Have we reached the midway of summer already? The kids have been out of school for over a month, and we still have weeks until the next school year begins. There have been vacations, outings, and camps, and occasionally the dreaded phrase “I’m bored” has sneaked into our homes. How can we survive the rest of summer without repeating plans and activities we’ve already done? Gather some friends and plan a unique party for all ages! Below are three ideas I’ve hosted over the years.
Olympic party
It only happens once every four years, and I am here to celebrate! I am planning our second Olympics party as we speak, and I’m looking forward to having the same fun we had last time!
First, encourage your guest list to choose a country to represent and go full out. That means attire inspired by the government and a dish to share representing their chosen country. For example, the guests who decide Germany, bring beer and brats. This is a great way to supply food for the party on the cheaper side and helps everyone get in the spirit.
Since it’s the summer, this is an excellent opportunity to pair this party with some water competitions, even if they aren’t in the Olympics. We set up an adult-sized slip-and-slide and awarded Gold, Silver, and Bronze to the individuals who slid the furthest distances. We also competed to see who could launch a water balloon farther. You can also organize a water balloon relay race or battle. The water activity possibilities are endless. And if you’re looking for a more dry alternative, you can do a cornhole tournament, frisbee toss, or any other backyard tailgating game.
What would an Olympic party be without a Medal Count? My daughter crafted an awesome board complete with the flags of the countries represented, and as each “event” concluded, we tallied the medal winners. At the end of the party, we awarded prizes for the highest medal counts, and some people are still holding tight to their bragging rights!
Decorations were easy to find and make.
On Amazon, I found a backdrop of a stadium filled with spectators and attached it to our fence. I also found a variety pack of world flags and placed them around our lawn. The party store and dollar store had a lot of USA decorations and small prizes for our winners. This was a fantastic party!
Christmas in July
We all can agree that the splendor of Christmas should not be reserved for only one time of year. Why not organize a day in the middle of summer to do our favorite Christmas activities with friends? So, bust out your favorite Ugly Christmas Tanktop, bake a few Christmas cookies, and dig out a few lights from the attic to celebrate being halfway to Christmas!
Like the Olympic party, I set up this party to be potluck style. I assigned guests to appetizers or desserts by the initial of their last name. This was a great way to try multiple treats without hosting a full dinner.
I found multiple games on Pinterest, such as Christmas Movie Trivia and Name That Christmas Song. We played these games and were awarded small prizes. I also hosted a Christmas craft party, allowing each guest to get a head start on Christmas gifting or decorating. The craft was easy and super cheap. Get clear plastic ornaments and fill them with a small coat of polyurethane varnish. Swirl the varnish around the ornament until it is fully coated on the inside. Next, swirl your favorite color glitter to coat the ornament’s inside thoroughly. Voila, a beautiful new ornament!
To complete the mood, play your favorite Christmas tunes or have your favorite Christmas movie playing in the background. It was lovely to take a break from the heat and think about a cooler time of year.
Luau
It’s not a new idea, but it is a classic! Summer is synonymous with outdoor parties, and what’s better than a fun luau in your backyard? Encourage your guests to dress in tropical attire and dawn their leis to enjoy an evening full of chill, Hawaiian vibes.
A luau is perfect for any celebration, such as a summer birthday, a retirement party, or just a summer celebration. It’s a popular theme, which means decorations are easy to come by and are available at any party store and dollar store. Light some tiki torches, hang floral garland, and have an abundance of leis for your guests to wear. There are also amazing Spotify and Apple Music playlists with traditional Hawaiian music and classic party songs. Get your guests up and dancing, or just enjoy hanging out with good company.
For this party, I supplied the big meal. I found an easy but fairly authentic-tasting Kalua Pork recipe and made it in my crockpot. Although it had to cook for many hours, the preparation was minimal and easy. I supplied Hawaiian rolls, pineapple, and fried rice to complete our meal. It was delicious, and I have used that recipe many times since!
The whole party was fun, and it allowed me to reminisce about actually being back in Hawaii, one of my favorite places on the planet!
Don’t let summer slip by without having fun before another school year begins. Use this time to gather with friends and make memories. I know I’ll plan a party or two before we return to the grind!
