After more than a year of social distancing, Americans are looking ahead to summer gatherings with friends and extended family, according to “A Bright Summer? Americans Plan BBQs and Get-Togethers,” a report based on a late-April 2021 survey of nearly 1,000 U.S. grocery shoppers by Advantage Sales.
Health concerns and social distancing measures derailed group gatherings last year: Fully half of grocery shoppers surveyed did not host a single summer BBQ or get-together with anyone outside their immediate families between mid-May and mid-September last year. About one-seventh hosted just one.
A significant segment of the population remains wary of group gatherings, according to the report. But more than one-third of survey respondents say they’ll have more BBQs and get-togethers this summer. Another 17% are still considering whether their summer will be filled with more frequent social gatherings.
“A Bright Summer? Americans Plan BBQ and Get-Togethers” looks at Americans’ plans for Memorial Day and July 4th celebrations and the foods and beverages they plan to serve at their first summer get-together.