Having a party in your backyard doesn’t have to be boring! There are tons of fun and creative summer ideas for your backyard. You can entertain outside and even get the adults involved with these fun summer ideas for your yard.
1. Play Some Games
You don’t need to bring out the board games for this one. Having games for everyone to play will add an extra level of fun to your backyard party!
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Oversized Jenga
You can purchase an oversized Jenga set, or if you or someone you live with is crafty with wooden blocks and a saw, you can create your own! You can get the kids involved and have them help you paint the blocks different colors to make the set even more unique.
For an added bonus when playing the game with friends, have everyone separate into teams, and assign colors to the groups. Each team can only pull the blocks of their assigned color!
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Oversized Chess
Channel your inner Harry Potter by setting up an oversized chess game! Players will have to move the chess pieces by picking them up. It’s fun and a unique way to bring the classic logic game to the great outdoors!
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Cornhole
Is it really an outdoor party if there isn’t cornhole to play? There’re so many ways you can decorate cornhole boards these days. From light-up ones to boards that advertise your favorite sports team, there are plenty to choose from.
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Croquet
You can set up a croquet course in your backyard. Similar to golf, this is a unique sport perfect for your guests to enjoy outside. You’ve probably seen it in historical movies or know of it from British history, but it’s still a great pastime!
You could even host a Victorian-era outdoor party, requesting all the attendees dress up in Victorian-era costumes, serving tea, and petit fours!
2. Watch a Movie
Outdoor movie nights are perfect for when the weather gets warmer. Set up some blankets, cushions, and pillows for your guests to settle into while the movie plays. If you don’t have a professional movie screen to use, you can hang up a white sheet against some hedges.
Invest in a small Bluetooth projector that will play the movie from your phone onto the sheet–much more budget-friendly than purchasing a large screen for your backyard!
3. Have a Bonfire
Who doesn’t love a classic bonfire? Even when the weather gets warmer, you can still have a nice bonfire. If your city has put out no-open-burning ordinances, you can always have everyone get together around the firepit and lay a wooden slab over it.
Use a portable heater to keep everyone warm if it tends to get chilly in your area at night and melt the marshmallows in the microwave. Add a couple of cute garden flags to spruce up the area near your firepit, too. All it takes to have a bonfire in the summer is a little creativity!
4. Install a Playset
If you have children, turn your backyard into the neighborhood playground. Add a playset to your yard, complete with a swing and a slide.
Your kids will be so excited, and so will the other kids in the neighborhood! Invite the parents over for lemonade and sandwiches and sit back as the kids all play together in a safe environment.
5. Build a Rock Wall
If you want to have something a little different from a traditional playset in your backyard for the kids, consider a rock wall! You can create different rock walls with various materials and skill levels for all ages.
Make sure you provide helmets and insist the kids wear shoes when climbing, though! It’s important to take as many safety precautions as possible, especially when creating a DIY rock wall for the kids.
6. Adult Slip-n-Slide
Slip and slides aren’t just for kids! You can purchase an adult slip-n-slide set or create your own using a tarp, garden stakes, hose or sprinklers, and a bottle of baby shampoo. The baby shampoo is in case the speed of the water isn’t fast enough for everyone to slide–and it won’t hurt anyone’s eyes!
Of course, you can make it kid-friendly, so they don’t feel left out, but if your party is adults-only, this is definitely a great entertainment idea.
7. Create a Relaxation Area
Set up a hammock between two trees in the corner of your yard and create a unique relaxation area! Add a couple of thin blankets in case it’s windy out and invite your guests to relax in your little corner. If you don’t have large trees, consider adding a swinging chair.
The egg shape is perfect for letting your guests feel like they’re in a cozy chair while feeling the breeze as they sway in the wind. Put a small table next to the chair for them to put water or a book on.
Make sure there’s some level of shade available, too. You don’t want your guests to overheat!
8. Light It Up
Make your outdoor space more inviting and great for entertaining by adding some unique lighting. String bulbs are a classic, but you can add some eclectic elements by hanging paper lanterns from tree branches or stringing LED fairy lights through a plant wall.
Light up the pathways between your home and the backyard or driveway with walkway lights, or use them to accent any unique personalized garden flags you have in your yard. Making sure your spaces are well-lit will let your guests enjoy time outside long after the sun goes down.
Making some small adjustments to your outdoor space will turn it into the best backyard in the neighborhood! Even something as simple as hanging some string lights can really make a difference in your outdoor space.
Get creative with your decor, add some fun games for the adults and kids to play and keep things relaxing and cozy. You’d be surprised what it can do for your backyard!
You can take the entertainment further from your backyard by enjoying these fun summer activities with your family.
