Campfire Essentials

You do not need much to have a good fire.

Over time, we have learned that the best campfire nights are not about having everything. They are about having the right few things and the right people.

These are the essentials we always come back to.

Good People

This is the most important one.

A fire on its own is just a fire. Add the right people and it becomes something else. Family. Old friends. New friends. The ones who stay longer than planned and do not mind the smoke.

Good fires are about connection. Laughing. Listening. Being present. It helps if everyone agrees to leave the politics and the noise of the world at home. Around the fire, it is about being together, not being right.

That said, a fire alone has its perks too.

There is something good about a quiet fire. Sitting without talking. Watching the flames. Letting your mind slow down for a bit. Sometimes the best company is the fire itself.

Whether it is a full circle of people or just you and the flames, the fire meets you where you are.

Good people make the fire worth lighting. And sometimes, so does the quiet.

Comfy Layers

A fire can start early and it can go late.

That means hoodies, beanies, and layers you do not have to think about. The kind you can wear all day and still be comfortable when the temperature drops. Clothes that smell like smoke by the end of the night and feel better because of it.

If you are going to stay awhile, you might as well be comfortable. Check out our lineup and find something built for long nights around the fire.

Tunes

Music sets the tone.

Nothing too loud at first. Just enough to fill the quiet moments. A small speaker. A mix of old favorites. Songs everyone knows the words to even if they pretend they do not.

If someone brings a guitar, even better. A little guitar picking always takes a bonfire to another level. It does not have to be perfect. A few chords and a familiar song go a long way.

As the night goes on, the volume usually changes with the mood and sometimes with the number of drinks. What starts as background music can turn into singing. Singing can turn into dancing.

Just be careful dancing around the fire.

Drinks

Keep it simple.

Coffee early. Something cold later. Whatever fits the night.

The best fires are not about what you are drinking. They are about slowing down long enough to actually enjoy it. Sitting in your chair instead of pacing. Having a real conversation instead of checking your phone. Letting the night unfold without rushing it.

A good drink just gives you a reason to stay a little longer.

Snacks

You do not need a full meal plan. A few easy snacks go a long way. Chips. Something warm. Something you can eat with one hand while standing near the fire.

When our good friend Dana says, “I got snacks!” everyone perks up.

If it gets messy, you are doing it right.

Smores

No explanation needed.

Sticky fingers. Burnt marshmallows. Someone always sets one on fire. Someone always says they do not want one and then has two.

I will say this. A smore with a Reese’s peanut butter cup instead of a regular chocolate bar is hard to beat. Try it once and you may never go back.

The Fire

It does not have to be perfect. It just has to burn.

Stack the wood. Keep it going. Sit close. Stay longer than you meant to.

Everything else is just extra.