. The Christner Market Umbrella features integrated lighting that casts the patio lounge set or table below in a cozy glow at night. Snag the black for a classic look or choose from four additional hues to suit your space: apple green, gray, red or tan.

Give your backyard a festive touch with a slew of hanging outdoor lamps. These globe-style lamps are rechargeable and easy to install on tree limbs or dangle on the deck by the pool. Snag a Bolleke Hanging Outdoor Lamp in your pick of four finishes: green, anthracite, lemon or taupe.

Forget to mow the lawn before your event? Get it done while you prepare snacks and sips from the comfort of your air-conditioned kitchen with the Gardena Sileno Minimo. The high-tech mower boasts Bluetooth connectivity that you can control from your smartphone. The all-weather mower self-navigates your terrain and has built-in boundaries to keep it safely on the lawn and out of your flower beds.