Holidays & Entertaining Entertaining 17 Pool Party Ideas that Will Make a Big Splash This Summer Throw the best pool party this summer with this fun inspiration. By Savanna Bous Savanna Bous Instagram Website Savanna Bous is a digital editorial assistant at Better Homes and Gardens. She graduated from Drake University in the spring of 2022 with degrees in magazine media, advertising, and digital media production. Learn about BHG's Editorial Process Updated on March 31, 2023 Share Tweet Pin Email Trending Videos Trust us: It doesn't matter if your pool is above ground or below ground—these pool party ideas will make a splash with friends and family. Whether you're entertaining adults or children, these pool party ideas will be a hit. Rebekah Photography 01 of 17 Themed Party Adam Albright Have a theme! Whether it's a color scheme or one of our favorites—like a luau-themed party—let your imagination run wild. Use bright summer colors to help tie everything together for whatever pool party idea you choose. 24 Easy Summer Party Ideas for Hosting Big and Small Gatherings 02 of 17 Backyard Picnic Take your picnic beyond the basket! Lay down a cute rug or outdoor blanket for guests to sit on and be comfortable. Add throw pillows, candles, and other decorations help create the atmosphere for this relaxed pool party idea. The 16 Best Outdoor Blankets of 2023 03 of 17 Drink Cart Adam Albright Stay hydrated poolside with a drink cart. Dress up a simple utility cart with a banner and fresh flowers. Mix up a selection of alcoholic and nonalcoholic pitchers of drinks to leave on top so guests can help themselves. Keep utensils, cups, and ice on the second level for easy access. 32 Refreshing Summer Drink Recipes to Beat the Heat 04 of 17 Yard Games Kinzie Riehm Need a break from the water or sunning in a lounge chair? Get your guests off their feet for some big yard games. For example, creative and play tic tac toe with frisbees by taping a grid on a large sheet. A little friendly competition is good for any gathering. The 9 Best Beach Chairs of 2023 for Lounging in the Sun, According to Testing 05 of 17 Sunglasses Rebekah Photography Surprise your guests with sunglasses! Get crafty and use a marker or paint pen to personalize the glasses to commemorate your event. Give them as fun party favors to help protect eyes from too much exposure to sunlight. Be sure to get some smaller ones for any kiddos who'll be attending. 06 of 17 Fun Floaties Rebekah Photography This pool party idea may seem obvious, but really, what water-based celebration would be complete without oversized, dazzling pool floats? If your party has a theme, pick rafts and floaties to match, like swans, flamingoes, unicorns, or even ones shaped like the food you're serving. 07 of 17 Inner Tube Cooler Rebekah Photography Waterproof your drinks with this convenient pool party idea—turn an inner tube into a cooler. Set a bucket in the center of the inner tube, fill it with ice and drinks, and send it sailing away on the water. Make sure the bucket is bigger than the inner hole so it doesn't fall through—and make sure it's not too heavy, also! 6 Outdoor Toy and Pool Float Storage Ideas for a Tidy Yard 08 of 17 Veggie Tray Rebekah Photography Fresh in-season veggies will shine on the snack table. Skewer them in a color gradient to look like a delectable and healthy rainbow. Serve them on a fun party platter so guests can nibble easily. A dip would be a fun addition to this appetizer. 09 of 17 Drink Pitchers REBEKAH PHOTOGRAPHY Honey, cucumbers, and limes combined create a rejuvenating and refreshing summer afternoon drink. Whip up enough to fill a pitcher so all of your guests can enjoy a glass or two. 10 of 17 String Lights Cavan Images/Getty Images Make your party twinkle! Add string lights around your house or backyard for a sweet glow. Once the sun sets, this pool party idea will help your space (and your guests) take on a warm, welcoming glow. The 10 Best Outdoor String Lights of 2023 to Illuminate Your Backyard 11 of 17 Water Balloons Gretchen Easton Break out the water balloons! It doesn't matter how old your guests are—they'll love throwing them at one another as a fun way to cool off during a hot summer day. For a fun twist, tie them to a clothesline and whack them like mini piñatas. 24 Frozen Dessert Recipes that Are Perfect for Chilling Out 12 of 17 S'more Cups David Tsay A staple of summertime, s'mores are a must have. Skip the mess and put together little s'more cups out of recycled berry containers. Place a napkin at the bottom of each to help with sticky fingers and melted chocolate. 13 of 17 Grill Out Kalim / Adobe Stock Avoid making a mess in the kitchen by grilling up something tasty. Prepare some hot dogs, hamburgers, and kabobs for an easy-to-make variety with something for everyone. For something a little more special, try ribs or barbequed chicken. Tamarind BBQ Chicken 14 of 17 Sundae Bar Buff Strickland Cool off from the summer heat with a sundae bar. These sweet treats are a delicious pool party idea that will be huge crowd-pleasers. Stock up on your favorite toppings and flavors for tons of yummy combinations. Throw an Ice Cream Sundae Bar Party 15 of 17 Pops of Color Adam Albright For the ultimate pool party, add bright summer accent colors and decorations. From outdoor pillows to balloons, make your space pop with pinks, yellows, blues, and greens. 16 of 17 Themed Cupcakes Here's a delicious pool party idea—themed cupcakes. For these beach-inspired treats, crush up graham crackers to use as sand. Create super-easy waves on the cupcakes with store-bought gel icing. Make beach-ball style frosting using fruit leather. Get creative and think up your own cupcake designs that reflect the summer. 23 of Our Absolute Best Cupcake Recipes 17 of 17 Thank You Tags Carson Downing Gratitude is priceless. Thank your guests with adorable DIY tags you can attach to goggles, pool toys, or snack baggies. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit