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We all hate to see it happen year after year, but summer sadly comes to an end and we’re always trying to hold onto the long summer days, our golden tan and the magical freedom summer always has a way of bringing.
To make the most of the end of a season (but also an end of an era), we love going out with a BANG. Summer has and always will be full of some of the sweetest memories, so why not host one more celebration to entertain the thought.
Whether you’re wanting to host an end of summer party before school starts or as a fun get-together at your apartment with your friends, we’ve gathered some pretty adorable ideas to say goodbye to summer in the most authentic and fun way. Everything from end of summer party food, decor and activities.
Keep scrolling to read all about these 16 end of summer party ideas.
16 End of Summer Party Ideas
Send the Invites
The first thing to consider when planning a party is sending out the invites well in advance (at least 2 weeks ahead of time). This can be an e-vite or a paper invitation. However you prefer to do it, is totally up to you. We love the nostalgia of sending a paper invitation — it’s a much more memorable way to inviting people.
1. Party E-Vite
2. Paper Card Invitation
End of Summer Party Food
A party isn’t a party without food! The end of summer in many places around the country is marked with incredibly hot temperatures (speaking as a fellow Texan, August is brutal). With this in mind, we recommend serving refreshing drinks, light appetizers, and summer-themed food.
3. Mix a Margarita
4. Make a Cold Pasta Salad
5. 4-Cheese Mac and Cheese
6. Family Style Mediterranean Dish
7. Make Tangy Key Lime Pie Cheesecake Bars
8. Pineapple Mango Cobbler
Set the Scene
Whether you’re hosting indoors or outdoors, setting the scene with cute summer party decor is a must. Think about decor with cheerful bright colors, fruit patterns, tropical details or floral designs. Happy, bright and light is what the summer is all about!
9. Bright, Colorful Streamers
10. Coastal Shell Garland
11. Inflatable Beach Balls
12. Luau Place Mats
13. Neutral Melamine Plates
14. Ice Cream Bar Decoration Kit
End of Summer Party Activities
It’s the last hoorah, so we’re not holding anything back when it comes to fun party games and quintessential summertime activities. If you have a backyard pool, host an end of summer pool party. Play games, make s’mores, there’s so many fun things you can do.
16. Pool Party Games
17. S’mores Making Station
18. Rabble
19. Giant Jenga for the Backyard
Send Home Party Favors
Don’t let your guests leave without a little token of gratitude for them coming. You don’t have to spend a ton of money on party favors. In fact, we love making a sweet treat, packaging it up and gifting it to our friends on their way out the door. You could even gift your friends something small, like a small pool bag or iced coffee coozie.
20. A Packaged Cookie
21. Personalized Pool Bag
22. Iced Coffee Coozie
The 4-cheese mac and cheese has my full attention! I just got my carpets cleaned so I’m wanting to host an outside party before the semester starts up again. I was looking for ways to glam up a backyard bbq and you gave me all the inspiration, thank you!