Summer will always be synonymous with backyard barbecues, pool parties, and beach blanket days, but there comes a time when every tradition crosses over into trite. If the usual shindigs are feeling stale, and you’re thirsty for fresh ways to get social, try one of these new-fangled party ideas!
Social Salad Bar
Salads are one of those dishes that become absolutely phenomenal with some extra time at the cutting board, but for the sake of our weekly meal prep, we often settle for an easy, no-frills standby. Not today! Assemble the squad and get ready to build the salads of your dreams. All the chopping, peeling, marinating, and toasting that would normally be way too much work to justify for yourself now becomes a bountiful mission of frivolity and collaboration. Pastas, herbs, oils, fruits, candied nuts, and briny cheeses — it’s all on the table to mix up and make merry!
Game Olympics
This one takes some planning, but it’s an absolute blast and is a great way to get everyone in a bigger group involved. Plan different “events” that individuals or small groups can compete in. Mario Kart, three legged races, bocce ball, Yahtzee, rummy, cornhole, trivia… the possibilities are endless. Form two or three larger teams, who then select which of their “athletes” will compete in which events. You can have multiple games going on at the same time, just set timers to make sure you’re able to get through everything. Keep track of points, playing for prizes or just priceless bragging rights.
Fermentation Fête
Get your mason jars and vinegars ready, we’re going Amish! Take a break from the pickleball court and get yourself into a different kind of pickle learning to ferment simple veggie mixes. Kimchi, sauerkraut, ginger, beets, or good ol’ kosher dills — the sky’s the limit when it comes to things that can be cultured. Find a step-by-step guide online and have attendees pitch in on supplies. Keep it small or make it a couple’s affair. You’ll walk away from the pickling party with a jar of handcrafted brine and a handy survival skill.
Bicycle Pub Crawl
Grab your bikes, baskets, and besties for a ride around town. Plan out a route that includes your favorite haunts, and add a few new ones you’ve been dying to try. Make time for stops at places like shops, parks, or nurseries brimming with summer blooms. You’ll be surprised at how many local gems can be discovered when you’re rolling on two wheels instead of zooming on four!
Produce Picking
If you’re lucky enough to be in an area with access to groves or farms, gather your crew to source the freshest food possible. Pick berries for breakfasts, pies, and tarts; tomatoes, onions, peppers, and herbs for salsa; or radishes, cucumbers, carrots, and leafy greens for beautiful salads. If you end up with more than you can consume, try your hand at canning, making jams, or pickling; all great ways to preserve your garden-fresh treasures… and great excuses for everyone to gather again.
Christmas Cards in July
Dig out the ugly sweaters you stashed away six months ago, grab a close friend or two, and hit the mall. That’s right, swing into your mom’s favorite studio JCPenney for a hilarious photo session. We’re talking piggy back rides, wheelbarrow poses, the cheesier the better. Bonus points if you can keep a straight face. And feel free to don throwback hairstyles from the ’80s (go big, use the good hairspray). When the holiday season rolls around, turn your treasures into cards that will have everyone you know rolling with laughter.
DIY Centerpiece Party
There are so many ways to make this work, depending on how much effort and expense you, the host, want to take on. Each person will need a base for their centerpiece. You can start with a case of mason jars, or have everyone bring their own jar, vase, or pot. You’ll need plenty of flowers, greenery, and even twigs. Invite everyone to source from their yards and gardens and lay all of the offerings out on a covered table. Each guest can create their own unique masterpiece. Add ribbon or twine as a finishing touch.
Sound Baths
Sound baths are an incredible experience… if you know, you know. Have your party split the cost of hiring a sound healer to come to you, or attend an event together at a local park, retreat, or yoga studio. If you’ve never been to a public one, having a couple friends is helpful to provide some comforting familiarity as you lie down and surrender in a room of new people. Private parties have the benefit of adding on a cacao or tea ceremony, intention setting, journaling, and sharing your post sound bath insights with a supportive, resonant collective.
Clothing Swaps
Ecologically and economically friendly, it’s like a potluck for your wardrobe. Set a time and place to assemble and bring a bag full of your outgrown beloved favorites or the impulse buys you never ended up wearing. Your unworn, bottom-of-the-closet items are brand new to someone else who can strut fresh life into old threads. Have fun trying on and trading apparel and accessories while you catch up and swap. If your friends are all different sizes, try setting a budget and carpooling to a secondhand store to put together an outfit for brunch or dinner.
Got more innovative summer party ideas? We’d love to hear! Share your suggestions by tagging @mollymymag on social media.
