10 Fun Theme Summer Party Ideas For Summertime Gatherings

Need theme summer party ideas?

Whether you’re looking for ideas for summer parties for kids, need things for teens to do in summer when bored, need epic family reunion party ideas, or you’re planning fun summer themed events for adults, there’s something here for you!

Try some of our favorite popular summer ideas for gatherings from this list of parties we’ve thrown over the years.

Best Theme Summer Party Ideas for Kids & Adult Parties

No matter if you’re looking for something to kick off the summer or need end of summer party theme ideas, here are the best outdoor summer party theme ideas for kids and adults summer holiday.

How do you throw a fun summer party?

The best parties always have a theme (in my opinion) and for summertime you can have a ton of fun themes!

10 Fun Summertime Themes In This Summer Guide:

1. Backyard Beach Party
2. No-Pool Pool Party
3. Summerween Party (Halloween in Summer)
4. Summer Carnival Party / Fair Party
5. Outdoor Movie Night Party
6. Backyard Camping Party
7. Under the Sea, Mermaid or Shark Party
8. Summer Games Olympics Theme
9. Outdoor Art Party
10. Christmas In July Party

Don’t miss the full theme summer party ideas for kids and families, as well as summer party theme ideas for adults and things to do at summer parties below. Keep scrolling!

Catchy Summer Party Names for Party Invitations

Summer party names ideas:

• Splish, Splash, Summer Bash
• Fun In The Sun
• Toes In The Sand
• Under The Sea
• Get Cool By The Pool
• School’s Out For Summer
• California Dreamin’
• Grill and Chill
• Walk In The Park
• Beach Bummin’
• Seasons In The Sun
• Walkin’ On Sunshine
• July Jingle Jam
• Life’s A Beach
• Surfin’ Safari

However, you really don’t need fancy names for summer parties. Focus more on the summer party fun!

Themes For Amazing Summer Parties: Summer Party Ideas For Kids, Teen Parties & Adult Party Ideas

Backyard Beach Party (No Beach Required!)

Looking for traditional summer season theme party ideas? Try a beach party! (Of course.)

BUT… you don’t need to be at the beach to have a beach party!

Transform your backyard or balcony with some sand (just pour sand like this into an empty blow-up baby pool) and have a sandcastle building contest.

Toss around mini blow up beach balls, and serve beach food like hotdogs and watermelon popsicles.

You can even do this as an indoor beach party.

Get tips for that at this link:

GET MORE BEACH PARTY IDEAS

No-Pool Pool Party

Nothing says summer party like a pool party, right?

But, what if you don’t have a pool?

NO WORRIES!

One of the most fun parties we’ve thrown as a backyard party is a pool party with no pool!

We filled a baby pool with water and put fun water toys in it with chairs around for sitting with your feet in it.

We added in some easy summer recipes and fun water games like this and this ended up being one of the best hot weather teen party themes ever!

(It’s not just for teen parties. It works for all ages!)

Summerween Party

Summerween is a really fun party because you get to celebrate Halloween in summertime!

It’s a viral summer party trend that combines spooky Halloween vibes with fun-in-the-sun ideas to create one of the most unique and unforgettable summer party themes. 

LEARN HOW TO THROW A SUMMERWEEN PARTY HERE

Summer Carnival Party / Fair Party

Carnival is one of those super fun outdoor summer themed party ideas!

Have games like ring toss, bean bag can toss, pick the duckie out of the pool for prizes.

Offer popcorn (or make this kettle corn that tastes just like fair kettle corn) and lemonade, make cotton candy, and serve fun party foods like pizza and hot dogs.

GET RECIPES FOR FAIR FOODS HERE

Outdoor Movie Night Party

Hook a projector to your laptop, get a screen (we like this one), set up some lawn chairs or blankets to sit on, and have movie night under the stars!

Set up a “concession stand” candy and drinks, and provide a popcorn bar like this.

LEARN HOW TO HAVE A BACKYARD MOVIE PARTY

Outdoor Backyard Camping Party

Pitch tents in the backyard, roast hot dogs and marshmallows over a campfire, make s’mores, and tell stories around the campfire.

You can even make it a backyard camping sleepover, great for summer slumber parties! (LEARN HOW HERE)

Backyard Olympics Party

If you have a family who loves competing or kids and teens who love to play minute to win it games, then set up a backyard olympics with fun summer games to compete in.

This is a really fun summer party theme for family reunions too and works as great ice breaker games.

LEARN HOW TO THROW AN OLYMPIC GAMES PARTY FOR SUMMER

Under The Sea Shark Party

Everything you need to make a splash at your child’s summer birthday celebration, ocean themed party, Shark Week party, or Baby Shark parties for summer.

Have fun with shark-themed party games, summer ocean finger foods and party snacks, and fun decorations for your shark party!

GET THE SHARK PARTY IDEAS

Outdoor Art Party

Do you kids love art?

Summer is the perfect time for an art party because you can take all that art messiness outside!

Place covered tables on tarps around the yard and provide a variety of art materials like paints, markers, chalk, paper, big pieces of cardboard, and let kids make their own creations.

You can even make your own paint from dandelions and paint with it!

PRO PARTY TIP: Use this to protect your tables and, bonus!, the kids can art on it!

Serve easy finger food like pizza sticks, chips, and dip.

GET MORE EASY SNACK FOOD IDEAS HERE.

Christmas in July

Celebrate Christmas in the middle of summer by decorating with lights and ornaments, having a summer snowball fight with these, serving traditional Christmas foods with a summer twist and even Christmas cookies for this summer party.

You can even have a visit from Beach Santa to hand out small presents for everyone to open!

LEARN HOW TO PLAN A CHRISTMAS IN JULY PARTY

I hope you have fun with some of these theme summer party ideas!