Fun and Simple Summer Birthday Ideas for a Memorable Celebration
If you’ve got a joyful June-born kid, a bundle of joy that was born in July, or an awesome August child, then summer birthday party ideas could be on your mind right now!
Summer is a great time to celebrate a birthday, with the (hopefully!) sunny weather meaning you can get outdoors for the big event. If you’d like some inspiration for the very best summer kids’ parties, you’re in the right place. Keep reading for everything you need to know!
Contents:
- How to Throw a Summer Party for Kids?
- Summer Birthday Party for Kids
- Summer Birthday Party Ideas that Adults Will Enjoy, Too
- Good Birthday Party Activities for the Summer
- FAQs
How to Throw a Summer Party for Kids?
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When it comes to throwing a fun and memorable summer party for kids, planning is everything. This means getting organized as far in advance as possible. Here’s a timeline to help you get on track:
- Start by determining your budget: this will help you decide on the venue, the size of the guest list, and more.
- Choose a theme and book the venue.
- Send out invitations, ideally around a month in advance.
- Purchase any decorations, party bag items, etc, that you’ll need.
- Order the cake, unless you’ll be making this yourself.
- Plan any activities or games that will be on the itinerary.
- The day before or the morning of the party, prepare the food and get decorating.
- Prepare to welcome lots of happy guests!
A duration of around 1 ½ to 2 hours is perfect for a kids party. And however beautiful you’re hoping the weather to be, it’s essential to have a backup plan if you’ll be throwing an outdoor celebration, just in case the rain clouds blow in.
A marquee could be a good plan, or ensure a space in your home is prepared should you need to move the fun indoors. Alternatively, have a backup rain date included on the invitations so you can reschedule should you wake up to torrential rain on the day itself.
Summer Birthday Party for Kids
Summer birthday party ideas don’t get better than those you’ll find below, whatever your budget. Your main problem may be settling on just one!
Backyard Picnic Party
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It’s a classic for a reason: all kids will love a backyard party complete with a yummy picnic and plenty of ice cream! Plan an itinerary of party games such as Capture the Flag, apple bobbing, tug-of-war, or even a water balloon fight. Decorate your backyard with bunting and balloons, and hang streamers, suncatchers, or homemade paper decorations from tree branches to create a magical outdoor wonderland.
Teddy Bears’ Picnic
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For young kids, a teddy bear picnic is a magical way to celebrate a summer birthday. On your invites, ask guests to bring their favorite cuddly friend; on the day itself spread out a large blanket in the backyard or at the local park and put out some yummy picnic food—not forgetting to lay places for the teddies themselves, of course! Although it’s a good idea to seat the teddy guests at their own table, to prevent anything getting spilled on one of the ‘guests’!
Great games for a teddy bear picnic party include hopscotch, pass-the-parcel, musical chairs, and musical statues.
Throw a Fun Pool Party
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Make a splash for your kid’s special day with a pool party this summer! Depending on your budget, your child’s age, and preferences, you could either hire the local swimming pool for a party or set up a paddling pool in the backyard. If you choose the latter, have plenty of inflatables, or water or bath toys on hand, and plan some watery games to switch things up, such as pool ring toss using noodles.
Top tip? Have a basket of towels ready, for little guests that forget to bring their own. And ensure kids are supervised at all times.
Wonderful Park Party
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If you’re on a budget, this one could be perfect. A kids’ birthday party at the park offers lots of space and opportunities for outdoor activities and games.
Need some inspiration? A treasure hunt, fort-building activity, game of frisbee, hide and seek, or nature hike are just a few things you could plan for the guests to enjoy. Pack a delicious picnic of sandwiches, wraps, carrot and cucumber sticks, popcorn and cupcakes to keep everyone fuelled for all the fun!
Host a Campout Party
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For slightly older kids, a backyard campout under the stars could be the ultimate way to celebrate their special day. Invite a few of your child’s closest friends, pitch a tent or two outside, and have a BBQ or show them how to roast marshmallows over a portable fire pit.
Gather round with a flashlight when the sun goes down and tell ghost stories to add a deliciously spooky element to the evening’s entertainment.
Garden Tea Party
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Transform your garden into a whimsical tea party setting. Use a mix of vintage teacups, saucers, and tablecloths to set the scene. Serve a variety of finger sandwiches, cupcakes, and cookies along with iced tea and lemonade. For activities, consider a flower arranging station, a hat decorating contest, or a “mad hatter” game where kids swap hats and try on silly headwear. This elegant yet playful theme is perfect for an afternoon of fun and fancy.
Sports Day Extravaganza
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Host a mini Olympics or sports day in your backyard or local park. Set up different stations with activities like sack races, three-legged races, egg-and-spoon races, and a mini obstacle course. Award medals or ribbons to all participants. Encourage team spirit by dividing kids into teams with matching bandanas or face paint. Keep energy levels high with healthy snacks like fruit, granola bars, and plenty of water.
Science Party
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Turn your backyard into a mini laboratory with fun science experiments. Kids can make slime, launch baking soda rockets, or create volcanoes with vinegar and baking soda. Set up different stations with simple experiments and provide lab coats and goggles for an authentic experience. This party combines fun and education, keeping kids engaged and curious.
Art Party
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Set up an outdoor art studio where kids can unleash their creativity. Provide canvases, paints, brushes, and aprons. Kids can paint, sculpt with clay, or create collages. Display their artwork at the end of the party in a mini “gallery” for parents to admire. This party encourages artistic expression and makes for a memorable, hands-on experience.
Farmyard Party
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Transform your backyard into a mini farm with animal-themed decorations and activities. Arrange for a petting zoo or pony rides if possible. Set up stations with farm-related activities like planting seeds, milking a pretend cow, or making butter. Serve farm-fresh snacks like apple slices, carrot sticks, and lemonade. This theme is perfect for young animal lovers and offers plenty of hands-on fun.
During any celebration, don’t forget the most important thing—child safety! Stay at ease while your child plays and has fun without your supervision with the Findmykids app. With it, you’ll always know where your kids are, what’s happening around them, and if they’ve left the “safe zone.
Summer Birthday Party Ideas that Adults Will Enjoy, Too
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Why should the kids get to have all the fun? The ideas below will be enjoyed by the adults as much as the younger guests.
Movie and BBQ Backyard Party
For older kids, a movie and BBQ backyard party is a perfect option—and one adults will love, too. For an unforgettable night, set up an outdoor projector to screen the movie, hand around the hot dogs, and prepare to enjoy a great film under the stars! Be sure to put out plenty of blankets and cushions for children to get comfortable on for the viewing.
A Day at the Beach
Summer birthday party ideas don’t get much more enjoyable than a day at the beach! Why not invite a few of your child’s friends along with their parents and head to the nearest beach for a few hours of sunshiney fun?
For themes, think classic kids’ movies such as The Little Mermaid or Finding Nemo, and plan activities like shell collecting or a ‘who can build the biggest sandcastle’ competition. Pack a picnic, beachballs, and (for younger kids) a few beach toys, some blankets, and plenty of sunscreens, and prepare for an unforgettable time celebrating your child’s special day.
Organize a Game Night
Looking for a birthday party idea that both kids and adults will love? How about an outdoor game night in your backyard? Set up a range of games, such as outdoor Twister, giant Jenga, and a hoop toss, in different areas of the yard so that everyone can get involved, and create a self-serve snack bar that guests can help themselves to. Don’t forget to create a great playlist for the party, packed full of the birthday boy or girl’s favorite tracks.
Good Birthday Party Activities for the Summer
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And if you’re looking for some crowd-pleasing summer activities for a birthday party, we can help with that, too! Below you’ll find our pick of the best tried and tested games and activities that the birthday girl or boy—and their guests—will relish.
Balloon Snatch
This super fun game is easy to set up and works with either a small number of kids or a larger crowd. Simply collect enough balloons so there is one per child and, on small slips of paper, write either number 1, 3, 5, or 10 on each. These relate to points. Next, put one slip into each balloon (but don’t blow them up), and gather the kids together.
Choose a child to start the game. This kid blows up the balloon but doesn’t tie it; instead, they hold it up in the air and then let it go. The other children now have to try to catch the balloon before it touches the floor. If someone does, they score the number of points written on the slip inside it. Kids take turns blowing up and releasing the balloons until they’ve all been played.
Birthday Bubbles
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Add some bubble magic to an outdoor birthday party with some easy-peasy bubble solution and wands. To make a DIY bubble solution ahead of time simply mix some water and liquid dish soap in a bowl and add a little glycerin or corn syrup. To make things even more exciting, you could add a few drops of food coloring. Mix well, and then leave to stand for at least an hour—and ideally overnight.
Set up a bubble station in a corner of the backyard ready for the party with small containers of the bubble solution and a range of wands. You could have a competition to see who can blow the biggest bubble, or whose bubble survives the longest!
Water Balloon Volleyball
Always sure to be a winner, water balloon volleyball makes for a fun spin on a classic backyard game. To prepare, set up a volleyball or badminton net if you have one available; if not, no worries, use a rope or similar to create a barrier to hit the balloons over.
Next, split kids into two teams, and give each pair of children a towel. And you’re ready to go! Kids use the towels to catch the water balloons and try to fling them back over the net to the opposition. A team earns a point whenever a balloon pops on the other side. Be warned, though. This game is likely to become so popular that kids will want to play it all summer long!
Read also: Best Backyard Games for Kids of All Ages.
Here Comes the Sun! Getting Ready for a Beautiful Summer Birthday Celebration
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If your child celebrates their birthday in the summer, your options for outdoor party fun are nearly endless! Whether you opt for a chilled-out day at the beach with friends, a backyard BBQ, or a treasure hunt at the local park, the birthday boy or girl is sure to have a blast. Pro tip? Always have a backup plan, just in case the rain rolls in!
Have you thrown a summer birthday party that was particularly successful? We—and the other parents out there—would love to know your hints and tips. What’s the best piece of advice you could give to ensure the celebration runs smoothly? Drop us your comments in the box below!
FAQs
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What is the best theme for a summer party?
Your options for summer birthday party themes are nearly infinite and will depend on both your budget and your child’s preference. Some of the most popular summer party themes include beach, ice cream, pool, and backyard BBQ.
What to do for a birthday in July?
For birthday parties in July, great activities include a park party, outdoor movie night, or outdoor game bonanza. Treasure or nature hunts can also work well, as can organizing a day out at a local attraction or theme park for the birthday child and a few friends.
What to do for an August birthday?
With the temperatures heating up, a pool party (either at the local pool or at home) could be the perfect way to celebrate an August birthday. Supply plenty of inflatables, noodles, and other water or bath toys (depending on kids’ ages)—and don’t forget to ensure that children are supervised at all times.
How do you plan a summer birthday party?
To plan a summer birthday party a budget should first be decided on. From here, you can decide on the venue and guest list. You can use the information in our article above to take you through each of the planning stages. An essential part of summer party planning, if you’re going to be throwing an outdoor do, is to ensure you have a backup plan should it rain.
What if it rains on the day of my outdoor summer birthday party?
You have a couple of options should it rain on the day of the planned outdoor summer birthday party. If the celebration is planned to take place in your backyard, you could have a large marquee on hand or an indoor space prepped and ready should you need to move the fun into the house. Alternatively, you could have a ‘rain backup date’ that you include in the party invitations. This means that, if you wake up to torrential rain on the day of the party, you can promptly get in touch with attendees safe in the knowledge that you can reschedule the celebration to a date you’ve already specified.
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