15 Outdoor Party Ideas for Your Next Backyard Function
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As summer approaches, the weather heats up, and everyone heads outside, it’s the perfect time to host the ultimate outdoor party for all of your friends to remember. Spending time outdoors is what the summertime is all about! Especially after more than a year stuck inside, many people are craving a day lounging in the sun with friends. Along with missing the nice weather, people are missing parties with friends just as much. Stay safe and have fun with an outdoor party as a way to kick the summer off!
Plan the Ultimate Outdoor Party
Make Sure to Decorate
Adding a few cost-effective decor pieces to your home can help transform it from its everyday feel into a summer party atmosphere. Decor can help set the ambiance of the party. Pick a theme or a color scheme for your outdoor party decorations and run with it. This doesn’t have to be expensive! Here are a few summer decor items that are the perfect addition to your outdoor party.
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Hanging Outdoor Party Lights
You can buy cheap outdoor string lights, lanterns, and battery-operated candles to hang up on your back porch, party tent, or along your house. This can ensure that the backyard party keeps going even after the sun has set.
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Create Shaded Areas with Umbrellas
Buy large beach umbrellas to set up around your yard for a few shaded areas to cool off in. No beach needed!
Party Favors
Go to the dollar section at Target, Party City, and other similar stores and create a party favor goodie bag. This is similar to what you would get at a birthday party as a kid, but make it catered towards adults. Add fun items like bubbles, party jewelry and accessories to wear, candy, and maybe even an airport-sized liquor bottle in each. This is a fun way to start the party from the moment your guests arrive.
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Inflatables Aren’t Just for the Pool, Either
If you’re having a pool party, inflatables are great to lounge on. Even if you’re not having a pool party, inflatables that have a summer theme to it, like a giant pineapple or palm tree, can act as a fun chair and an added decor piece.
Table Settings
Buy cheap table covers, flowers as a centerpiece (even if they’re fake from the dollar store), and whatever else matches the theme of your party to pull the space together.
Food is Essential
A good outdoor party is nothing without food! Everyone loves food and it can be a great way to bring people together and share in a combined activity. Make sure to have a nice selection of food available at your party. Here are some options:
Bring Your Own (BYO) Food
Have everyone bring an item of food to share with the party. This can be anything from fruit to a full meal. This allows you, the host, to not have the pressure of making everything and allows the guests to get involved in bringing the party to life.
Enjoy Finger Foods
You can also stress that people bring finger foods to the party. If you’re planning to host the party before dinner, finger food can be great to curb appetites without getting too full. Plus, it allows guests to pick up some food and keep moving on to the next conversation or game.
Sip On Drinks
With the summer heat, drinks are essential. You can also ask guests to bring drinks in place of food. Have fun with your drinks and try new innovative recipes. A great place to look for inspiration is Pinterest. Find summer cocktails, fruity lemonade, mocktails, and other refreshing options to keep everyone hydrated.
Try this: Smashed Strawberry Margarita
Serve it Up
Once you have all the drinks and food there, how do you serve it? It’s a good idea to keep the food inside, so it stays fresh, and allow people to grab their food and return back outside. You can also get pitchers for making large amounts of drinks so guests don’t have to wait for their individual beverage.
Music to Liven Up the Party
Every great party is accompanied by great music. Liven up your event with great music that keeps the party fun. Consider the genres you know your friends will like listening to. Don’t just go with your favorites. You may hate country, but if most of your guests love it, you’ll have to deal with it for a night. Cater to the masses. (Sorry!)
You can create your own playlist, look one up on whatever music streaming platform you have, or get a friend to create one. We all have that one friend who seems to have the best music taste. Ask them if they’re up for making the playlist and being the “DJ” for the night. If you happen to be that friend, even better!
Keep it Fun with Outdoor Party Games
Games can be a great way to add another element to a party. Free-flowing conversation is fun, but games can bring everyone together. Here are a few game options to try.
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Have a Water Balloon Fight
This option is best if you’re having a pool party since everyone will be in swimsuits already.
Create an Adult Slip and Slide
Create an adult sized slip and slide with a large tarp, soap, and water.
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Play Giant Jenga
Everyone likes a nostalgic game. Level it up a notch by buying a giant Jenga game to put in the backyard. This allows for endless hours of entertainment. Tip: Add an extra element to the game by writing truth or dare questions on every piece. With every piece you grab, you have to complete the truth or dare on it.
Disposable Cameras
Document the party in a physical way with disposable cameras. Have a few on a table for guests to snap photos with throughout the party. You can get them developed after the party ends and either keep them all or redistribute some out to your guests. This is a timeless way to remember a great night.
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Reward Duckies
For this game, set up a baby pool in your backyard. Then, buy a bunch of little rubber duckies. Write on the bottom of two or three of them a small reward, like a $5 Starbucks gift card. Everyone gets to pick out a duck from the pool, but only a few will win a prize. This brings back nostalgic fair vibes.
Plan the Details
Once you have all the fun parts of the party planned, it’s time to plan the details. Start with considering the details of the date. When do you want your party to start? Do you want a nighttime party? Middle of the day party? Or an evening party that runs into the night? Also, consider how long you want the party to last. If you’re fine with people staying till whenever, don’t put an end time down. However, if you want the party to end at a certain time, there’s no shame in putting an end time on the RSVP.
Also, consider your space. How many people do you want to invite while still making sure the party doesn’t get too cramped? Do you want it to be just your close friends or do you want to allow your friends to bring their friends? Also, do you want to have a pool party at your house or a friend’s house that has a pool? Even if you don’t have a pool, will you have water games at the party? Plan this out ahead of time so that guests know exactly what to wear.
Figure out all of these details as you’re making the invitation. Speaking of the invitation, how are you going to invite people? You can go old school and print out invitations and deliver them to your friends. You can also create a page on Facebook. This is a great way to get a headcount for the party, since members have to accept or decline the invite over the internet.
Have a Blast!
Mix and match these tips in whatever way you see fit to plan the ultimate outdoor party. Remember to have fun and not get too stressed about planning the whole event. Your friends will be happy just to know they have an excuse to get out of their house!