For summer birthdays or just a fun get-together, kids love a good party! Why not take advantage of the beautiful summer weather and have a party in the great outdoors? Get going with these 5 outdoor kids’ party ideas!
1. Host a Kids’ Summer Olympics Party
For kiddos that love sports or just playing in the backyard, you can tap into their competitive side and host a Kids’ Summer Olympics party! “Active” is the name of the game with this party theme. Draw some inspiration from the real Olympics with outdoor games like discus throws (using Frisbees), obstacle courses, balance beams, and hula hoop contests.
You can also encourage teamwork with relay races or a team sport like Wiffle ball or kickball. At the end of the party, give away small prizes or even have a medal ceremony to bring the festivities to a close!
🤸 Try this: Book a local mobile games company and let the pros lead the activities.
2. Set Up a Sensory Party
Younger kiddos are always curious about the world around them, so a sensory party is a great outdoor party idea for kids. Tell your guests to wear some “play clothes” or provide souvenir T-shirts as party favors. Then, prepare to get messy!
Set up stations that help kids explore all five senses with items of all shapes and sizes. For example, a sand art creation table will let kids make art out of the brightly-colored sand. It also helps them use their visual creativity to make something unique for a sweet keepsake.
Auditory stations can include simple instruments like tambourines or recorders. Since it’s outside, the sound won’t drive you (as) crazy! Or, make some Rainbow Foam for a tactile station. It’s easy to make and allows kiddos to get messy while exploring a fun texture. Just remember, the messier, the better for an outdoor kids’ party!
🎨 Try this: Hire a local arts and crafts party to help lead the exploration and creation with your little ones!
3. Just Add Water
Looking for a way to cool off during the hot days of summer? Add some water! Have your guests bring their swimsuits, towels, beach balls, and sunscreen for a day of fun in the sun. Activities like Slip n’ Slides or sprinklers are easy ways to add a little H2O to your outdoor party. For older kids, you can set up water relay games like Water Balloon Toss or Sponge Pass.
🎈 Water Balloon Toss: Fill up several water balloons and have the kids set up in two lines facing each other. The pairs will toss a water balloon back and forth, taking a giant step back before each new toss. The players to get the furthest apart without breaking their balloon win!
🧽 Sponge Pass: Have the kids line up in two single-file lines. Next, they’ll pass a soaking wet sponge over their heads from person to person. The last person squeezes the remaining water in a bucket at the end. The team that gets the most water in the bucket wins!
Party games that include water are always a great addition to an outdoor birthday party or summer camp. If all else fails, pass out squirt guns or water balloons and let the battle begin.
🍨 Try this: Keep the cool theme going with an ice cream sundae or dessert bar!
4. Throw an Outdoor Animal Party
While we’re all fans of furry creatures, sometimes the thought of having them inside is a little daunting. That’s why animals are the perfect addition to an outdoor kids’ party! Does your kiddo dream of riding a pony or holding a hedgehog? An animal party can deliver! Most petting zoos or pony parties only need a small amount of space outside, like your backyard.
You can build cute party themes like “On the Farm” or “Little Buckaroo” around pony parties or farm animal petting zoos. Reptile shows are great for Jurassic Park or jungle-themed parties. The animals are usually enough to hold the kids’ attention, but animal games can be just as fun!
🗣️ Animal Command: This party game is just like Simon Says, but with an animal twist. For example, at a farm party, you could say, “Farmer Brown says… quack like a duck!” A zoo party could be “Trainer Joey says… clap like a seal!”
🎵 Animal Musical Chairs: Each time the music stops and a child is out, designate them as “it” and let them choose their favorite animal for the others to act out. For example, if they say “horse,” the remaining kids can gallop around the circle of chairs until the music stops.
There’s no question that kiddos love animals, so this one deserves a top spot on your outdoor kids’ party ideas list!
🦔 You might like: 4 Birthday Party Themes That Include Animal Entertainment
5. Plan an Outdoor Movie Night
Dreaming of the days when you could take the family to a drive-in movie under the stars? Bring it to your backyard! Your kids and their friends of all ages will love being able to pile onto blankets on the grass and watch a family-friendly flick.
Book an outdoor movie screen or make your own by stringing up a white painter’s canvas (it’s heavier than a sheet and less likely to blow in the wind). Most rented screens come with a projector, or you can buy a decent one for around $100. Not a bad investment if you plan to use it a few times throughout the summer!
Set up a movie snack bar with popcorn and classic candy choices. Fill a few tin buckets with ice and bottled soda pop to bring out the nostalgic vibe. Your party doesn’t have to be complicated; sometimes, it’s just about spending time together!
🍿 You might also like: Fun Ideas for a Cozy Backyard Movie Night
Find local entertainment and event services for your outdoor kids’ party! Book the best on GigSalad.
Megan is the Director of Customer Experience at GigSalad and has gained 9+ years of insight on what makes a great event on both sides of the booking process. Her favorite things include books, true crime podcasts, coffee, hiking, puns, and making people laugh.
Great ideas!
It’s great that you mentioned how you can rent a projector when you also rent the inflatable movie screen. My son loves movies and his birthday is coming up in a couple of weeks. I think he would love to watch his favorite movies with all of his friends for his birthday party. I don’t have a home projector or movie screen so I am glad that I can rent both of them.
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