Yahoo Finance 60 Genius Summer Party Ideas That Make Outdoor Entertaining a Breeze
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60 Genius Summer Party Ideas That Make Outdoor Entertaining a Breeze
Summer is here, which means it's officially time to kick back, relax and soak up the sun with your nearest and dearest. Sunny days and long nights call for projector movie nights, outdoor date nights, poolside hangs and long catch-ups around the fire pit. Make sure you're ready for every (and any!) occasion this summer — a last-minute picnic, 4th of July cookout, end-of-summer bash and more —with these summer party ideas, covering everything from crowd-pleasing dinner recipes to easy summer crafts to make your outdoor space fit for the season. You'll find all the best tips and tricks to host the ultimate summer gathering: refreshing summer cocktails, no-bake desserts, party-ready DIYs and quick design fixes that'll make your small backyard the perfect party spot. Our guess: Your friends and family will keep coming back for more ... especially if you plan on serving homemade fruit slushies and waffle ice cream sandwiches.
Danielle Daly - 2/61
Roll around an outdoor bar cart.
Load up a portable bar cart with all the makings for boozy summer cocktails, plus some ready-to-drink options for the kids on the run. Keep cups, stirrers and garnishes on the top shelf for easy access.
RELATED: The Best Small Backyard Ideas
Mary Britton Senseney - 3/61
Serve up granita.
Enter the easiest summer dessert ever: Once you blend water, sugar and chopped watermelon, freeze the mixture until its firm. When guests need an instant chill, scoop the frozen mixture into paper cones.
Mike Garten - 4/61
Set up foldable lawn chairs.
Foldable chairs are easy to move, so guests can tote them around from the lawn to the patio to the front porch. Before the party starts, scatter a few chairs around your yard, cozying them up with throw blankets and pillows.
RELATED: The Best Outdoor Furniture to Buy
Mike Garten - 5/61
Make an ice cream sandwich bar.
Toast a pack of waffles and use them to sandwich ice creams, gelatos and sorbets. Roll each sandwich in melted chocolate, coconut, nuts or chocolate chips.
Mike Garten - 6/61
Decorate with live greenery.
Instead of splashing out on single-use party decor, use what you already have to spruce up walls and fences. Affix flat-backed planters to siding or fence panels, then fill them with a variety of flowers, herbs and bold greens.
Mike Garten - 7/61
Put a summer twist on pizza.
Stick to tradition while highlighting the season's best with this fresh take on a pizza pie. It's seriously easy to make: Spread a layer of ricotta on frozen puff pastry before topping it with an array of tomatoes, herbs and other spices.
Mike Garten - 8/61
Blend up frosty fruit slushies.
Enjoy a refreshing slushie in minutes with only four ingredients. You'll need ice, water, frozen limeade and the frozen fruit of your choice. We are loving raspberries, peaches or mangos for this drink.
Mike Garten - 9/61
Hang a backyard swing.
Turning an empty backyard corner into paradise is easier than you may think. A colorful rug, a floating couch and plants pull together a space, but it'll be a porch swing that steals the show.
Dabito - 10/61
Make wine cubes.
It's always a great time to have wine! Freeze your favorite wine in ice trays (about 1 ounce per cube), then pop one or two into a light pour to make your glass last longer. You can also add a few cubes to sparkling water to keep it light.
Mike Garten - 11/61
Have a melon mosaic appetizer.
If you want to keep the cube trend going, transform an appetizer into a work of art. Arrange cubed watermelon, cucumber, beefsteak tomatoes, feta and halved cherry tomatoes into a grid. Then drizzle olive oil on top with a dash of salt, pepper and mint!
Colin Faulkner - 12/61
Create a plant stand cooler.
Look around your yard and you'll discover anything can become a party accessory, like a plant stand. After emptying it out, fill it with plenty of ice to keep drinks chilled. And if you're feeling creative, fill latex balloons with water, freeze overnight on a baking sheet, and add them in with the drinks.
Mike Garten - 13/61
Enjoy thyme-plum moscow mules.
That's right, your favorite drink just got better. Stir together vodka, lime juice, sliced plums and sprigs of fresh thyme in a pitcher. Gently stir in ginger beer before serving over ice. Remember to garnish with more plums and thyme. Cheers!
Mike Garten - 14/61
Rethink your hotdog toppings.
Summer wouldn't be complete without hotdogs, but this year, we encourage you to remix your toppings in unexpected ways. You can thank us after trying one of these duos: napa cabbage with scallions; purple cabbage and carrots; cucumbers and radishes.
RELATED: Delicious Hot Dog Recipes to Make
Mike Garten - 15/61
Serve yourself.
Position your buffet under an overhang or umbrella to protect it from the elements. Then, order its contents this way for easy cruising: plates, sides, buns, meats, fixings and flatware. (Note: If perishable foods aren't gobbled up in an hour, swap them out with a fresh supply.) Come sundown, have lights nearby so folks can see as they serve.
Andrew McCaul - 16/61
Trim flatware containers.
Help guests move through the buffet line quickly with grab-and-go silverware in decorated Mason jars. Just tie ribbon remnants on a trio of vases and fill with reusable flatware.
Michael Partenio - 17/61
Raise the bar.
A beverage station separate from the food lets guests mix drinks and mingle. Stock the bar with cups, straws (to double as stirrers) and plenty of ice — a large metal pail will keep bottles and cans frosty, but consider an insulated cooler for extra cubes.
Andrew McCaul - 18/61
Bring furniture outside.
When the RSVPs roll in and you realize you'll need more surfaces, relocate indoor furniture and dust off camping gear like folding chairs and tables.
Andrew McCaul - 19/61
Tie up extra cushions.
Soften seats with no-sew pillow covers. Sandwich a cushion between two bandanas, then join each corner together with a rubber band and a thin ribbon.
Michael Partenio - 20/61
Float your flowers.
Bobbing black-eyed Susans and zinnias, plus floating candles, turn an everyday birdbath into an instantly elegant water feature.
Michael Partenio - 21/61
Fill up a basket of essentials.
Keep guests comfortable outdoors all day long and into the night with summer essentials. Leave out amenities like sunscreen, bug spray, hand wipes, and, if it turns chilly, light blankets.
Andrew McCaul - 22/61
Bring out the guac.
Our versatile guacamole recipe pairs equally well with tortilla chips, a crudités platter or homemade burgers. You'll want to serve a bowl of this creamy, spicy dip with just about every meal.
Kate Mathis - 23/61
Sweeten the vino.
For a summery treat, drop a colorful ice pop into your glass of white wine. You'll want to try every flavor in the box before summer ends.
Loopy - 24/61
Serve tomato tulips.
These pretty appetizers practically spring into bloom, and they're so easy to assemble. Just don't forget to tell your guests about the hidden toothpick!
Mike Garten - 25/61
Roll your veggies.
These sushi-style apps are delicious, healthy, and perfect for summertime — and with only three steps, they couldn't be easier to make.
Mike Garten - 26/61
Stir up sangria.
What makes wine and fruit such a winning combo? Take a sip from these sangria pitchers and you'll have your answer.
Johnny Miller - 27/61
Put a flower at every seat.
For a more formal affair, transform your cloth napkins into adorable blooms without paying for the real deal. Mix up the linens to create a colorful flower bed right on your table.
Erin Phraner - 28/61
Color-block your votives.
It doesn't get simpler (or cheaper!) than this. Dip dollar-store candle holders in colorful acrylic paint for a peppy tablescape.
The Sweetest Occasion - 29/61
Wrap up finger foods.
Slice up hearty sandwiches, then wrap 'em up in wax paper and tie them with twine, recommends Henderson. Her crowd-pleasing go-to? A baguette topped with ham, provolone and salted butter.
Target - 30/61
Whip up some pasta salad.
It's a summer cookout staple for a reason. This Sweet 'N' Tangy Pasta Salad features tons of chopped veggies and a creamy balsamic dressing that's sure to hit the spot.
Mike Garten - 31/61
String up a piñata.
A treat-filled lantern can do double-duty as party decor and favors, but it'll be hard to smash this too-cute pineapple piñata.
The Sweetest Occasion - 32/61
Sneak bourbon into sweet tea.
And just when you thought you couldn't love sweet tea more than you already do, this boozy ice-tea comes into play.
Mike Garten - 33/61
Set up a system.
Lend a helping hand by using ketchup to write down how guests want their burgers cooked. The person in charge of the grill will be thanking you!
A Subtle Revelry - 34/61
Punch up the porch.
Relocate pots of lush flowers as a fast way to perk up a deck before a party. With a limited palette, like the pink and white blooms here, the collection feels cohesive, not chaotic.
Marion Brenner - 35/61
Set up a picnic area.
Rugs, pillows and poufs (and picnic blankets, of course!) will create a casual conversation spot that plays into a laid back party vibe.
Target - 36/61
Use real dishware.
Replace flimsy paper products with reusable (and unbreakable) dishware, says entertaining pro Emily Henderson. Better yet, pick out a set in fun, beachy colors.
Target - 37/61
Weave a placemat.
Tropical and colorful, a pile of skewers gets a whole new cookout role with a little dye and some jewelry cord.
The Sweetest Occasion - 38/61
Tape utensil handles.
Since washi tape comes in countless patterns and colors, it's always party-ready. Stick strips in hues that suit your theme to plain spoons and forks.
The Merry Thought - 39/61
Craft pretty napkin rings.
Butterfly napkin rings — made from craft-store critters, pipe cleaners and a little hot glue — can morph into fun, fluttery favors (think adjustable bracelets for the kids). Or keep them for your next get-together.
Michael Partenio - 40/61
Raid your desk.
Put home-office supplies to work: Plastic stick-on flags make perfect drink labels and rubber bands will secure napkin-wrapped cutlery, so partygoers can grab flatware one-handed.
Andrew McCaul - 41/61
Keep it cool.
These made-of-ice buckets will help your liquor stay chilled and your bar looking summery.
The Chic Site - 42/61
Freeze fruit cubes.
All you have to do to make these pretty cubes is mash your favorite fruit, mix with lemonade and freeze them in an ice tray. Add them to seltzer or still water — even white wine — for added flavor. Bonus points if you cut your strawberries into heart-shaped slices.
Joslyn Blair - 43/61
Make fruity floral arrangements.
Robust watermelons or hollowed-out pineapple rinds make for the sweetest vases.
Flynnside Out Productions - 44/61
Stack fruit and feta.
Ripe watermelon is its own special treat, but take it one step further with feta slices and basil leaves. Just remember to make extra because these goodies will go fast.
Johnny Miller - 45/61
Pour homemade lemonade.
It's a fact of life: An ice-cold glass of tart lemonade will hit the spot every single time.
Antonis Achilleo - 46/61
Fill a birdcage.
A trio of flea market birdcages serves as a candle-corralling centerpiece, or fill them with flowers like this fanciful arrangement.
Michael Partenio - 47/61
Tap a watermelon.
A classic idea but always a party winner, the watermelon keg is what your next poolside gathering needs. The concept is simple: Big juicy melon, your favorite fruity elixir (loaded or virgin) and a fun little tap to keep the drinks flowing.
Joslyn Blair - 48/61
Wrap up a vase.
Add a nautical vibe to your centerpiece with a few lengths of jute rope. The trick: Flip the vase upside down and work from base to mouth. Toss in a beachy bunch of white hydrangeas, and you're ready for a clambake!
Mike Garten - 49/61
Paint a banner.
An ordinary kids' watercolor set and white paper can create a chic banner. Opt for a classic red, white and blue palette or a festive rainbow stripe.
The Sweetest Occasion - 50/61
Elevate hydration.
On hot summer days, take hydration to the next level with rose, lemon and strawberry water.
Wallflower Kitchen - 51/61
Fold paper napkins.
Juicy watermelon is synonymous with summer. But this silly slice will clean up messes instead of creating them.
Erin Phraner - 52/61
Showcase your vase.
Upgrade a plain glass container with this DIY makeover. A pretty mix of garden roses, ranunculus, sweet peas and anemones look extra glam with a gilded finish.
Mike Garten - 53/61
Hang string lights wherever.
You don't need a covered patio to create some ambience. Fill buckets with stones to anchor a ring of festive party lights.
Target - 54/61
Plop in frozen berries.
Make sparkling drinks even fancier — just add frozen berries. Try garnishing carbonated water, bubbly, or your favorite summer refresher with blueberries and raspberries.
Joslyn Blair - 55/61
Bring in the garden.
For a pulled-together look, pair inexpensive paper lanterns with backyard flowers like zinnias in pinks, reds, oranges and yellows. Save some stems for a sweet touch at each place setting.
Michael Partenio - 56/61
Create a two-step centerpiece.
No need to shop for a special table topper. Raid your cabinets for color-coordinated items instead. Here, crisp cotton napkins — cinched around a pair of potted plants with kitchen twine — and a tray transform into a fast, festive centerpiece.
Mark Scott/Woman & Home/IPC + Syndication - 57/61
Scoop your favorite fruit.
Use a melon baller to carve out watermelon, honeydew, or cantaloupe. After a quick stay in the freezer, the bite-size fruit will infuse your beverage with a delightful flavor.
Joslyn Blair - 58/61
Serve a fruity dessert.
A nutty cake layered with jam, a cream-cheese topping, and sugar-dusted fruit? Yes, please. This French Almond Cake is hard to beat, but why not round out the dessert table with more of our favorites?
Antonis Achilleos - 59/61
Cover drinks.
Keep insects out of drinks by topping glasses with patterned cupcake liners. Poke a hole through the center for a straw.
Mom 4 Real - 60/61
Hang your centerpiece.
This alfresco chandelier comes together easier than it looks, but the suspended candles (or flowers!) will make an instant impression.
Michael Partenio - 61/61
DIY a cake topper.
A mini bunting (hello, cuteness!) makes an understated dessert especially celebratory.
Jamie Bartlett
