Holidays & Entertaining Entertaining Birthdays Birthday Party Themes 25 Fun Summer Birthday Party Ideas By Sarah Martens Sarah Martens Instagram Sarah Martens is the digital holidays and entertaining editor at Better Homes & Gardens where she has a pulse on all things worth celebrating. A foodie to the core, Sarah started her career in insurance and a food blogger on the side. Now, she's the go-to source for new craft trends (she's the mastermind behind marbleized Easter eggs) and sharing stories about traditional and emerging holidays. She holds a B.A. in magazine journalism from Drake University. Learn about BHG's Editorial Process Updated on April 21, 2022 Share Tweet Pin Email Trending Videos Photo: Buff Strickland Celebrating a warm-weather birthday? We have plenty of joyful summer birthday party ideas for kids and adults. Get our best birthday recipes and ideas for DIY decor to host a summer party on a small budget. These summer party ideas are all about having fun in the sun. After you pick your party theme, brush up on our expert outdoor party-planning tips before the guests arrive. 01 of 25 Ice Cream Social Party Carson Downing This summer birthday party idea is all about the season's sweetest treat! A colorful lineup of crafts and foods keeps guests entertained all afternoon, and an ice cream sundae bar is a tasty way to end the evening. Now that's a sweet shindig! How to Host an Ice Cream Social 02 of 25 Outdoor Game Night Chelsea Foy of Lovely Indeed An outdoor game night—complete with yard games like bocce ball, ring toss, DIY cornhole, and giant Jenga—is a perfect summer birthday party idea for any age. Set up different game stations around the yard so no one gets stuck waiting for a turn. Since this theme is casual, you can keep the decor to a minimum: A cooler of drinks and a casual snack bar are all you need! 03 of 25 Cupcake-Decorating Party Andy Lyons Summer is the time for something sweet. This birthday party for kids is all about getting creative with candy. Set out frosted cupcakes and a variety of colorful sweets. Let the kids decorate their own take-home party favor. Keep the decor bright and colorful—just like summer! Our Best Cupcake Recipes 04 of 25 Watercolor Summer Birthday Buff Strickland A new take on painting and pinot parties, this summer birthday party for adults is filled with rose and watercolors. Gather the girls for a night of painting on the porch with pink sips and summer appetizers. All you need is white card stock, watercolor paint, and brushes. Set everything up on a table covered with paper and you're ready to go. Arrange a food buffet nearby food buffet to break for bites. Easy Summer Appetizer Recipes 05 of 25 Backyard Movie Night Rebekah Molloy This summer party is worthy of the silver screen! Set up a backyard movie night complete with concessions, theater decor, and popcorn. Create a simple DIY movie screen and you're ready for the show to begin! 06 of 25 Mimosa Party Adam Albright Host a morning mimosa party! Invite the gals over for a casual birthday celebration over drinks and brunch. Set up an drink cart with different kinds of juice so each guest can create their own mixture to cheers the birthday girl with. Our Very Best Brunch Recipes 07 of 25 Birthday Bagel Brunch Skip the late-night party and throw an easy birthday bagel brunch! Set-up is easy: Pick up a selection of sliced bagels and arrange a tray with all your favorite toppings and spreads so each guest can help themselves. And don't forget the coffee and juice! 08 of 25 Rainbow Kids Birthday Party Ari Michelson Nothing says summer party like bright colors and outdoor games. This rainbow kids birthday party is filled with easy recipes and DIY decor. Plus, get our favorite recipes for fun rainbow food to serve at the party. 09 of 25 Root Beer Float Party Rebekah Molloy Looking for a summer party idea that won't break the bank? Celebrate a warm-weather birthday with root beer floats! Create a mobile float station with ice cream, soda, straws, and glasses. Set out yard games and relax. Toss a bottle of bourbon in your wagon if you're hosting this summer birthday party for adults. 14 Tasty Float Recipes for Summer 10 of 25 Bright Outdoor Fiesta Blaine Moats Make your backyard a party-worthy place with just a few simple DIYs. Colorful glassware and bold paper flowers set the scene for this festive fiesta birthday party. Go all-out on party food (we recommend a tres leches cake rather than a traditional birthday cake) and a signature cocktail. 11 of 25 Summer Spa Party Rebekah Molloy Need a last-minute summer birthday party idea? Create a beauty bar right in your living room. Set out assorted nail polish colors, robes, and towels in bright colors for a fun girl birthday bash. Serve up easy-to-eat finger foods and fruit-infused spa water. Party-Ready Finger Foods to Serve 12 of 25 Summer Pool Party TwoTwentyPhotos.com This ocean-theme birthday bash is perfect for celebrating outside by the pool. From under-the-sea snacks—like blue Jello and fish-shape crackers—to easy party decor (these layered blue tablecloths resemble ocean waves), this summer pool party is shore to be a blast! 13 of 25 Summer House Party David Tsay Don't stress about hosting a summer birthday party. Have guests gather in the backyard for a casual celebration filled with potluck foods and summer sips. Add a fun party playlist and let the party begin! Our Best Summer Potluck Recipes 14 of 25 Luau Birthday Party Adam Albright Bring a tropical twist to your birthday party with luau birthday party—complete with a make-your-own lei station to greet guests upon arrival. The key to this party is lots of bright flowers and a tasty spread of tropical fruit. 15 of 25 Backyard Shrimp Boil Rebekah Molloy This Southern-inspired shrimp boil is the ultimate summer birthday party for adults. A spicy feast of shrimp, sausage, and corn is the main attraction. Round out the party with DIY nautical decor and plenty of cold drinks. How to Make a Low-Country Shrimp Boil 16 of 25 Outdoor Watermelon Party Marty Baldwin Make this fabulous summer fruit the center of your summer birthday party theme with watermelon drinks, watermelon snacks, and watermelon decorations. Guests will dig this sweet-but-healthy birthday bash, especially the watermelon fruit pizza. 17 of 25 Outdoor Brunch Birthday Carson Downing Who says a birthday party has to be in the evening? On those hot summer days, get the party started early with an outdoor brunch. As a bonus, our outdoor brunch menu features grilled breakfast pizzas, fruit, and a bloody mary bar—no standing over the stove all morning. Host an Outdoor Summer Brunch 18 of 25 Summer Garden Party Cameron Sadeghpour Celebrate the beauty of summer with this flower-inspired backyard party. Set up a DIY mimosa bar and handmade paper flowers for a sweet afternoon gathering. Plus, get our best tips for creating hand-lettered party invitations. 19 of 25 BBQ and Brews Party Ray Kachatorian This summer birthday party for adults is all about beer and BBQ! Host a fun beer-tasting and finish the party with a few DIY yard games. Plus, get our tips for putting together a build-your-own s'mores bar—yum! 20 of 25 Trail Mix Bar Save the hassle of preparing food for your birthday party and instead, have the guests do it themselves! This party theme doubles as the menu and a party favor. Set out an assortment of trail mix ingredients, including granola, dried fruit, nuts, seeds, and chocolates, then have each guest create their own mix in individual Mason jars. 21 of 25 Rosé Birthday Jason Donnelly Center your birthday around a favorite summer drink—rosé! Keep this party light and bright, just like the drink. Pair with your favorite charcuterie options, sit back, sip, and enjoy the party. Throw a Gorgeous Rosé Party for Summer 22 of 25 Summer Burger Bash Annie Schlechter Gather friends and family to for a grill-out birthday party and burger bash! Making juicy burgers isn't hard with a few tips from the pros. Set out your favorite toppings and side dishes and your party is on its way! How to Host a Burger Bash 23 of 25 Ice Cream Bar Party Bring the ice cream social to your party with a DIY ice cream sundae bar. Set out all the ingredients in decorative trays, or keep it simple and repurpose cupcake trays to hold your treats. Tip: Pre-scoop ice cream so the carton doesn't melt at your party. 24 of 25 Tie-Dye Birthday Party Allison Cottrill Since this iconic trend is making a comeback, a tie-dye theme birthday bash is the perfect retro party to throw this summer. Prepare by ordering white shirts (or any other white cotton item) and have guests decorate each item with colorful dye. Be sure to let each person's shirt dry completely in the sun before sending them home with their creation as a party favor. How to Tie-Dye 25 of 25 Have a Birthday Picnic Carson Downing Summer is peak picnicking time, which makes it the perfect birthday party idea for summer! Picnics are all about good food, good conversation, and enjoying the outdoors—all of our favorite summer party activities! 16 Ideas for the Perfect Picnic Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit