The Ultimate Movie/Football Night Outdoors

If you're ready to tackle this outdoor season head on, you'll need to prep for numerous things: fantasy football picks, Monday night games, and a place for you and all your compatriots and rivals to gather and celebrate the season together. Not into football? Don't worry, these tips and tricks will still help you prepare for an awesome evening outdoors. From touchdowns to tailgates, movie nights to family dates, we've got you covered for an awesome evening.

Tell us we're not alone when we say that a night of football is best enjoyed outdoors with a grill and some cold drinks nearby. Throw on your game face because we are going to take you through the ultimate guide to scoring big on your outdoor Monday Night Football party. Besides sporting your team jersey, make sure to add decorations and maybe even color themes to represent the teams playing that evening. And if football isn’t your thing, enjoying a movie out on the lawn is a relaxing way to spend a night! Upgrade from a small television set to a cinema-like screen! Cuddle up with some blankets, popcorn, and your favorite candy because you're in for a treat!

Projector Screen

Nothing creates a great viewing experience like a projector and a large screen. You can even create your own projector screen with a few household items! Better Homes and Gardens has a great guide on how to easily put together a DIY projector screen.

Materials:

• Hacksaw
• Three 10-foot lengths of 1 1/4-inch PVC Pipe
• 6x9 Foot Canvas Drop Cloth
• Scissors
• Safety Pins
• Sewing Machine and Thread
• Two U Posts
• Hammer
• Two 1 1/4-inch PVC Pipe T-Joints
• Two 1 1/4-inch PVC Pipe Elbows

Instructions:

1. Take your two 10-foot length PVC pipes, and cut into two 7-foot and two 3-foot sections. Cut remaining 10-foot length in half and set aside.
2. Now, use scissors to cut the cloth into a 6x7-foot rectangular shape and wrap one 6-foot side of drop cloth around one 7-foot PVC pipe while leaving some overlap and then pin securely. Remove the pipe and stitch to create a cuff. Then, do the same with the other 6-foot side.
3. Drive U posts into the ground with the hammer, approximately 7 feet apart. Slide each 3-foot PVC piece onto the U posts and twist to tighten as needed.
4. Then, attach one arm of each T-joint piece on top of the 3-foot PVC pieces. With the other arm of the T-joint pieces attach the 5-foot PVS pieces to the top of each 3-foot PVC piece.
5. Add elbow pieces to the top of 5-foot PVC pieces, thread the screen onto the 7-foot PVC pieces through the cuffs and attach the 7-foot pieces to the top of the posts with the elbow joints.
6. Set up your projector and enjoy!

SETTING

_{Warm up throughout the night near the Granville Fire Table by Elementi.}

Now for the fun part: creating the perfect setting for your festive football party! Though the focus will mostly be around your television or screen for much of the night, make sure to provide your guests with options for warmth and light. Chances are, your guests will mingle and grab snacks during commercials or intermissions, so it's important to make sure your area is well-lit, has adequate seating, and an overall inviting ambiance.

First, you'll want to make sure that you have ample seating for all of your guests; our favorite is the Avant Stacking Teak Chair because they allow for very easy storage. Next, create warmth for your guests with the Elementi Granville Fire Table. The wide-ledged top is excellent for setting down appetizers and drinks, while your guests sit nearby for warmth and conversation. In addition, illuminate your fire pit with the Outdoor LED Light Strips. These strips have the capacity to rotate between red, green, blue, or purple--making it an excellent way to represent your favorite team. Set the scene for a delightful movie on the lawn with blankets and throw pillows, while incorporating outdoor lounge furniture such as the extra comfy Ingonish Beach Sofa! This sofa is excellent for snuggling in with a blanket, while enjoying a flick with some snacks nearby. 

FOOD

Concession Stand

• Large Bowl
• Cutting Knife
• Spoon/Ice Cream Scooper

1. Using a sharp chef's knife, cut one end of the watermelon off.
2. Use an ice cream or cookie scoop to hollow out pieces from the large end of the watermelon into a fruit bowl. Or, use a large spoon to scoop out chunks of watermelon and cut up into bite-size pieces.
3. Lay the smaller end of the watermelon down, cut in half, then clean out one piece of the watermelon slice you just cut.
4. Next, carve out the helmet shape from the large end of the watermelon. Then use a black marker to stencil out the helmet's face mask. Next, carve out the face mask with the cleaned half end of the watermelon piece.
5. Cut up the rest of your fruits into bite-size pieces and serve!