5 ways to celebrate National Backyard Day

March 19 is National Backyard Day and there is no better time of year to celebrate than now! This spring our mild Texas weather is finally kicking in and it’s a perfect time to host backyard barbeques, late night stargazing and more! Here are American Legend Homes’ five favorite ways to enjoy your spacious outdoor living area on National Backyard Day! 

1. Family and Friends Barbeque: Invite all your family and friends over for an afternoon barbeque to celebrate the wonderful weather and your beautiful backyard space. Some home-cooked food and desserts for everyone to enjoy will boost everyone's spirits. Plus your American Legend backyard is so stunning that it’s the perfect backdrop! If you’re looking for some creative new recipe ideas, like citrus bbq chicken and peach bbq ribs, here is a great collection! 

2. Backyard Movies: We’ve all heard of drive-in movies where everyone watches films from their car. Rather than driving to a drive-in, you can get the same feeling right from your own backyard. Read this New York Times article on DIY backyard theaters for tips on everything from projectors and sound systems to screens (or, in some cases, a simple white bed sheet!). Backyard movie night is a great way to spend time together as a family while also mixing up the traditional family movie night and enjoying your amazing American Legend backyard. 

3. Camp Out: Evenings are cool and inviting and the kids are sure to want more time outside, hanging out with friends and neighbors. The fun doesn't have to stop once the sun goes down though. Take your average sleepover and turn it into a sleepover campout in the backyard! Roast marshmallows, tell late night scary stories and sleep with tents and sleeping bags. The kids won’t even remember they’re still at home! 

4. Stargazing: Our day-to-day lives can be stressful and filled with constant activity and demands. Let you backyard serve as an escape from all of your responsibilities. At the end of a long day, step outside and enjoy the big Texas open sky and gaze up at the stars in the sky. This is a great way to get out of your own head and just enjoy the moment.

5. Family Outdoor Competitions: Your big, beautiful American Legend backyard is a great space for some light-hearted family competition! Line up for some family relay races, tug of war, spoon races and more! You can even break the family up into teams and make a whole day out of it! (P.S. Our favorite is the classic potato sack race. But get more fun ideas here.

Your American Legend backyard is your sweet get-away from everything else going on around you. Embrace this space and share with the ones you love! Whether it’s one of the above ideas or just sitting in the backyard with a glass of wine at the end of the day, find some time this National Backyard Day to celebrate and appreciate everything your American Legend backyard provides you.