Top 10 Party Ideas for the Second Half of Summer

Jul 25, 2025

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I’m going to do the baby pool one soon, because my girlfriends and I said we were gonna do this back in June. I got a blow-up pool and stuck it in my backyard, because this is the first year in ages I didn’t get a pool pass. I also keep seeing the “get shit done” party idea served to me on my fave brain rot app. Here's a collection of some other party ideas you can try. I’m gonna squeeze all this summer out.
You gotta have some joy—especially this flipping year.

1. GET SHIT DONE I DON'T WANNA DO PARTY
So you gather some pals and make some simple food that can be portable. Everyone brings one task they have been putting off, and the whole group rallies around to get it done. Maybe you all go to the post office or sit and support your friend cleaning out a garage or make scary phone calls together. Make it a day and make it end in cocktails.

2. CELEBRATE SOMETHING OTHER THAN WEDDINGS AND BABIES PARTY
What about a party for the one who isn't married, engaged or doesn't have kiddos? What friend could use some encouragement? Maybe they escaped a bad romance or paid off student debt, or just are never drama-filled and you love them. What if they got some pressies and some balloons and everyone gets good grub? They would never forget it!

3. BABY POOL PARTY
Everyone brings a baby pool over, and you put them in a circle with individual buckets of ice for champagne bottles and sit and lounge together. Maybe hire a "server" (like your kid or partner) and don't even move.

4. TIME CAPSULE CREATION PARTY
Ask folks to bring something representing 2025 to bury together, plus predictions for the future. Make up 2025 political cocktails like "The Grifter's Gimlet."
(And now you have another party on the books in the future for excavations).

5. SILENT DISCO PARTY
Rent wireless headphones and make a space to dance. It's so fun to watch people dance to only music they hear. What if it was in the daytime? So fun.

6. ZINE-MAKING PARTY
Set up stations with paper, staplers, scissors, old magazines, tape and glue and just encourage everyone to create their own zines while having fun together. Maybe everyone trades zines at the end of the night.

7. DARLING, IT'S A GALLERY PARTY
Transform a space in your home or yard into a temporary art gallery with found materials. Ask people to bring old art supplies and have a house party that is active and creative. Photograph it and send to everyone framed at the holidays.

8. THRIFT STORE PARTY
Swap names and everyone gets $10 and 30 minutes at a thrift store to dress your pick. Everyone then goes out to a happy hour dressed up and leaves with great photos.

9. STARGAZING PARTY
Late night gathering with constellation guides, blankies and identify stars and planets together. Swoon.

10. POWERPOINT PARTY
Create a party where everyone creates a slide deck of lighthearted topics to present to the whole party one at a time. This is epic. Video it.

What about you? Any good gathering ideas? How are you spending your summer? Are you taking time to party and be in relationship with your joy? Find it. Anywhere you can.