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1. A projector to turn your boring backyard into the outdoor movie theater you never knew you needed! Now you can enjoy movie night a bit more, especially when it's under the stars.
It connects easily to a Fire TV Stick, laptop, DVD player, and more via HDMI input. And don't forget to grab a screen!
Promising review: "I NEVER leave reviews, but thought I should leave one because this thing is awesome. Super good quality picture! Could be a liiiittle brighter, but for the price, I’m not complaining. I use a Fire Stick and have no problems streaming anything at all. The sound isn’t super loud and doesn’t have any bass, so if you have people over, you probably won’t be able to hear very well if you use the projector speaker. Plug in a speaker through the aux cord jack, and there’s no issues!! 10/10 recommend for anyone wanting to have movie nights in the backyard. I got so many compliments; all of my friends have been asking me where to get it!" —Amazon Customer
Get it from Amazon for $89.99.
2. A popcorn maker if you're tired of serving regular old microwave popcorn. Your outdoor movie night wouldn't be complete without some delicious movie theater popcorn that you could easily whip up in your own backyard.
Promising review: "It was so easy to put together, and by putting together, I had to put in the middle and then attach the glass door by sliding it onto the hinges. There was one small dent spot that caused the tray to be a little difficult to slide in, but was easy enough to bend back out. The directions on the front of the door were perfect. Add 1 Tbsp of oil for every 1/2 cup of kernels. It will only do 1 cup at a time. I did an outside movie night for Halloween weekend and this was a huge hit. I made 4 cups of popcorn and it took about 10 mins total for them all. We had no burnt popcorn and most of the kernels popped as well. If anyone is looking for a good, sturdy, reliable popcorn maker, you will not be disappointed with this one." —Jennifer M.
Get it from Amazon for $179.26.
3. A unicorn sprinkler that'll even have adults running through it like they did when they were kids. It's oversized, so I wouldn't be surprised if you and your friends try to mount it and give Beyoncé Renaissance Tour vibes.
Promising review: "Used this for my 29th birthday party. It was a hit. Sprinkled us with water all day while we floated around in the pool. Definitely not just for kiddos. Great for adults, too. I’m 5'10 and got the large, not the jumbo. Was still huge! Came with four yellow stakes to keep it from blowing away!" —Hara Serter
Get it from Amazon for $33.99+ (available in two sizes).
4. A snow cone machine to supply you and your guests with instant sweet and cooling relief from the heat of the summer sun. Plus, you can have as many as you'd like without strangers judging you — it's your house!
And don't forget to grab the snow cone party kit!
Promising review: "This snow cone machine is AMAZING and my 12-year-old loves it!!! I was skeptical at first but not anymore. It does the job, super affordable and shaves the ice really well. The machine isn’t too bulky either so it can be easily stored away from the countertop. The Kool-Aid flavors that you can order with it are also really tasty. It will be perfect for those hot summer days when you need a sweet and cold treat. If you were looking for a sign to bite the bullet and buy it, this is it. You won’t be disappointed!" —Carli4
Get it from Amazon for $59.99+ (available in five colors).
5. A bunch of rapid-fill water balloons that'll give you the power to host the ultimate water balloon fight in your backyard. Now you can fill and tie up to 100 balloons in 60 seconds! If you're competitive, this will definitely give you a bit of leverage in your next ~friendly match~.
Promising review: "Used these yesterday at a cookout. They were intended for the kids, but the adults had way more fun with them! I could never EVER imagine using traditional water balloons again. These work exactly as promised. Hook the main part to a hose or faucet, they will fill and disconnect or after a gentle shake. Protip: use a cooler or tote filled part way with water and have these resting in the water so when they fill and drop from the stem, they don't drop and break. I will 1000% be buying these again." —Peter F.
Get the balloons from Amazon for $24.99+ (available in three color schemes).
6. A lawn mower if your grass is getting tall and starting to make your home look like it's in the middle of a prairie. In just a few turns, you can have a freshly trimmed lawn that won't scream "STAY AWAY" to your guests — just in time for your next backyard shindig.
Promising review: "If this is how easy the electric cars will be then sign me up. No more going to the gas stations, no struggling getting the lawn mower out of the shed no more waking up the neighbors — I should get a discount. All my neighbors love it. Even the postman took time to take a look." —Jazzin Sykes
Get it from Amazon for $283.02.
7. A garbage guard that'll keep bothersome flies and other insects from buzzing around your trashcan like they just found the backyard BBQ buffet of their dreams.
Promising review: "Got an outdoor can, the kind the mechanical arm on the garbage truck picks up and tips over, with the lid opening by gravity. Placed this on the inside of the lid, near the hinge to lessen the chances of it being scraped off during emptying and no flies/maggots! No apparent odor, just seems to put a big hurt on the fly party that used to be my trash can (litter box contents, remnants of meat, etc.) " —Michael E. Bradley
Get it from Amazon for $8.95.
8. A mini golf course you can place anywhere in your backyard so you and your friends can get in a couple of practice swings.
Promising review: "Only moments to set up after receiving it on the day it was promised. Very Fast Delivery. Added some blocking around for my bad putts and have enjoyed it very much. This is the 5'x10' version, and so happy with it. Worth the money." —Kimberly R.
Get it from Amazon for $199.99+ (available in six sizes).
9. And, a pack of six LED golf balls for anyone who tends to be a little heavy handed with their strokes. Now you'll be able to find the ball anytime it flies a little too far. Plus, golf in the dark sounds pretty fun.
Promising review: "It's hard to reserve golf rounding times these days and most of the times we end the game after sunset. These balls are very pretty and goes great distance too. I love these balls flying so far at night." —Amazon Customer
Get it from Amazon for $22.95.
10. A waterproof Bluetooth speaker, because good tunes make outdoor activities sooo much better. This machine might be small but it has 360-degree distortion-free sound, awesome bass, and is waterproof, sandproof, and dustproof. Now you and your speaker can be the life of the party!
Promising review: "Super easy to set up, charge, pair, and listen. There’s a built-in loop, so I can attach it to my bike for outdoor cycling, a hook in the bathroom for steamy tunes, or my bag for picnics and hikes. Clear sound for listening to both music and spoken word (of course I tested both). Lovely color and sleek overall look with a range of over 30 feet. I can’t wait to bring this to the beach during the NYC summer months. True to product description." —Aminah
Get it from Amazon for $36.99+ (available in eight colors).
11. A cosmic-themed firepit, complete with the marvelous wonders you'll find in the nighttime sky. Roast marshmallows and make s'mores while you and your friends share spooky stories.
It's made of thick durable steel and covered with rust-resistant, high-temperate pain. And the effect of the light shining through the moon and stars at night? Stunning.
Promising review: "Got this as part of our backyard renovation project. Shipping was super fast, received it earlier than expected. Large fire pit, super easy to assemble. It’s a sturdy piece! I read the reviews and decided to take some precautions — we drilled three drain holes at the base, fast and easy to do. We also bought a cover just in case. Used it the same day during a chilly NC night to watch an outdoor movie with friends and blankets in the backyard. Worked amazingly and kept us toasty. Love the cutouts! Friends asked where we got it all night. Would recommend to anyone!" —Isabel
Get it from Amazon for $239.
12. Or a fancy firepit to turn your backyard into a trendy outdoor restaurant. It's smokeless and can fit up to 46 burgers! Throw a grate on the pit if you want to grill your meats and veggies to absolute perfection. Your food will be so good that you might consider charging your guests per plate.
If you'd rather *not* place your steak directly on the pit, you can go for their grill grate and cook it above the flames.
Promising review: "This firepit is well built and will certainly last for years! To make it truly smokeless, just ensure that you put hot coals/burning wood close to the wall to get the second fire combustion. After the first burn, most of the wood has been reduced to ashes. We can't wait to have friends over for a fire!" —Lily
Get it from Breeo for $339+ (available in three sizes and two colors).
13. An outdoor pizza oven that'll make you want to swap the delivery and DiGiorno's for the opportunity to have the best pizza party ever — especially one where everyone is practically a Pizzaiolo!
Promising review: "Bought this pizza oven a few weeks ago and we absolutely love it! Pizzas done to perfection in 60 seconds and my family and friends actually say it’s the best pizza they have ever had!!!! We’ve used Bertello pizza recipes which are simple and delicious! We purchased the cover as well which keeps it protected so that it will be easy to transport to camping/beach/parties etc! We love it!" —Keith A. Clement
Get it from Amazon for $364.99.
14. Or, a brick pizza oven building kit (with a foam form for easier building) if you want to enjoy homemade pizza, calzones, meats, and veggies from a larger oven you can design to match your backyard. Just follow the construction plans to master this delicious DIY project.
Brickwood Ovens is a Lynden, Washington-based shop that sells downloadable pizza oven plans for less than a buck, along with this form! With this form you can build the base and oven in just three weekends (or less). And it looks great with any color of fire brick.
Get the plans from Brickwood Ovens on Etsy for $194.99.
15. A set of extendable s'mores sticks you can use to safely roast your marshmallows or cook your hotdogs without getting dangerously close to the flames.
Promising review: "These roasting sticks will get the job done. They retract easily and will be perfect for light use (roasting marshmallows) with our fire pit. Not extremely sturdy but not flimsy either. The metal points are not sharp which is a good thing if kids are handling them. I like the storage pouch it comes with too." —Sheri J. O
Get a set of five from Amazon for $7.85 (available in five styles and two lengths).
16. And a Hershey's s'mores caddy so you can bust out the handy dandy s'mores-making kit at the ready. Your guests will wonder what's in the "toolbox," then be pleasantly surprised to see that it's filled with deliciousness.
17. An outdoor heater you should have on hand if you won't let a little drop in temperature ruin your outdoor activities. Just put a few around your patio and no one will notice how cold it's gotten after dark.
The heater stands 87-inches tall.
Promising review: "Had a Hampton Bay patio heater from HD that got blown over from the winds and decided to take a chance on an Amazon Basics heater. Surprised at the quality of the heater, sheet metal body seems thicker and the water filled base actually helped keep it standing against moderate winds. Wheels helped with moving it around. But the best pro here is that it's under $100 vs. $250 at the stores while being as good or better in quality." —Han
Get it from Amazon for $110.89+ (available in five colors).
18. A scent-free mosquito repellent to create a 15-foot zone free of any persistent insects that want to feed off of your blood. Just insert the repellant mat, wait 15 minutes, and enjoy maximum coverage for up to four hours. Use this handy contraption on patios, decks, pools, and anywhere your guests want to enjoy their outdoor time.
19. A collapsible outdoor beer table that'll hold your drinks and a snack anywhere that can support a stake. It even features a bottle opener so you won't have to run back into the house to grab one. If someone challenges you to a competition, you can do one of those "hold my beer" moves you've seen in several films.
Faircraft USA is a Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania-based Etsy shop run by a husband-and-wife duo creating beautiful and functional wooden home goods.
Promising review: "Purchased this as a gift for my brother to go with his corn hole boards. It is just as pictured. It seems like it'll be a little low to the ground for taller men standing around a corn hole board...but better than the beers sitting on the ground or in the off hand. Beautiful workmanship. Highly recommend this product and shop!" —Hayley
Get it from Faircraft USA on Etsy for $60.
20. Or a set of four outdoor drink stakes to keep whatever you're drinking from spilling out of the cup — especially when there's no even surface around. Just ease it into the ground and it'll hold bottles, soda cans, cups, and more. Now you can enjoy the outdoors without awkwardly holding your cup 24/7.
Promising review: "These are great. They are large enough to hold large drink tumblers like a Yeti, they will hold a beer with a thick foam koozie, they will hold a giant Fosters can, and yes, it is large enough to hold a bottle of wine. They are made out of metal and seem pretty durable. Each one is two pieces that screw together and they have a small tab to help you push them into the ground with your feet. The only thing I would improve is to make the foot tab a little larger, otherwise they have my stars." —Jamawama
Get a set of four from Amazon for $16.73.
21. A petite tabletop fireplace if you want to enjoy a bit of warmth from your patio table and don't feel like starting up the firepit. Now you can set the mood with very little effort.
1Man1Garage is a Tennessee-based small business owned by artisan Marcus Williams. He sells a wide variety of handcrafted wooden items.
Note that the "Mini" kit is only suitable for use with a candle. The "Basic" and "Deluxe" boxes can both be used with fuel (not included, but you can buy some on Amazon), but the "Basic" kit requires that you provide your own heat-resistant sand to disperse the heat of the flame away from the wood.
Promising review: "Very good quality, and easy and fun to put together. We had a good time with this and it will be featured at our cookouts this summer." —onemuseleft
Get it from 1Man1Garage on Etsy for $20+ (available in three styles).
22. A flexible adjustable mister to help you cool you off when the sun is literally slow roasting you. Don't let the heat stop you from enjoying a tan, gardening, grilling, or playing outside this summer.
The mister will cool the surrounding area by 20 degrees, and it comes with an interchangeable flower-shaped misting head for a fun, whimsy detail.
Promising review: "Works exactly how I want it to. Provides a fine, cool mist on the patio, allowing us to enjoy the backyard until sunset without breaking a sweat. Easy to set up. It was out of the box and cooling us off within minutes." —Debra L. Kusek
Get it from Amazon for $30.89+ (available in various quantity packs).
23. A portable inflatable air sofa, because lounging outside is great, but quickly becomes less great if you're lying on the ground. Just whisk it through the air to inflate — no pump or lung capacity needed. The more air you trap in the sofa, the closer you'll be to getting some much needed R&R!
The air couch includes a compact pouch for on-the-go lounging, and weighs just 2 pounds!
Promising review: This is a fabulous product! After seeing someone using one in a park, we ordered two. Once we figured out how to inflate (took a couple of tries to get the knack), it's super easy. So comfortable, so easy to use/carry/store. Has been wonderful to have during quarantine — we lounge in our yard reading and relaxing. Invariably, neighbors stop to ask about them. We absolutely love our Wekapos!" —KCHWriter
Get it from Amazon for $38.95+ (available in 16 styles).
24. An easy-to-learn game of Kan Jam if you need a new activity in your outdoor entertainment rotation. All you'll need is a minimum of two bored people who are down to have some fun!
It's got the chill backyard vibes of cornhole (and is also played with two teams of two) but it's much lighter and easier to transport.
Promising review: "Very fun backyard game. Shipping was great; came immediately. This product is very durable and will not break. All you have to do is put the stickers on yourself and you are ready to play." —NateG125
Get it from Amazon for $29.99+ (available in five styles).
25. A pool vacuum that'll suck up the dirt, twigs, and leaves that have settled on the pool floor. It can clean for up to 90 minutes. You'll need this before any pool party, especially if you forgot to keep your pool covered.
Promising review: "This little guy has become my best friend. I will admit that I didn't hold out much promise that it would clean my pool effectively. But the first time I set this guy in my pool and watched as it ran around the bottom of my pool leaving it just as clean as when I stand there and manually vacuum. I high recommend this product. The only down fall is it does not clean the corner that well but I just brush them after it is done and filter out that little bit of dirt. I am so glad that I did this." —Terry
Get it from Amazon for $299.99 (available in two colors).
26. A cooler light so all your guests can easily find the drink they're looking for — on the first try. Just place the fixture on the inside of your cooler's lid and it'll be like you moved your refrigerator to your backyard (but much more convenient).
One charge is good for 60 hours of white light and up to 31 hours of red light.
Promising review: "This little cooler light is awesome! Gone are the days of 'Honey will you come hold the flashlight while I dig in the cooler?' It attached very easy; just peel and stick while making sure to keep the lens pointed down towards the contents of the cooler. The adhesive seems to be very strong and should stick for good! The light is motion activated and only turns on when you open the cooler, and shuts off automatically when you close the lid, or after about 20 seconds of the lid being open. The light is super bright! It clearly lights the entire contents of the cooler! This was a great purchase and I have recommended this to my friends." —Jo
Get it from Amazon for $13.23.
27. An umbrella light to keep the party or late night conversations going. It has three brightness settings and can easily be clamped onto your patio umbrella. Just because the sun has set, doesn't mean that you should have to sit in pitch darkness.
Batteries are required but not included. You can purchase the AA batteries here!
Promising review: "When I bought this, it was totally on a whim. I was convinced that because it was so inexpensive, it would be a cheap piece of junk! Was I wrong! It does a great job of lighting up the table with the three different settings. AND, if you turn it upside-down, you can further vary the brightness. (Sometimes you just want a hint of a glow, rather than a spotlight in your face.) I'm very happy with this, especially since I left it out all summer long with no issues. It was hidden under a closed umbrella, but I'm sure it got a little damp with rainwater and it survived! For just $10, it is such an easy solution for my patio that has no electricity, and therefore, needs something battery powered." —LouiseN
Get it from Amazon for $11.97.
28. A set of four color-changing inflatable pool balls that'll help make your pool party worth attending. They're color-changing, solar-powered, and can last up to eight hours in a single charge.
Each light cycles through red, blue, white, and green.
Promising review: "My pool is so old school and boring that I bought these to liven it up and what a difference!! My pool went from 'meh' to WOW! The balls are easily inflated by mouth like a beach ball. Once inflated, a few hours in the sun and they are charged and ready to go. They light up after dusk ( it has to be rather dark). There is no manual way to power them on or off; they glow all night long. The changing colors are vibrant and very beautiful. They have a loop at the top if you would like to hang them. They would be magical hanging in a tree or from a pergola. I really liked how easy these were to fill and charge, and I like the solar power and the amazing color display. They make my inner child happy." —J. Matheson
Get a set of four from Amazon for $65.99.
29. A pack of six color-changing solar pathway lights if you want something exciting illuminating the path to the party. Let the fun start before your guests even get to the door!
Promising review: "These are so beautiful that I came back for a second set! They look so beautiful across the 3 gardens in front of my house, and I get so many compliments on them. They are a little pricey, but so pretty! I’m not sure how late they stay on, but it must be for quite a while because they have always still been on when I go to bed, even if I have a late night. The only direct sunlight they get to charge is morning sun too so I have been impressed!" —K. Knezevich
Get a pack of six from Amazon for $46.99 (also available in packs of two and eight).
30. A pack of two magnetic grill lights that'll help you see your perfectly cooked meats at night. Now you can keep the grill going for as long as the rager does — all night long!
But really though, why isn't every grill equipped with these from the factory? PLUS, the lights are multifunctional so they can be used when working in the garage, in place of an office desk lamp, while camping, reading, car repairing, and more!
Promising review: "This was a surprise for my husband. He loves them. The lights are nice and bright and make grilling those last few things that didn't get finished before dark hot. He's also used them early in the morning when he's setting the smoker up before dawn. He's happy and finding them very useful. He especially loves the magnet on bottom so he can hang them off of so many things while he's busy and he can use the flexibility to shine them where he needs them. Very awesome and easy to use." —Holly Gomez
Get two from Amazon for $22.29.
31. A game of Jello Shot Jenga for an entertaining time of seeing your friends trying to balance blocks when suddenly... they are surprised with more drinks!
Swooc Games is a small business based in California that sells several types of games.
Promising review: "Awesome game ALOT OF FUN!" —Cindy
Get it from Swooc Games on Etsy for $129.99.
32. A drinking game decal to fit over your cornhole board — just in case you want to make the game a lot more interesting!
Add a little edge to your typical cornhole game! The decals says things like: waterfall, give one drink, you drink one, do a shot or shotgun, partner drinks, etc.
Snappy Printing is a small business located in Chicago that sells CornHole decals, doormats, stickers, and more.
Promising review: "These decals went on very easily with two people working together- minimal bubbling that the provided tool took care of. The decal is a very heavy vinyl with a great adhesive. Vibrant colors. We can't wait for the weather to warm up and to start playing." —Amanda V.
Get it from Snappy Printing on Etsy for $59.25+ (available in two lamination options).
Reviews have been edited for length and/or clarity.