August 13 is Skinny Dipping Day. Who can resist a reason to party like that one?

Sure, you may be a little more critical of your guest list than usual but there’s nothing at all wrong with cozy, intimate parties that don’t involve the whole neighborhood, whatever the reason.

And there’s no real reason why the name of the day needs to dictate the day’s fashion focus. Do you dress up like Ben Franklin on the 4th of July? A leprechaun on St. Paddy’s? Marie Antoinette on Bastille Day?? Nope. Most of us don’t. And you don’t have to dress “skinny” on Skinny Dip Day, either.

Use the day as a reason to party, not necessarily to make a fashion statement. Even if you don’t “dress” in the raw, keep the raw naked spirit of the day alive in the other elements of the party. Serve lots of crunchy raw crudités and dips and pass sashimi and sushi platters, perhaps steak tartare for die-hard carnivores. Offer, perhaps, a buffet of salads (the perfect menu idea for a hot August celebration) and finish the feast with a colorful assortment of fresh fruits and an assortment of cheeses.

Need skinny dipping music ideas? What about Bobby Darin’s “Splish, Splash” or “Under the Sea,” from The Little Mermaid movie? After the sun goes down, crank up “Night Swimming” by REM and have a frolicking good time with Van Morrison’s “Moon Dance.” But, whatever music you choose, please - please! - leave the theme song to Jaws OFF the playlist.

As for drink ideas, there’s only one cocktail coming to mind.

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Strip and Go Naked Cocktail Recipe

Fill a blender about 3/4 full of crushed or cracked ice. Into it, pour:

1 small container frozen limeade concentrate, thawed or frozen doesn’t matter
1 container full of rum (use the now-empty limeade container)

Blend till ice is smooth and slushy. Then, open the top of the blender, turn the blender on low (very important to be on lowest setting), and very gently pour into the blender concoction:

1 bottle or can of your favorite beer

Continue blending on low until beer is well incorporated into the drink.

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This frozen cocktail is sweet and tart and refreshing all at the same time and the beer adds a bit of festive froth to the mix. Beer is a rather unusual cocktail ingredient but don’t let it be a problem. The tropical flavors of lime and rum will pair best with beers you might find in the tropics, too - light in body but not necessarily calorie count. Many of the most popular beers made in the US, Mexico, and the Caribbean are perfect for this recipe. The only beers I’d avoid using are the darker and heavier bocks, stouts, porters, and the like. Beers lighter in personality and style are much nicer in this recipe.

Celebrate the day and remember - we’re all naked under our clothes!