How to Prepare Your Backyard for the Holidays

As all real pitmasters know, “Grilling Season” is year-round. There’s no reason not to spend some time outside while celebrating the holidays during the colder months. You simply need to make some adjustments to your backyard to make the experience a bit more comfortable.

1. Move that Grill

The food fresh off the grill or smoker is what’s going to make it all worth it. The first order of business is to move your grill to an area of your backyard where it’s protected from the winter elements. It might be a good idea to set it up under a canopy or

This will protect your grill from the potential of rusting and protect you from the rain and other weather, saving you the trouble of needing to treat and/or restore the exterior and grates and help you stay dry and warm.

2. Outdoor Seating

It may be a good time to invest in some weather-resistant outdoor seating if you have not already. There’s nothing worse than going to enjoy a little outdoor time and sitting on a damp lawn chair. It will also save you money in the long run, so you don’t have to constantly buy new sets, replace components or wash often.

Another good tip is to get outdoor seating with removable cushions. This makes it really easy to store the cushions inside if it rains or snows helping you get back outside that much faster.

3. Make it Cozy

Bring some of that indoor comfort outdoors with you! Not only should you bundle up with hats, scarves and gloves, but consider adding some blankets into the mix as well.

Be sure to clean out your fire pit and get it fired up. It’ll be the perfect way to keep the entire family warm, nice for quality time and conversation. It may even be a good time to make s’mores.

Need a little more warmth? Set up some outdoor heaters surrounding your seating area to keep your family and/or guests nice and toasty. Between the awesome food and added coziness, chances are nobody will even mind the colder weather and it will make the holidays feel all the more festive.

4. Serving Area/Outdoor Bar

Cooking out year-round? Consider giving your backyard the finishing touch that will make it all that much easier. A serving area or outdoor bar will hold all your food, so there’s no need to run back and forth into the house. You may also want to equip the area with an outdoor refrigerator, so all of your drinks from water, to beer, or even cocktails can be served outside!

Grilling Season is truly year-round and with some small adjustments, it can be fun for the whole family. How do you cook out during the colder months, #TeamCharGriller?