August is a bittersweet month for families. It’s when we must say goodbye to the carefree summer days and get back into the swing of our normal routines. End your summer strong by throwing an end-of-summer party!
Below are a few ideas for ending your summer with a bang and throwing an unforgettable party. This way, you and your family will look back on all the fun your summer held and hopefully get you looking forward to more summers ahead in the future.
Go Big!
Last summer, my dad and stepmom rented one of those huge inflatable water slides for all of the kids and grandkids to enjoy before summer was done. Everyone had a blast on it. Our middle daughter was a little too young for it, but we were able to have the big kids take a couple timeouts, so she could splash around in the “pool-like” area at the bottom.
Splurge on Sweets
Embrace the summer ending by splurging a little. One great way to splurge is by purchasing some special sweet treats for your party. I highly recommend the cakecups at Ava’s Cupcakes. They are great for people to enjoy individually and seal up and stash in the fridge or cooler throughout the party. Plus, purchasing the dessert means one less thing you need to make!
Have a Theme
Make the party even more fun with a theme. Some great end-of-summer themes include: luau, patriotic (especially if it’s hosted on Labor Day weekend), any popular movie that summer, sunshine and cookout. You can have things match the theme from plates and napkins to having people dress in appropriate themed attire.
Yard Games Are a Must
There are almost limitless yard game options now. Seriously, if you do a search on Amazon, you will fall down the rabbit hole! Some fun ones to consider are corn hole, yard Yahtzee, limbo, outdoor skeeball, volleyball and ladder toss.
Rent a Shelter at a Local Park
Our county has so many amazing parks, and all the picnic shelters are available for rent during the summer. They are also offered at very reasonable rates, especially to city or county residents. When you host a party at a park, you avoid the hassle of cleaning up before and after the party. Plus, a park offers so much to do including fun like a playground or fields for games. You can even incorporate a nature scavenger hunt for kids or party guests.
Incorporate Water Play
Even if you can’t afford one of the huge inflatable slides or maybe don’t have space in your yard for it, you can still easily incorporate water play into your party. A few ideas include: a slip-n-slide, water guns or water balloons, baby pools or host the party at a park with a splash pad.
Take a Page from the Thanksgiving Playbook
Thanksgiving doesn’t need to be the only time to give thanks. The end of any season, especially summer, is a great time to reflect on all for which you are thankful. Find a way to get everyone at the party to share what they were most thankful for that summer. You can even make it into a game, like passing a beach ball and the person with the ball shares it.
Don’t miss out on soaking up every last minute of summer this year. Throw an end-of-summer party for your family and friends that you’ll all remember well into the winter!
