You want to organize a garden party in winter? Then, of course, a snow bar is a must. Here's how to do it.
This year's New Year's Eve party should be something very special? If enough snow has fallen and you have a slightly larger garden, there is a wonderful way to ensure a very special winter party flair: namely with a real snow bar. You don't even need too much to build a snow bar like this. First of all, it is important that there is enough snow. If there isn't enough in the garden alone, it might be worth looking around the street to see if one or the other neighbor has piled up a slightly larger pile in front of his house while shoveling snow. If you ask nicely it shouldn't be a problem getting the snow out there.
Tip:
If there isn't enough snow, you can also use a table or empty crates as a base and build the bar on it - this will save you money the bottom layer of snow and get by with significantly less snow.
The most important thing is to process the snow in such a way that it becomes hard enough so that bottles and glasses that are put down do not immediately deform it again. It is also important to consider how you can make the bar so durable that it at least survives the evening of the celebration - especially if you want to decorate the bar with lanterns and candles. Fortunately, there is a very simple way to do this - because in addition to enough snow, you also need enough water to build a snow bar.
You will need this to build a good snow bar
Once it is clear whether an additional base is required or whether there is enough snow, the planning begins. The list of required materials is relatively short. See for yourself:
- Snow
- if there is not enough snow for the foundation tables or empty beverage crates
- several mortar buckets with edge dimensions of at least 40 x 20 cm
- Garden hose with a spray nozzle that can produce a fine mist of water
Several are very important, preferably threeor four, mortar tubs of a rectangular shape. The edge length should not be less than 40 x 20 cm. A depth of 20 cm is sufficient. If the mortar bucket is a bit wider, that's no problem. You will also need a shovel, water and a garden hose with a nozzle that can ideally produce water mist. In any case, the spray nozzle should be able to make the water jet as fine as possible. Here is an overview of the necessary material:
Step by step instructions
Step 1:
To get started, you must first fill the mortar buckets with snow. It is best to wet the walls with a thin mist of water beforehand. If the snow is not sticky, but powder snow, you have to mix in a little water while you are filling the mortar bucket so that the snow becomes nice and sticky and sticks together. Then flatten the snow in the mortar buckets as much as possible. Then it makes sense to spread some water on the snow again and then leave the mortar bucket in the cold for a bit so that the water can freeze all around. While the freezing process is taking place in one mortar bucket, you can already fill the next bucket.
Step 2:
If the snow in the mortar bucket has frozen a little from the water, you can topple the bucket. Now you have a finished snow building block. Arrange the building blocks from the mortar tubs in an L or U shape, depending on how the bar is to be designed. You should now tap the seams between the snow stones with fresh snow to fill the gaps.
Step 3:
When the first layer of snow stones is in place, there is at least a second row of snow stones on top. The snow bar should reach a height of around 1.10 m. It is very important that you make sure that there are no cross joints. This means that you have to put the snow stones on top of each other. In the second row, the stones will then protrude a little on the right and left at the respective end. But that's not a problem, because you can easily cut off excess snow with a good shovel.
Step 4:
If the bar area is ready and there is still enough snow left, it makes sense to place at least one more row of snow stones in front of the bar in the direction of the guest seats. This row is then intended for the guests to put their glasses and bottles down here, while the actual bar then really serves as a workplace forthe bartender remains.
Step 5:
On the work surface, you can now use bottles or large mugs to form small indentations in the snow. These are then the places where glasses or mugs are best left.
Step 6:
Once this second part of the snow bar has also been designed, you should pour water over the whole construction again. You have to pay attention to two things. Firstly, the water shouldn't be too warm, otherwise the snow will melt before it starts to freeze again. And that can result in a significant loss of height at the snow bar. Also, don't just pour water from a bucket onto the bar. Because when you pour water into snow, it usually creates a hole where the water hits the snow. In order to avoid unsightly deformations in the snow bar, the nozzle with fog function is necessary.
Once you have misted the snow bar vigorously with ice-cold water, all you have to do is be patient. When the water freezes you have a massive and stable piece of snow art in the garden that will delight guests at any winter garden party. By the way, here are a few more tips for a garden party in winter.
By the way:
You have to make sure that the bar doesn't have any major bumps, otherwise there is a risk of a bar accident in the evening. You can prevent this by straightening the finished bar completely with an ice scraper. You can also do without the indentations for glasses and bottles and place a board on top of the bar.
And here is a brief summary of the work steps:
- Lightly dampen the walls of the mortar buckets with water.
- Pour snow into the mortar buckets.
- Always add water to powdery snow.
- Tap the snow firmly in the bucket.
- Pour water over the snow again.
- Topple over the bucket and position the snow stones.
- Cover joints with fresh snow.
- Build the bar to a height of approximately 1.10 m.
- Put another row of snow bricks in front of the bar as a guest table.
- Create depressions in the snow at the guest tables with bottles or cups.
- Spray the whole construction with water.
- When everything is frozen, remove the last bumps with an ice scraper.
Tips for decorating a snow bar
❍ Lanterns:
Lanterns create a romantic candlelight and are inA real eye-catcher in combination with a snow bar. You should make sure that the lantern itself does not heat up, otherwise there is a risk of the snow bar melting quickly.
❍ Fairy Lights:
You can also create a great winter feeling if you attach light chains, ideally LED light tubes, to the bar or simply place them on the bar. These also have the advantage that they do not heat up and therefore pose no danger to the frozen work of art.
❍ Torches:
Set up at the corners and ends of the bar at a sufficient distance, torchlight can bathe such a snow bar in a wonderfully romantic light. The glow of the flames reflected in the snow bar's ice is sure to make such an evening an unforgettable experience.
❍ LED Candles:
Another way to decorate such a snow bar are LED candles. Whether LED tealights or real candles - these are best received if you make a small depression in the bar where the candles should stand and then let the candles freeze in the bar - then the candles appear as if they were let her into the bar. Especially such candles with color changes create a very special atmosphere. Here are a few more examples of garden lighting without electricity.
A little extra tip: The decorative light is often not enough for preparing drinks etc., an LED construction spotlight makes a real splash here, but it only costs you a little electricity. An LED battery spotlight also serves this purpose.
Conclusion:
A snow bar is definitely an absolute highlight at every winter garden party. How exactly you want to design your bar in terms of appearance is ultimately entirely up to you. It is important, however, that you make the construction with snow bricks. Just pile up snow and pound it down, it will never reach the hardness you need to meet the demands of such a bar on a party night. Such a construct would not be stable and would quickly begin to melt away. But if you have the time and the desire to work with the snow, you can conjure up a great snow bar within a few hours. Your guests will be delighted.