• Beach parties are so much fun that your guests will want to stay into the evening.party people on the beach image by RedMartin from Fotolia.com
  
  It's hard to imagine a party that could be more fun than one on the beach. Bring plenty of sunscreen for your guests and lots of blankets or beach towels to sit on. Throw in a volleyball net, a barbeque and plenty of other activities to take advantage of the sand and surf, and the result is a party that will provide lasting memories for everyone.
  
  

Decorations

• The beach itself provides a festive and fun atmosphere, but colorful nylon banners and windsocks tied to dowels and stuck in the sand enhance that atmosphere. The banners double as boundary markers for the volleyball court. If the party goes into the evening hours, LED tiki torches around the perimeter of the volleyball area will allow the game to continue as long as the guests want. Large bedspreads and beach towels spread on the sand add color and decoration, as well as seating for those who are watching the volleyball action. (Bring extra towels for guests who have forgotten theirs.) A beach party needs some shade--beach umbrellas or a shade canopy or two work well and create a perfect viewing area for the game.
  
  

Activities

• Volleyball will be the primary activity, of course, but providing an array of other activities allows less-active guests to get involved too. For a sand castle building contest, the host needs to provide shovels and buckets. Some guests can build and, later on, others can hand out awards you've made to the biggest, most creative, prettiest, etc. Bring along beach balls, baseballs and mitts, paddle boards or surfboards and kites. Bring music so guests can dance after the volleyball game is over.
  
  

Food

• Fun, casual food will fit the mood of a beach party. A surfboard makes a great table, covered with a beach towel or two. The host can ask one or two friends to be in charge of providing barbeque grills so there will be plenty of space to grill burgers, skewered shrimp and roasted corn. Salads that have prepared at home and transported to the party in ice coolers makes food preparation easier. Ina Garten, the Food Network's "Barefoot Constessa," likes to bring an orzo pasta salad with roasted vegetables (try red onion, red peppers, zucchini and potatoes) or a southwest salad with beans, lettuce, cherry tomatoes and avocados that you slice at the beach. For dessert, serve a crowd favorite--a big chocolate cake or chocolate cupcakes.