5 Pandemic Safe Outdoor Summer Party Ideas

Everyone knows it is not summer until you have thrown a proper summer party. Yes, the pandemic is still very much happening, but there are ways to throw an epic summer bash in a COVID-friendly way. For a little inspiration, check out these five outdoor summer party ideas that are guaranteed to bring the fun back into your summer without being a public safety hazard.

But First...The Do's and Don'ts of Outdoor Summer Parties

• Do bring plenty of disposable cutlery, plates, and cups.

• Don't invite too many people, despite the urge to want to see EVERYONE. Better a few smaller parties than one huge one.

• Do choose venues that are not usually overcrowded so you have plenty of space to social distance.

• Don't drink alcohol in public places unless permitted by law.

• Do ensure your venue allows for gatherings/parties and obtain any local permits (if needed).

• Don't drink and drive. Uber saves lives!

• Do clean up after yourselves and appropriately dispose of all trash and recyclables.

5 Great Outdoor Summer Party Ideas

Hawaiian Luau - whether it is at the beach or in your backyard, nothing says summer quite like a Hawaiian-themed luau.

Decorations: Dress some tables in raffia skirts. Do NOT forget the little umbrellas for your drinks. Think pineapples and exotic flowers and animals as the theme. Tikki-torches are also great for décor and offer the bonus of mosquito repellant.

Food/Drinks: Sliced tropical fruit and Hawaiian finger food like coconut shrimp skewers, pre-cut Hawaiian-style pork ribs, and Huli-Huli chicken. Mini-pineapple upside-down cakes for dessert. Mai-tai is the luau drink of choice and can also be made virgin.

Burger Bar Movie Night Under the Stars - no summer is complete without a classic outdoor movie with your besties under the stars on a warm night.

Decorations: You will need a projector, screen, and a decent speaker for this. A great way to cozy up movie night is to set up small tents near one another, fill them with pillows and blankets for the comfort factor, and line the tents with tealights to provide beautiful soft backlighting.

Food/Drinks: The perfect food pairings to compliment movie night are a burger bar station where guests can build their favorite burgers, and a classic movie theater snack table featuring popcorn, nachos, and all the greatest sweets from the concession stand. Soft drinks are a must, beers, and wine coolers for the adults (if permitted at the venue).

International Appetizer BYO-Brunch - for a slightly more low-key outdoor summer party idea that doubles as a great potluck of international finger food.

Decorations: You can be as cheesy or elegant as you like with this party theme. Decorate your party with international icons such as the Seven Wonders of the World, and place flags next to the different appetizers to showcase each one's country of origin.

Food/Drinks: Depending on how big the variety of countries is being represented by your guest list; you may want to assign a different country to each of your guests when inviting them. That way you know you will have variety at your get-together. Beyond that, so long as it is a finger food appetizer or a country's iconic drink (alcoholic or non), it is up to the guest to decide what to bring.

Outdoor Boho Garden Party - sit back, relax, bask in some chill music tunes, and enjoy amazing summer vibes with your closest pals in a sea of color accented by natural beauty.

Décor: Colors and patterns are your friends here. Opt for a vibrant outdoor rug and an ottoman or two. Embrace nature as your garden party backdrop and use an abundance of candles in your space to create an intimate glow after twilight.

Food/Drink: Boho chic garden parties scream for elevated charcuterie boards. Bring out all your favorite artisan cheeses, cured meat slices, nuts, veggies, berries, dips, and jams that create a medley of snacks almost as colorful as your décor. For a bonus, pair your charcuterie board with a few select wines to cleanse your palate between bites.

Backyard Masquerade Casino Night- embrace the spirit of New Orleans with a masquerade party-themed casino night. Every guest receives a few free chips to play with for the evening. Whoever has the most chips left at the end of the night wins a prize.

Decorations: Up the elegance at your New Orleans-inspired masquerade with a black and gold-inspired theme. Showcase iconic fleurs de lis' and Mardi gras bead necklaces on black and white checkered tablecloths. You will also need chips, cards, and dice for the various casino games being played.

Food/Drinks: set up a table with mini versions of the best parts of New Orleans cuisine, including bite-sized muffulettas, crab cakes, shrimp boil skewers, hushpuppies, oysters, cornbread, and beignets. Serve up some mocktails for the non-drinkers and feature classic cocktails like French 75 and Sazerac to wash down the savory treats.

Make Your Outdoor Party Stand Out

No matter what themes you chose for your outdoor parties this summer, the most important component to all of them having fun in a safe way. Get creative and embrace this summer enough to make up for last year too. Remember to take lots of great photos to fill up your next Mixbook.