Aah, summer! The green grass, the sandy beaches, the warn evenings. There's no better way to celebrate summer than with these fun and tasty summer party ideas.

Best for

Girls and boys of all ages can enjoy this fun, summer party, whether it's a summer birthday party, summer kick-off party, or end of summer party.

Party Planning

For peace of mind, begin planning your summer fun party bash six to eight weeks in advance. This will allow you time to gather all the supplies that you need, including summer party decorations, gifts, and menu items. Planning ahead also gives your guests time to RSVP and make travel plans, if needed. Don't panic if you find yourself short on time; you can still plan a great party! Planning ahead simply reduces the risk of conflicts with guests' plans and may increase your party’s attendance.

For summer party invitations, use beachy-colored card stock or construction paper folded in half, and decorate it with cutouts of surf and sand, beach balls hula skirts and more. Or just decorate it with summer stickers. You can also use our easy, printable party invitations. Or, if you’re short on time, purchase personalized or pre-printed summer party invitations online. We recommend mailing your invitations three to four weeks prior to the party—any sooner and your guests may forget, any later and your guests may already have plans.

To simplify the rest of the party planning process, check out our Party Planning Timeline, and read the paragraphs below for information on selecting summer party supplies, summer party favors, and more for your child's party.

What You’ll Need

If you plan to use paper tableware and summer party supplies, our Suggested Party Supply List may be quite helpful. Please note that you may not need everything on the list; it is intended only as a guide.

For this party, think beachy-blue or bright green (for grass) as your main color scheme. Simple summer balloons and streamers work perfectly. Fill your goodie bags with summer party favors, such as leis, ice cream bubbles and stickers, flip-flops, sand crafts and assorted candies. Place all of these items inside clear or printed cellophane bags, and tie the bags closed with bright blue ribbons.