With warm weather and a birthday approaching, it’s time to start planning the ultimate summer birthday party. If it’s for an adult, that might mean an outdoor barbecue with friends or a day spent wine tasting. For kids, maybe it’s a day at the water park. But if you’re not totally sure exactly what theme you want for your celebration, we’re here to help. Make sure to check out all our summer birthday party ideas below for adults, children, and toddlers. And once you’ve picked the right party theme, make sure to order your birthday invitations get the party started.
Jump to:
- What To Do For A Summer Birthday
- Summer Birthday Party Ideas For Adults
- Fun Summer Party Ideas For Kids
- Summer Birthday Party Ideas For Toddlers
What To Do For A Summer Birthday
Ready to start your party planning? If so, make sure to have a time, date and location in mind, as well as your chosen theme. Need help picking a summer birthday destination? Then check out our resource on where to have a birthday party. Once you have those important details figured out, you can get started on the other things, such as ordering your summer party invitations, making a guest list, and buying birthday gifts. Additionally, don’t forget to plan your party decor, entertainment, and food and drink menu. For more specific tips, visit our resource on how to plan a birthday party.
Summer Birthday Party Ideas For Adults
Looking for the right theme for your adults-only summer party? Whether you like smaller gathering of friends and family or big birthday blow-outs, there’s sure to be a theme below that fits you perfectly. Get started reading to find your top pick.
1. Sparkler Party
Break out the sparklers for this fun evening summer birthday. And don’t forget, champagne and sparklers go together like summer weather and outdoor birthdays. Just make sure that you stay away from any fire hazards while you’re celebrating.
2. Boat Night
Nothing says “summer birthday” like a sunset or evening cruise with your besties. Stock the wine bar and head out to sea for a party like no other. Just remember to drink responsible and stay safe while aboard.
3. Wine Tasting Party
If there’s nothing you’d rather do with your summer than spend it wine tasting with friends, then a wine tasting birthday party might be the right choice for you. Head to your local wineries for some outdoor tastings or plan a trip to wine country.
4. Color Party
Celebrate the vibrant colors of summer (and your birthday) by throwing a color party. Buy plenty of color powder in advance and tell guests to come in clothes they don’t mind getting messy. This is a great party theme for fun photo ops.
5. Outdoor Picnic
For a relaxing and tasty summer birthday party, invite your loved ones to a scenic picnic. Make all your favorite foods or ask guests to potluck. Then make sure to pack some delicious wine (or beer) for a toast.
6. Summer Tropics Party
This tropical theme makes for a summer party classic. Fill your party decor with pineapples, pink flamingos, and plenty of fruit flavored drinks. This theme also tacks on perfectly to a planned pool party.
7. Campfire Celebration
Looking for a fun evening theme for your summer birthday? If so, host a campfire. Besides creating an extra special birthday s’mores bar, you can ask friends to bring their favorite brews and instruments to play some live music.
8. Rooftop Summer Party
If you have access to a (safe) rooftop with a view, consider throwing a rooftop birthday party. Watch the sunset with friends, play music through the night, or even put up a screen for a cool movie night.
Fun Summer Party Ideas For Kids
If you’re planning a kids birthday party this summer and don’t know what to do yet, look for inspiration with the ideas below. Not only are the following themes kid friendly, they’re also fun for the parents.
9. Day at the Fair
If you don’t want to head to the park or host out of your backyard, consider taking the kids to the local fair. With plenty of food, rides, and games, there’s entertainment to last them all day long. Just make sure you plan for parent chaperones to keep everyone safe.
10. Backyard Camp Party
Set up a mini campgrounds in your backyard complete with tents, s’mores, and plenty of outdoor activities. And for an extra special treat, end the kids party with a movie marathon on an outdoor screen.
11. Day at the Park
Take the kids to the local park and let them use up some of that abundant summer energy. Local parks are perfect ways to give your party plenty of space, and they often come with designated spaces for barbecues and picnics.
12. Color Tag
Ask parents to bring their kids dressed in mess-friendly clothes, and move your nice backyard furniture out of the way. Give the kids their own set of kid friendly color paint powder and let them have fun “tagging” each other with their colors, until everyone comes out looking like a (messy) rainbow.
13. Day at the Water Park
Take the birthday kid and their closest friends at the local water park for the day. Not only will it give them the chance to cool off in the summer heat, they’re sure to have a blast with all the water rides and amusement park food.
14. Backyard Bounce House
Bring a bounce house or inflatable obstacle course into your backyard for some high-flying fun. Along with a food table or party menu to keep their energy levels up, you may also want to provide some outdoor fun to keep them cool with things like sprinklers or water balloons.
15. Pirate Party
This theme lets you take full advantage of a fun costume party. Ask guests to come dressed up and plan treasure scavenger hunts, pirate water balloon fights, and plenty of free play time. For an imaginative touch, have plenty of markers, tape, and cardboard boxes available and let the kids build their own pirate ship.
16. Tropical Pool Party
Throw a tropical pool party for your fun loving birthday kid. Along with plenty of decorative pool floaties such as inflatable flamingos, you should also create a tropical snack bar. Tasty treats might include fruit punch, watermelon bites, and even pineapple fried rice. Other party additions may include flower leis, tiki torches, and Hawaiian music.
Summer Birthday Party Ideas For Toddlers
Looking for a summer birthday theme that’s child-proof and picture perfect? Then checkout our ideas below. They’ll keep the little ones safe while they have fun celebrating in the sun.
17. Bubble Party
Bubble parties are picture perfect and easy to put together. Decorate your party space with plenty of balloons and leave out lots of different shapes and sizes of bubble blowers. Just make sure to check the weather beforehand to make sure the bubbles won’t be too quickly blown away.
18. Ice Cream Bar
Everyone loves ice cream, but few love it as much as the little ones. Throw your toddlers the ultimate ice cream birthday party this summer by including a fully stocked dessert bar. This may include sundae toppings, different types of popsicles, or even an ice cream truck.
19. Face Paint Party
Lions, and tigers, and– butterflies? Let loose the wild ones with a face paint party. Whatever animal a child picks, they’re sure to love spending this summer birthday party in the land of the wild things.
20. Taste of Summer Celebration
With the arrival of the warm weather, a whole new menu of tasty treats becomes available. Celebrate the coming of the summer flavors with a toddler taste of summer celebration. Include treats like watermelons, popsicles, summer salads, seasonal pies or jams, and anything else you’d like to feature.
21. Magic Forest Party
A magic forest party is the perfect way to celebrate a toddler’s birthday in the warm summer months. The adorable decor paired with an outdoors setting means that your pictures will come out beautifully, so don’t forget to bring a camera.
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