Beach Parties

Throwing a beach party? Who wouldn't want to part on the beach after dark. But before you throw your mega beach blanket bingo bonfire extravaganza, there are a quite a few things to remember when throwing a beach party. Particularly the legalities of partying down on a beach.

If you are going to throw the party itself on the beach, then you may want to contact the local authorities. Yes, that's right, the police. Now, why on earth would someone want to throw a party and let the police know? Well, unless you are keen on going to jail for trespassing or endangering wildlife, you might want to check out the local laws governing beach parties.

There are certain laws in place that protect habitat and wildlife, and keeping advised on what they are can keep you from facing steep fines and hefty jail time. Typically, beach parties are last minute ideas, thrown together because people think it would be cool to go down to the shore and act crazy in the surf. After all, it can be a great way to get together with friends, family and any other strays on the beach without spending tons of money or needing reservations and such.

Beach parties are those type of parties that are thrown together with what is in the kitchen, and may be a short run to the local grocery store to get necessary items, but there really isn't that much planning that goes into them. Since it is such a casual affair, there isn't much in the way of decorations or furniture needed. Most everyone can bring their own chairs or blankets.

In such advancing environmentally friendly times, trying to keep your beach party as green as possible will make everyone happy, not just local authorities. First and foremost, make sure there are enough trash bags to collect all the trash you are going to make. The less waste that ends up in the water and in the dunes, the better the environment, and the lesser chance that you will get cited for littering. If you are designating a driver, why not designated a trash collector, to ensure that all waste makes it into the bags.

Another thing you can do is ask everyone to bring their own supplies, such as a reusable cup, plate, utensils, chairs, blankets, and towels, so that there is little left behind by your party. The less evidence you were there, the more the environment will thank you.

And if you are going to build a bonfire for your party, be sure and have everything you need to ensure that the fire does not get out of hand. Check with authorities to make sure that it is legal first. And if that checks out, be sure to have plenty of buckets of sand and water around, in case the fire spreads to areas it wasn't supposed to. Even better, dig out a nice hole in the sand so that the wood is contained. Try not to build a bonfire on a windy evening, as this could blow unwanted embers into areas that were not meant to burn. Designating a firewatcher wouldn't be a bad idea either.

Either way, be safe. Make sure everything is in order so that your party is a success for not only you but the surrounding area as well.