Looking to make your patio furniture do double duty from summer into fall? We don’t blame you! Once you invest in a great set of patio furniture, you want to make sure you’re getting your money’s worth. Since most outdoor furniture is weatherproofed, and can stand up to the elements, there’s no reason why you can’t keep your furniture outside into autumn. There’s really no need to let Labor Day be the end of the fun outside. For most of us, the weather doesn’t really cool down until early October; for many, the chill doesn’t arrive until Halloween’s on our doorstep. Why shut things down and pack them away early? We say, bring family night outdoors this fall, and let the good times roll well into October!

Why bring family night outdoors? Well, we’ve got a few ideas up our sleeve. For starters, game night can be a whole lot more fun when lit by candles and completed by a huge bowl of popcorn on the patio. Once summer says goodbye, so do the mosquitoes, which makes time spent outdoors even more enjoyable. If you ask us, there’s something pretty wonderful about being outdoors in fall evenings – the crisp autumn air means there’s no more mugginess to worry about. Frizzy hair is a thing of the past! Food doesn’t go bad as quickly, and as long as you’ve got a sweatshirt to keep you warm, being outdoors is absolute bliss.

If family game night isn’t really up your alley, don’t fret – we’ve got a few other ideas for spending fall nights outside. Grab some tiki torches to light up your backyard (or some flood lights for bright light) and play a family game of kickball or backyard soccer. Exercise is a great way to engage the kids (and tire them out for an early bedtime, we might add!) and stay healthy – and there’s nothing more fun than an early evening game of backyard baseball. Grill up some burgers and hot dogs, grab a few beers for the adults in the area, and voila, you’ve got yourself the perfect family evening activity for autumn.

Want to take things a step further and really amp up your evening? Why not consider investing in some outdoor speakers for nighttime music and movie sound? Got a big back wall in the backyard? Snag an old projector at a tag sale, hook it up to a few cable cords, and watch your favorite movies under the stars. Who needs a drive-in movie theater when you can make one right in your own backyard? This is by far our favorite fall family night activity – but it does require that you keep your electrical outlets safe. Weather-resistant covers are the way to go to ensure that all of your outlets are safe from the elements, and that the kids don’t accidentally trip on any of your cords. Our full line of rain-tight covers are ruggedly constructed to seal out moisture, debris and insects, keeping your backyard and patio powered through the four seasons while providing easy access to your power receptacles. That means that you can keep on BBQ-ing (with music!) throughout fall and into early winter, and also allows for the use of power tools, trimmers, sprinkler systems and more.

What do you think? Have we sold you on moving family night outdoors for autumn? Tell us: what’s your favorite family outdoor activity?

Products covered: Weather-Resistant Covers | Arc Flood Lighting