5 Summer Shindig Ideas - June Feature

In honor of the upcoming first day of Summer, I am dedicating June to Summer Shindigs. Even if you don't have kids or work all year long, there is something about the beginning of summer that is just fun! You remember how it felt as a child, when school was winding down, and you were just counting down the days until the last day of school! I miss that! But just because we are grownups now doesn't mean we can't still celebrate summer like a kid. Take a look at 7 of my Summer Shindig ideas. For each, I will briefly list some details for hosting a small summer party. After, check out my post on how I plan small parties quick with my Planning Party Cheat Sheet.

7 Summer Shindig Ideas -

1. Firefly Show

Details: Try for a week night fun surprise around 8:30pm-9:30pm (for kids or friends), typically closer to the last 2 weeks of June. Invite whoever you want but geared more towards family/kids!

Menu: Don't need too much for this as it will already be after dinner. Think about incorporating dessert, possibly warm chocolate chip cookies.

Activities: Obviously running around catching fireflies or just staring up into the sky!

Plan/Setup: Have some mason jars with lids on hand and lay a bunch of blankets/pillows out in the middle of the backyard for gazing.

2. First Day of Summer Kick Off

Details: June 17th is the first day of summer. If it falls on a weekday then think about a 6:00 pm - 9:00 pm evening celebration. If it falls on the weekend, you could have an afternoon kick off! Invite whoever you want but geared towards family/friends.

Menu: Think Grill and Summer! You can do traditional hot dogs/hamburgers or you can spice it up with some creative grilling ideas. Check out my Kabob Station idea here. Sides would include watermelon, potato salad, corn on the cob and Smores for dessert.

Activities: Setup games like corn hole, horse shoes, or just have a football handy. Adults can play beer pong or flip cup (if you dare!). Get a sprinkler going and fill up some water guns!

Plan/Setup: The activities are the main plan for this party, just basically celebrating summer and all that we love about it. Have some fun summer tunes playing in the back ground for ambiance. Light some tiki torches. Setup tables and chairs outside. Have some baby pools filled up with water for kids or adult feet. Light a little fire for smores or roast them over the tiki torch!

3. Last Day of School Surprise

Details: On the last day of school obviously! This will fall on a weekday, so think about taking the day off or getting off work early. This is geared towards kids.

Menu: Ice Cream Cones!

Plan: Shhhhh. This is going to be a surprise! Your kids will not know you are off work. You will pick them up from school and first go get ice cream! Then you will drive to a pool or even a theme park if you can swing it, with their bathing suits or active wear secretly packed and spend the evening celebrating no more school! For dinner, stop off and get pizza somewhere. Coolest parent ever award!

4. Dusk Stroll

Details: Can be any evening, good for a week night activity. It is better to do this in the way beginning of June, possibly June 1st, when it still gets dark relatively early (around 8:30pm). This is geared toward kids/family.

Menu: This is an activity for after dinner. Just plan on either having trail mix made up or you can make milkshakes to go!

Activities: Taking a nice evening stroll to a nearby park while the sun sets.

Plan/Setup: Have little lanterns ready for every person. You can use LED candles. Pack your snacks and head on out. The point is NOT to drive anywhere. Get to know your neighborhood or local parks. Walk until the sun has set and then get on back home guided by your lantern light. NO CELL PHONE flashlight cheating.

5. Water Olympics

Details: Best for a weekend day during the peak sun 12:00 pm - 4:00 pm, probably more towards the end of June when its hot. This is geared toward anyone really, but fun for kids/family and friends.

Menu: Lots of light lunch items that are easy to grab; little sandwiches, watermelon slices and, fruit skewers. This is absolutely a drinking event for adults; think summer shandy beers, mimosas or a bourbon lemonade. Kids can have regular lemonade and fruit punch. Also be sure to have plenty of water on hand.

Activities: You will set up different challenges and games that all involve water somehow. Even if its just playing volleyball with a sprinkler going! You can get pretty creative with this. Check out some of my water olympic game ideas here.

Plan/Setup: Divide people up into teams (2 to a team is good). Eat light appetizers first, get the drinks flowing, explain the rules and start the course! After you are half way through the first set of games, take a little break and have sandwiches. Finish the course and have a mini ceremony for the winner! It would be great to have metals to hand out or a winners belt that gets passed to the winner each year.

I hope these ideas inspire you to do some fun things this month! Remember to celebrate life every day and plan traditions. That is what this life is all about!

For help planning a party, contact me!