Instead of hosting your child’s birthday party inside the house, or taking a crew of kids to the same place that serves pizza and questionable ball pits, why not take the party outside?
Outdoor parties give kids a place to stretch out and run and get creative with themes, food and games.
You can’t predict the weather, but you can plan ahead. If necessary, arrange to move the party indoors at the last minute, and on hot days, be creative to keep cool.
Nicole Heinbaugh, owner and event planner of Simply Sweet Party Boutique, says there are many ways to keep kids cool on a hot day. “To keep cool, use small fans as a favor. They even make ones that spray water. “Definitely,” she said.
Let the party begin! Here are 15 outdoor birthday party ideas to help inspire your child’s next bash.
tie dye party
From shirts and beach towels to socks and scrunchies, there’s no limit to what kids can tie-dye at this groovy party. Get some tie-dye kits and get creative! Get your laundry and lots of clothespins ready to hang all your tie-dye creations to dry, and before your kids leave, show them how to care for their new tie-dye items and send them home.
summer camp
Get out of the s’mores, get ready to sing around the campfire, and go hiking. Even if it’s around the backyard. A summer camp themed party is a great way to cook food that kids and adults will enjoy and enjoy some of their favorite childhood games and activities.
reel fun
Kids will go crazy for this fishing party. Start by having your guests make and display their own fishing poles using wooden dowels, eye his hooks, string and metal clips. Then, hold a casting contest and fill the baby pool with paper fish of different sizes and try your luck at catching the big fish. While the kids are eating, you can break the deck of cards and play Go Fish a few times.
outdoor movies
Use the projector and sheets as a screen to show a movie under the stars. Bring plenty of movie snacks such as popcorn and candy, and hand out glow sticks as a keepsake, as this party starts after dark.
olympic party
Set up obstacle courses and relay races to bring home the gold with this party theme. Before the players go home, wrap the cookies in gold paper and attach them to ribbons so everyone can win a sweet gold medal.
lawn games
Turn your family game night into a party! There are many family-friendly lawn games available for purchase, including oversized checkers and cornhole. However, you can also create your child’s favorite games, such as making a twisterboard on grass with spray paint, or a DIY version of skiball with a bucket and some small balls.
bubble blast
Bubbles are so magical that you can adapt this party for kids of all ages. Set up the machine to let the bubbles flow while the kids make bubbles of all shapes and sizes with their DIY wands. Fill the baby pool with the foam mixture, have the kids stand in the pool, and use the hula hoops to create jumbo bubbles around the kids.
archaeological excavation
Dinosaur fans will delve into this subject. Set up archaeological digs in sandpits and baby pools to allow partygoers to search for artifacts. Give the child a shovel, a bucket, and his paintbrush to find dinosaur figures, fossils, and gold coins. Once excavated, the artifact becomes a party favor that the kids can carry around.
outdoor art party
Let kids unleash the inner power of Bob Ross at an artistic party. Now is the time for some messy arts and crafts your kids will want to try. You can fill a squirt gun with paint and use a large canvas as a target, make a few batches of slime, or give a child a paint tray his palette to craft.
water party
Splash splash, it’s time for a water bash. You don’t need a pool for this outdoor party. There are just so many ways to play in the water. Break the sprinkler, Slip N’ Slide, and fill the aquarium with tons of water toys. The perfect party favor? A comfy beach towel that you can dry off and take home.
garden party
Get the kids to try their green thumbs at a garden party and get to work decorating their own pots and planting seeds, flowers or succulents. Create a sensory jar filled with dirt and gardening tools for kids, fill his mini terracotta pots with cupcakes, and top with sweet treat flower his decorations. After the party is over, send the kids home with a mini watering can filled with seeds to create their own garden.
mini golf
It’s party time. Build a mini golf course for the pros out of cardboard boxes, balloons, pool noodles and more. Turn sandboxes into sand traps and wide open spaces into driving ranges. For younger players, skip regular golf balls and use beach balls instead.
beach bash
A bucket of sand, a beach ball and plenty of sunscreen are essentials for a beach bash. Even if there is no ocean nearby, a water-filled baby pool will do just fine.
glow in the dark party
This is great for older kids as the action starts when the sun goes down. Load up glow-in-the-dark necklaces, fill the baby pool with glow sticks, and place colorful plastic cups over tealights to light up the party.
