When you should have a cookout in Massachusetts
Add Axios as your preferred source to
see more of our stories on Google.

Illustration: Lindsey Bailey/Axios
When the sun is blazing and the summer gets hot, your backyard could be a very cool spot if you throw a hell of a cookout.
Why it matters: Everyone loves a cookout, and according to an analysis of historical weather data, the ideal day to plan your backyard barbeque around Boston is Friday, July 26.
- Culinary website Pantry and Larder crunched the numbers to find the date most likely to have a maximum "feels-like" temperature of 88°F, minimal chance of rain or clouds and a late sunset.

Zoom in: The July 27-28 weekend is after the hustle and bustle of Independence Day and not quite into the dog days of August.
- It's probably going to be hot, but that's what the cool beverages are for.
- Plus, the Red Sox host a three-game homestand against the Yankees that weekend.
It's not news that cookouts are popular, but fancy "food and drink stations" for entertaining outside have become a hot backyard upgrade, custom architects nationwide say.
The big picture: Nearly a third of custom homes designed in the past year include an outdoor kitchen, according to a new survey by Residential Design magazine and John Burns Research and Consulting.
- Beverage fridges, grills and fire pits are some of the most common al fresco features.


Yes, but: You don't need to devote tons of your own time and money to spruce up the backyard.
- Taskrabbit backyard bookings climbed 12% through April compared to the same time period in 2023, per data from the gig marketplace.
