Summer birthdays are extra magical! Sunshine, longer days, and endless opportunities for fun! Whether you’ve got a big backyard to fill or you’re planning a cozy celebration with close friends, there’s something special about summertime parties that feel full of laughter and light.
I know how meaningful play can be, especially when it brings kids together to celebrate! These birthday ideas are packed with movement, imagination, and memory-making moments. From splashing in water to dancing under the stars, there’s something here for every kind of family and every kind of party.
Let’s dive into 40 kid approved summer birthday party ideas. From bigger celebrations to more intimate get togethers, it’s all about adding extra creative sprinkles to inspire your party planning!
Big Summer Birthday Bash Ideas
These are perfect for when you’re inviting the whole class, the cousins, and the neighbors too! Think bounce houses, themed setups, and extra splashes of excitement.
1. Backyard Splash Bash
Rent an inflatable water slide, set up sprinklers, and toss in water balloons for the ultimate summer cool-down.
2. Luau Party
Grass skirts, leis, pineapple and coconut decor, and a tropical smoothie bar will bring Hawaii to your backyard.
3. Carnival Party
Think popcorn machine, ring toss, face painting, and mini prizes—great for all ages! Go that extra mile and adopt a stuffy as their party favor.
4. Outdoor Movie Night
Rent or DIY a projector setup, throw out some bean bags, inflatable pools, pillows and blankets, and serve popcorn and candy trays.
Add a candy bar or hot food bar to enjoy during the movie.
5. Super Soaker Showdown
Ask kids to bring their water blasters (keep some extras on hand) and look up different games for this time. From team based to individual water gun wars, this will be a blast.
Add water balloons for some more fun.
6. Messy Art Party
Outside is the perfect place for splatter painting, giant murals, and sensory art stations. You can get canvas, rocks, plates, paper and even cardboard cut outs like the ones above.
7. Pirate Treasure Hunt
Hide treasure around the yard and send little pirates on a map-led adventure. Decorate other inflatables or stations around your party area.
Pro tip: grab a toddler sized pool and fill with treasure. You can use side to hide these items in and send your pirates to hunt for gold!
8. Campfire and S’mores Night
Host an early evening party with a firepit, storytelling, s’mores, and stargazing. Add those cute touches with cupcakes, fun named foods and lots of outside activity time.
9. Wild West Party
Set up a “Gold Rush” sandbox, hay bale seating, and hobby horse races. Bandanas and cactus decor will make everyone feel Western!
10. Backyard Olympics
Organize obstacle courses, sack races, tug-of-war, and give out homemade medals. Not only can the kids be involved but their families too.
11. Under the Sea Party
Think mermaid tails, bubble machines, and blue jello cups with gummy fish. Themed foods and drinks always make parties that much more fun. Don’t forget the games!
12. Science Explosion Party
Load up on Mentos and soda, slime making ingredients, and vinegar volcanoes. You will have some instant fun with your little scientist. The decorations can be so fun with this.
A slime cake, mini volcano pudding cups, eyeball pasta, and maybe some rock tacos.
13. Dino Dig Party
Bury “fossils” in a sandbox and hand out tiny brushes for excavation fun. You can purchase some stones with fossil bones inside of them so after they dig up their stones, it’s time to get digging!
Check out these i Dig Fossils that would be great for your littles to explore!
14. Princess Garden Tea Party
Fancy dresses, flower crowns, and lemonade in plastic teacups with fairy lights all while being surrounded with pastel color decor. This outside summer time party will be perfect for any little princess!
15. Animal Safari Party
Set up animal stations (plush or themed), binocular crafts, and a scavenger hunt. Let your littles get wild in the safari with their friends and loved ones this summer!
16. Drive In
Kids decorate cardboard box cars, then “park” to watch a fun movie with themed snacks.
17. Bubbles & Balloons Bash
Giant bubble wands, bubble machines, balloon decor representing bubbles, and balloon popping games! Customize these colors to suite your little and let the bubble fun begin.
18. Beach Time
Bring the beach and pool floaties to your summer birthday party. Using them as decoration is a creative idea to tie in the whole theme.
Bright fun colors, pool side food and of course water activities to compliment it all.
19. Zoo Animal Visit Party
Book a mobile petting zoo or animal education service for the truest animal experience! Depending on your littles age, your decor can reflect more of a cartoon theme for the zoo animals or realistic if they’re older.
20. Color Run
Hand out white shirts and toss colored powder as kids run fun laps around the yard. You can do this in your backyard or even at the park.
This is another great theme for families to be involved too. Keep the colors bright and fun especially on the cake!
Small but Sweet Summer Party Ideas
These are perfect for smaller budgets, smaller spaces, or when you want to keep things simple, calm, and connected.
21. Playdoh Party
Grab a large pack of Playdoh and some Playdoh tools for a great time! Give the littles challenges or items to recreate and let them have a grand time.
If you want a large pack of tools, here are 144 pieces of Playdoh tools or a smaller set of 45 pieces of Playdoh tools. You’ll keep the kids busy for hours!
22. Sprinkler Party
Classic, easy, and loved by all! A sprinkler is a great time especially when trying to think of fun on a budget and in a small area. If you have the space for multiple- go wild!
Add music and freeze dance games for extra fun.
23. Park Picnic
Pack some snacks, bring outdoor toys, and lay out blankets under the trees. Add some extra touches with low tables and pillows.
Simple party decor will keep it cozy but festive.
24. DIY Ice Cream Bar
Kids (and adults) get to create their own ice cream sundaes. This can replace the cake or be addition too.
Summer time is ice cream time if you ask me!
25. Sidewalk Chalk Party
Everyone gets a bucket of chalk and a piece of sidewalk to draw their heart out. Create a theme or let them go wild. An extra fun touch are chalk pieces instead of or inside of goodie bags!
Add some games by creating a giant hopscotch for everyone to enjoy. Not only will it be great memories but you can have the masterpieces for some time after the party is over.
Needing a ton of chalk? Grab this 240 piece set of sidewalk chalk for the party and favors!
26. Gardening Party
Does your little have a green thumb? Why not throw a gardening party? This is a cute way of keeping the party small and full of love.
What a beautiful way to celebrate another year of life with planting new life and decorating an apron, pot or watering can to go with it.
27. Fairy Garden Party
Provide tiny figurines, fairy houses, moss, small flowers and containers for guests to build their own magical garden.
Create some mason jars with fairy lights in them for when night time comes and they’re wanting another cute activity.
28. DIY Pizza Party
Whether you find a pizzeria to host this or you create this idea at home, DIY pizzas will be sure to be a blast! Such a smart way to not only feed everyone but keep them having fun and learning.
29. Berry Summer Time Birthday
What time is it? It’s a Berry good time to have a summer birthday party! Strawberries are not only delicious but they make an adorable birthday party.
Use some other bright colors and throw together berry flavored desserts for some refreshing, themed foods.
30. Fruity Birthday Fun
Fruit is CUTE! Cute, summery and full of bright summer colors. This theme will bright summer time to the party and your little will love the yummy snacks to go with it.
Whether you’re going all out with a big, summer time backyard celebration or keeping things simple with a play doh party under the shade, the joy of a summer birthday is in the shared giggles and simple magic of being together.
Kids don’t need perfection. They remember the laughs, the colors, and the way you made them feel special. With a little creativity and a lot of heart, any of these ideas can turn into a lifelong memory for your little one.
So grab your sunscreen, throw on your party hat, and get ready to celebrate with sunshine and smiles. Summer birthdays are truly something special!
Marissa is a Pediatric Occupational Therapist turned stay-at-home mom who loves sharing her tips, tricks, and ideas for navigating motherhood. Her days are filled starting tickle wars and dance parties with three energetic toddlers and wondering how long she can leave the house a mess until her husband notices. When she doesn’t have her hands full of children, she enjoys a glass (or 3) of wine, reality tv, and country music. In addition to blogging about all things motherhood, she sells printables on Etsy and has another website, teachinglittles.com, for kid’s activity ideas.
