My daughter has a birthday in the middle of the summer so I am always on the hunt for fun outdoor birthday party ideas. I have gathered some of my favorite ideas for how to decorate, activities, food, and more.
Fun Backyard Birthday Party Ideas
Throwing a party in your backyard or park is a great way to enjoy the weather while celebrating with family and friends. There are a few things to consider when having your kids party outside.
- Weather: This is definitely something you need to think about when planning your party. Will it be hot, a little chilly, windy, or even a chance of rain? Take everything in to consideration to make sure you have what you need like shade, an umbrella, tent, or an alternate place in case of bad weather.
- Seating: I like to try and have a few seating options for both adults and kids.
- Theme: You can choose a specific theme or more of a general theme to help you determine how to decorate and what activities to do.
1. Superhero Training Camp
This is the perfect theme for an outdoor party. Here are a few ideas to help you plan your party.
Superhero decoration ideas:
- A "Superhero Training Camp" banner with streamers or balloons.
- Plan out some training areas like an agility course and a target practice with foam arrows or water balloons.
- Print out some superhero logos to place around the party area.
Activities:
- Decorate a superhero shield. You can make cardboard shields and provide markers, stickers, and more to decorate.
- Make an obstacle course with things like pool noodles, cones, and tunnels.
- Target practice with silly string, water balloons, or foam arrows.
Food:
- Make a superhero punch.
- Serve mini sandwiches and name each one with a superhero name.
- Superhero cake or cupcakes.
Another tip: I have made simple superhero capes and masks as a fun party gift and they can wear them throughout the party.
2. Garden Party
Have a child that loves flowers or to be out in the garden? A garden party is a fun way to play in the dirt.
Garden party decorations:
- Picnic tables or large picnic blankets around the yard.
- Have some pots with flowers around the party area.
- Decorate with butterflies, or different cute bugs.
Activities:
- Have a potting station where kids can plant flowers or vegetables that they can bring home as a gift.
- Decorate small flower pots with paints, stickers, or fake jewels.
- Make a nature scavenger hunt where the kids can hunt for rocks, leaves, flowers, and more.
Food:
- Tea sandwiches or finger sandwiches are simple to make and easy to pick up.
- Fruit cups are colorful and delicious.
- Lemonade and pink lemonade.
- Have a make your own trail mix bar.
3. Bubble Party
Enjoy outside with a bubble themed birthday party. This is especially fun for younger kids.
Bubble party decorations:
- Clear and light blue balloons are a great way to mimic bubbles.
- A bubble machine is a must. Have it running throughout the party.
- Bubble wrap area. The kids can stand on it or pop it for fun.
- Have bubble wands at the place settings so each guest can have their own bubble wand.
Activities:
- Have a giant bubble station by filling a kiddie pool with bubble solution.
- Create a bubble art station where the kids can blow colorful bubbles on paper.
- Make a bubble dance party. Put on some fun music and dance with the bubble machine.
Food:
- Sugar cookies decorated like bubbles.
- A "bubble" fruit cup with round fruit like grapes, blueberries, and watermelon balls.
- Round popcorn balls or circle rice krispie treats.
4. Craft Party
Kids love crafting and throwing an outdoor crafting birthday party would be so much fun! There are so many possibilities with different crafts kids could create depending on the interests of the birthday child.
Craft party decorations:
- Hang up colorful banners or bunting to create a fun and exciting atmosphere.
- The centerpieces could be containers of paint brushes, colored pencils, and markers.
- Set up craft tables with disposable tablecloths or brown craft paper.
- Have chalkboard signs at each station.
- Give each guest their own smock or apron to help keep them clean.
Activities:
Let your imagination go wild with ideas for different craft stations. Here are a few of my favorites.
- Set up a bracelet making station with all kids of beans and stretchy cord.
- Puff paint art is another fun craft. The kids could paint on paper, white t-shirts, or even pillow cases.
- Have a paint station with small easels, paint, and canvases.
- Create your own tote-bag. Have small canvas bags with glitter, paint, fake jewels, and more.
Food:
- Colorful cupcakes and cookies with sprinkles.
- Make your own snack mix with popcorn, colorful candies, sprinkles, and pretzels.
- Mini pigs in a blanket or mini sandwiches.
5. Camping Party
A backyard camping party has all the fun of camping with the comfort of being close to home.
Camping party decorations:
- Create wilderness signs with the birthday person's name.
- Set up a few tents in the yard.
- Use checkered tablecloths on the table.
Activities:
- Play outdoor games with the party guests.
- If you have a fire pit you could have a s'mores making station.
- Do a scavenger hunt to find stuffed bear, compass, walking stick, and other camping relating items.
Food:
- Walking tacos are a fun idea. Take bag of Doritos and have a bar set up with taco meat, cheese, lettuce, and sour cream.
- Hotdogs are another fun camping party food.
- Make fruit skewers with grapes, strawberries, and melon.
6. Obstacle Course
You could rent a bounce house, bounce obstacle course, or set up your own course using pool noodles and other household items.
Obstacle course decorations:
- Decorate with colorful flags and balloons.
- Have signs with the name of each obstacle.
- Place medals and trophies around the party area.
Activities:
- Set up different obstacle courses like balance beam, climbing wall, and more..
- You could also make water obstacle courses like a slip and slide and water balloon toss.
- Have a medal ceremony to present the winners.
Food:
- Vegetable cups and fruit cups.
- Granola bars or make your own granola mix.
- Fruit water station and sports drinks.
7. Treasure Hunt
An explorer or even pirate themed backyard party is a way to incorporate a treasure hunt theme.
Treasure hunt party decorations:
- Decorate with maps, treasure chests, and fake gold coins.
- If you are going with a pirate theme, you can decorate with pirate hats, crossbones, and sea shells.
- Have mini magnifying glasses and note pads for each guest to help find the treasure.
Activities:
- Have a treasure hunt with clues and a treasure chest filled with goodies.
- Use balls or bean bags for a "cannon ball" toss.
- Make your own map craft station
Food:
- If you are going with a nautical theme, these clam shell cookies are fun.
- Gold fish crackers and Pirate Booty are great snacks to serve.
8. Outdoor Movie
An outdoor movie is the perfect way to celebrate a birthday. Invite friends over to watch a movie on an outdoor movie screen.
Movie party decorations:
- Create a comfortable seating area with bean bag chairs, pillows, blankets, even pool floats.
- String up fairy lights for a light glow around the party area.
- Hang up movie posters.
Activities:
- The primary activity is watching a movie.
- Play a game of movie bingo or trivia.
Food:
- Set up a mini concession stand with candy, popcorn, and drinks.
- Personal plates of nachos with toppings.
- Hot dogs are also a great choice.
9. Tie Dye
Making tie-dye creations is a wonderful way to celebrate a birthday.
Tie-Dye party decorations:
- Colorful balloons are a great way to fill the party space with color.
- Disposable tablecloths to make clean-up easy.
- Tie-dye kits can be a centerpiece on the tables.
Activities:
- Set up a tie-dye station to make your choice of t-shirts, pillow cases, socks, and more.
- Spin art is a fun way to make tie-dye inspired art creations.
- Have a fashion show to display the creations.
Food:
- Create a colorful fruit tray.
- Make little individual JELLO cups.
- You could have cupcakes or mini cakes for each guest to decorate with frosting and sprinkles.
10. Dinosaur Hunter
If you have a child interested dinosaurs, a dinosaur themed party is a great option.
Dinosaur party decorations:
- Cut out dinosaur footprints that lead to the party spot.
- Create a fossil dig area with a sandbox and dinosaur toys.
- Use fake plants and vines to create a jungle feel.
Activities:
- Have a dinosaur dig with dirt or sand, mini shovels, and dinosaur toys.
- Create fossils using salt dough.
- Hunt for dinosaur eggs hidden in the backyard.
Food:
- Cook dinosaur nuggets and serve them on a tray with dipping sauce.
- Dinosaur footprint cookies.
- Chocolate pudding dirt cups.
11. Petting Zoo
This party idea is for the animal lover. You could have petting zoo animals come to your house or possibly visit a local farm.
Petting zoo party decorations:
- Decorate with hay bales, straws, and flowers.
- Gingham plates, tablecloths, and napkins can add a farm like feel.
- Animal balloons or cutouts would be a cute touch.
Activities:
- Have a mobile petting zoo bring in animals.
- Make a craft table with animal crafts like painting animal cutouts or masks.
- Invite a face painter to paint animal faces on your guests.
Food:
- Mini corn cobs and vegetable tray.
- Animal shaped crackers or cookies.
- Haystack treats.
12. Sports Party
This is a great party theme for older kids who love sports.
Sport party decorations:
- Use your favorite team colors for your decorations.
- Have many different types of balls around your party area.
- Use trophies as centerpieces on the party table.
Activities:
- Play games like basketball, volleyball, pickle ball, or flag football.
- Set up a relay race.
- Bean bag toss or croquet are other great backyard sports you could play.
Food:
- Mini BBQ sandwiches or hamburgers.
- Cookies in the shapes of different sports balls.
- A sports themed birthday cake.
13. Water Party
Hot outside? A water themed party is the perfect way to celebrate.
Water party decorations:
- Have beach towels for your guests.
- Place beach balls and other inflatables around the party.
- You could have a water balloon station.
- Don't forget to have a little shade with umbrellas or even cheap sunglasses.
Activities:
- Water balloon toss.
- Slip n Slide race.
- Set up fun sprinklers for everyone to run through.
Food:
- Ocean blue punch
- Watermelon slices and melon balls
- Mini sandwiches
14. Outdoor Glow Party
Want to host a party with cooler temperature. A glow party in the evening is a wonderful idea.
Glow decorations:
- Black lights are a great way to make everything glow.
- Glow sticks and other neon decorations.
- Glow in the dark paint or markers are a fun way to decorate tablecloth, signs, even shirts.
Activities:
- Glow stick dance party to your favorite music.
- Glow ring toss.
- Glow in the dark face painting.
Food:
- Cupcakes with neon color frosting.
- Cotton candy
- Glow in the dark drinks.
15. Construction Party
Bob the builder inspired outdoor birthday party is fun for you and old.
Construction party decorations:
- Yellow or orange balloons and streamers.
- Make a sign with "Caution: Party Zone".
- Tools and construction equipment toys and trucks.
- Traffic signs.
Activities:
- Set up a building station with wooden blocks or Lego.
- You could have a digging area to play with toy trucks and shovels.
- Decorate a construction hat that the guests can take home.
- Wheelbarrow race between the kids.
Food:
- Dirt pudding cups or a dirt cake made with crushed Oreo cookies.
- Rice krispie treats in the shape of blocks.
- Construction cake with a digger and candy rocks.
More outdoor birthday party ideas
There are so many great themes for a backyard birthday party. Here are a few more suggestions:
- Ice cream party
- Luau party
- Swim party
- Science party
I hope these party ideas inspire your next outdoor birthday party. Let me know if you have anymore birthday theme ideas you would like featured in the comments.
***Image Disclaimer: I used AI images to create the images in the post. These images are for inspiration only and to give you ideas on how party decor might look.
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