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Let the Sunshine In: Hosting the Ultimate Summer Party with a Bright and Cheerful Theme

As the sun begins to shine brighter and the days grow longer, there's no better time to embrace the fun of summer than with a vibrantly decorated backyard “pool” party. And what better way to celebrate the season of sunshine than by throwing a summer party with a sunshine theme? Picture bright yellows, fiery oranges, and endless fun under the sun. In this guide, we'll show you how to host the ultimate summer bash that's sure to spread some summer warmth & cheer to all your guests.

Let’s get into ALL the fun details!!

THE DECOR

First things first, let's set the scene for your sunshine-themed extravaganza. Deck out your party space with bright pops of yellow and orange. Do this with balloon garlands & easy floral details. Easily sprinkle some sunshine-inspired accents throughout with your party activities, cake and food, and party favor bags.

Grab what we used here:

Sunshine table cloth

Balloon garland

‘Happy Summer’ Place mats

White table cloths

Yellow table runner

Bud vases

ACTIVITIES

No summer party is complete without some outdoor fun! Pull out the sprinkler and kitty pools to help guests beat the heat while enjoying some classic summertime activities. Keep it summer themed with bubbles, sidewalk chalk, and popsicles! I used our beloved farm stand (it makes its appearance in some way every party!) as a “Summer Fun Station” and stocked it with bubble wands, giant bubble supplies, goggles, mini sparkly beach balls, and sidewalk chalk.

For a creative twist, we set up a DIY hat decorating table where guests can personalize yellow trucker hats with fabric patches.

Grab what we used:

our favorite Bubble machine

Giant bubble wands

Giant bubbles mix

Long bubble wands

Sidewalk chalk

Goggles

Yellow kid trucker hats

Fabric patches

Shark Water Slide

FOOD & REFRESHMENTS

Keep your guests cool and refreshed with a selection of in season, summer drinks like lemonade in mason jars garnished with citrus slices or try serving up this Watermelon Margarita. Be sure to stock your coolers with plenty of water! We also love these Hint kids water boxes.

For food, serve refreshing, cooling, and again, in season, foods like pasta salads & salads, tropical fruit skewers and vibrant fruit salads. You also can never go wrong with simple watermelon slices, either! Keep it classic and grill up some burgers and hot dogs for heavier snacks if your party is during a meal time.

For dessert, we always love passing out popsicles at a summer party! It's a fun, unexpected treat.

If celebrating a birthday, add to the decor by getting a cake on theme and make it a focal point on your table. We get a double tiered cake from our local grocery store and then add some fun, personal touches like these FREE cupcake toppers I made for you. Just print, cut, laminate, and tape to a tooth pick!

Keep the bugs away from the food with these food fans and this netted screen. Keep the mosquitos away with these Mosquito Stickers that come in cute graphics that the kids will lpve.

FREE Cupcake Topper Printable

FAVORS

For this party, we set up a Favor Bar. I think this is a great idea because it serves as an activity by letting the kiddos choose what they want in their bag. I think this especially works well for when you’re providing a variety of colors of an item, I.e. these sunglasses! Everyone gets to choose their favorites! Grab our “Happy Summer!” Tags from our Etsy shop. They also make great tags for class gifts or any party you host this summer!

Copy what we did by grabbing the items below!

Favor bags

Ribbon

“Happy Summer!” Tags

Sunglasses

Sun Candy Bracelets

Summer Sun stickers

Mini kaleidoscope picture cameras

MUSIC

Set the mood for your sunshine soirée with a playlist filled with upbeat summer tunes guaranteed to keep everyone in a good mood. From classic beach anthems to modern-day hits, choose a mix of songs that will keep the party vibe alive. Spotify has a great “Family Dance Party” playlist that we highly recommend!

KEEP IT EASY

Remember that the best parts of summer include enjoying friends and family, the sunshine, and relaxing. Summer is all about slowing down so remember to keep it easy! Don’t put too much pressure on yourself to make things perfect. Enjoy the process!

With bright yellows, fiery oranges, and endless summer vibes, hosting a sunshine-themed summer party is the perfect way to celebrate the season!

Let us know if you use any of these ideas by tagging us on Instagram @thecelebratedaily! We can’t wait to see the awesome parties you host!

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