Don’t let the dog days of summer keep you from heating up your social life! August is a fantastic month for a fun fiesta. Whether it’s for your birthday, anniversary, or just because, there are tons of fun and creative themes that work perfectly for this month.
We’ll show you how to handle some of the challenges of planning a party this month and give you tips for making sure it’s a smashing success. Then we’ll dive into 30+ of the most epic August party themes you can throw. Get ready to start making your guest list and let the good times roll!
Challenges When Planning an August Party
August isn’t always an easy month for hosting a gathering, but with some careful planning, it can be a piece of cake. Here are some of the challenges you might face and how to deal with them:
- It’s hot, hot, hot! If you can’t party indoors, combat high temps with water activities, pop up tents, outdoor fans, and plenty of cold drinks to enjoy.
- It’s a popular travel month. Many families tend to take one more vacation before school starts up again, which means attendance may be lower than expected. Do your best to double check well in advance if your kids friends will be around.
- Bugs, ew. Nothing ruins a good time like pesky mosquitos! Make sure to provide bug spray or citronella candles to keep your guests bite-free and comfortable!
Tips for Making Your August Party Successful
Here are some tips that will help you create an awesome August party like a pro:
- Get creative with foods: Offer a variety of refreshing appetizers and desserts that are best enjoyed during the summer months, like popsicles, fruit kabobs, and no-bake cheesecake.
- Take advantage of discounts: Many stores offer end-of-summer sales — stock up on decorations or supplies at great prices!
- Send out personalized invites: Sending out digital invitations is an easy way to keep your guests informed about details while giving them something fun to remember your party by!
Now let’s dive into some August party theme ideas that will have your friends talking for weeks to come…
The Best August Party Themes
Crafts and Cocktails Party | Mom's Night In
Want to celebrate National Prosecco day (August 13th) with your gal pals, but can't find a babysitter? Invite moms and kids to come over for a fun crafts and cocktails party! Set up a craft that's fun for all ages (we decorated plant pots) and enjoy some adult conversation while sipping on your favorite signature drink. It's easy peasy and fun for everyone!
Football Kickoff Party
August marks the start of football season, so why not take advantage of this and host a kickoff party to celebrate? Decorate with your team's colors, serve an assortment of snacks such as chips and dip or mini pizzas, and pull out a projector screen or large TV so that you can watch games together.
Yes Day Birthday
It can be a real bummer when all (or most) of your kids friends are out of town on vacation. But that also becomes the perfect opportunity to switch things up and have a Yes Day instead. Don't forget to grab our free printable Yes Day planner to make sure your little one has a ton of fun without breaking the bank.
Baking Birthday Party
Enjoy some tasty treats and National Eat Dessert First Month with a colorful baking themed party? Invite your friends over for a cookie exchange or cupcake decorating contest, set up stations with all the necessary ingredients and decorations, and be sure to offer plenty of delicious refreshments.
Tween Inspired Blue and Purple Birthday Party
August is the perfect time of year to plan an unforgettable birthday party for your preteen. It doesn't have to be a huge event, it just needs to be something that will show your tween how much you appreciate them and how special their day is. Get inspired by bright summer colors, or use a couple of their favorite colors to create a party that's just as unique as they are.
Balloon Themed Party Ideas
Check out these creative balloon party ideas that are sure to make your celebration unforgettable! Whether you just want classic helium balloons, water balloon ideas for a birthday party, or a hot air balloon party for your baby shower, we've got you covered. From fun balloon backdrop ideas to balloon themed games, and even balloon themed food, you'll have no trouble putting together a memorable celebration.
Camping Parties
Celebrate National Parks Month with a fun outdoor camping party. Set up a tent in your backyard, hang string lights and decorations to make it look authentic, and serve plenty of traditional campfire foods like hot dogs or s'mores. Don't forget to provide some fun games like flashlight tag for an extra touch!
Carousel Party Ideas
A Carousel theme is perfect for all age groups. Spice up your party with carousel-style decorations, such as spinning pinwheels and brightly colored streamers. You can also create your own DIY carnival games to play in the backyard or hire a local carnival company to bring their rides and games to your event.
Cowgirl or Cowboy Party
Transform yourself and your guests into cowgirls and cowboys for a fun Western themed party for I Love Cowboys and Cowgirls Day on August 15th. Put on some country music, hang some rustic decorations, and serve up tasty treats like bbq ribs and cornbread. Don't forget to designate an area for square dancing!
Crab Feast
Take advantage of the abundance of summer seafood available and host a crab feast! Decorate with nautical-inspired decorations, set up an outdoor buffet with plenty of fresh crabs dishes, and provide traditional sides like corn on the cob or coleslaw. Top it off by playing some outdoor lawn games and finish with fireworks for an extra special touch.
Puppy Themed Party
Calling all dog lovers! It's time to create the ultimate puppy party this National Dog Day (August 26th). Make your own pup-inspired treats, decorate with bandanas and bones, and don't forget to provide plenty of water bowls for Fido and his friends.
Dinosaur Birthday Party Ideas
Create a prehistoric atmosphere with a dinosaur-themed party this Dinosaur Day (August 2nd). Create a giant volcano wall, set up a dino dig and include plenty of other dinosaur inspired snacks and games. For an extra touch, you may even be able to hire an animatronic T-Rex that roars!
Donut Party Ideas
Everyone loves donuts, right? They're sweet, tasty, and relatively affordable. They also make a fantastic starting point for fun activities like decorating your own donuts and donut eating contests. So why not theme an entire party around these delectable treats?
Frozen Luau Party
Combine two of your favorite themes together and create a Frozen-inspired Luau! Combine grass skirts and hibiscus flowers with snowflakes and blue, glitter for a perfect balance of summer and winter. Serve icy refreshments like blue raspberry slushies or lemonade, and be sure to include plenty of Elsa and Anna inspired activities. Finish it off with a sing-along session of all the classic songs from the movie for an added touch.
Gymnastics Party
Gymnastics is a classic party theme that's great for both kids and adults. If you can't afford to rent out a party room, set up mats, trampolines, and balance beams in your backyard and let your guests to show off their skills! For a fun twist, offer prizes for the most creative flips or jumps.
Glow in the Dark Party
A Glow in the Dark party is a great way to brighten up an August night! Set up a few outdoor games and activities such as glow-in-the-dark bowling, scavenger hunts, and more. You can also provide your guests with LED balloons and light sticks for extra fun!
Golden Birthday Party
If your birthdate is the same date as your age - congratulations! It's your golden birthday! Celebrate this special day with everything that glitters - including edible glitter covered cupcakes or macarons, sparkly wall decor, and some homemade golden crowns for good measure.
Lemonade Party Ideas
Lemonade day on August 20th is the perfect time to throw a sunny summer soiree. Make a variety of homemade lemonades, decorate with plenty of citrus inspired decor and serve up your favorite lemon filled sweet treats for a truly refreshing celebration.
Ice Cream Party
A fun twist on a classic party theme, the Ice Cream Social is perfect for celebrating any occasion in August. Set up a variety of ice cream flavors and toppings, offer some creative games such as an ice-cream flavor contest, and decorate with plenty of colorful balloons.
Luau Party Ideas
Embrace the summer spirit with a luau-themed party! Hang tiki torches around your backyard, get some fun Hawaiian decorations, and offer up creative colorful drinks like gatorade slushies. Invite guests to learn a hula dance and have a limbo contest for an extra festive touch.
Mermaid Party Ideas
Mermaids and Pirates are two of the most exciting characters to dress up as! If you want your August party to have a special theme, then look no further than this costume-filled extravaganza.
To make it even more fun, why not set up a treasure hunt around your yard and provide each guest with a map? To top it all off, you can serve delicious snacks such as mermaid popcorn munch and homemade pink lemonade.
Octonauts Birthday Party
Make your August party an adventure to the depths of the sea by throwing an Octonauts themed party! Hang giant inflatable fish balloons from the ceiling (or the trees), include plenty of water activities, and set up a set up a craft station for guests to make their own underwater creatures.
Majestic and Magical Princess Party Ideas
How happy would your little princess be to have a kingdom of her own for a day. Keep things simple and inexpensive with a few basics, like pink and purple streamers, fairy lights, paper lanterns and iridescent disposable table cloths. Then add some crafty touches such as DIY crowns and a gorgeous castle cake.
20+ Charming Garden Party Ideas
August is the perfect time to host a Garden Party and enjoy the warm summer weather. Set up some outdoor games such as giant Jenga or yard Yahtzee, and then prepare some delicious garden-inspired snacks. Let guests create pretty flower crowns or decorate their own mini terrariums to take home as a keepsake.
Slime Party Games and Ideas
Let the kids get messy with this fun slime-themed party! Set up a craft station where they can customize their own slime creations, provide a variety of slime ingredients like glitter and sequins, and don't forget to grab our free printables to make it even more fun.
S'mores Party
S'mores Day on August 10th is the perfect excuse to gather your friends and family for a campfire-inspired party. Incorporate classic outdoor activities like roasting marshmallows, playing horseshoes or even capture the flag! Set up an assembly line of ingredients so everyone can mix and match s'mores flavors with traditional chocolate and graham crackers.
Rapunzel Party
For a fairytale-inspired party, host a Rapunzel bash! Hang long colorful streamers, make your own braided wigs, and let the kids make their own glittery Rapunzel slime. Don't forget to serve up fun treats like a donut tower and dip served out of a frying pan for an extra touch.
Barnyard Fun
Bring the farm to your backyard by hosting a barnyard themed party. Decorate with hay bales, set up a classic game like horseshoes, and create an array of farm-inspired treats. Include plenty of animal-shaped decorations such as chickens, pigs, and cows for an extra touch.
Vintage Sports Party
Bring your guests back in time with a vintage sports-themed party! Set up activities like croquet and bocce ball, hang some old-school pennants and streamers, and serve up classic snacks like popcorn and hot dogs. To make it extra special add a photo booth featuring nostalgic props.
Hosting an Easy Outdoor Movie Birthday Party
Transform your backyard into an outdoor movie theater for a fun August party theme complete with concession stand, comfy pillows, and warm blankets to cuddle up under. Pick a classic movie, or feature the latest summer blockbuster to entertain your guests.
Succulent Party Ideas
August is the perfect time to get creative with succulents. Host a succulent themed party that features plenty of DIY terrariums and potted plants. Provide guests with various types of soil, moss, sand, pebbles and other materials so they can customize their containers. You can also offer up some simple instructions for caring for succulents as well
Tea Party
A tea party may seem like a traditional way to celebrate, but it can be incredibly fun! Many people love hosting an afternoon tea with friends. Set up the tables and chairs outdoors and decorate with flowers. The menu should include scones, finger sandwiches and other treats. Ask your guests to dress in their finest attire - hats or fascinators for the ladies are encouraged.
Train Birthday Party
Calling all train lovers! A Train Party is a great way to celebrate this August. Create your own DIY train tracks around the backyard and set up stations for your guests to have fun with. You can also make train inspired treats, like coal cereal treats or miniature train cakes.
Under the Sea Party
Bring the ocean to your home with an Under the Sea themed party. Set up a mermaid photo booth, create a beach area in your backyard, and decorate with plenty of sea-creature inspired decorations! Include some tasty seafood dishes on the menu and serve up some nautical-themed drinks. Don't forget to have a bubbling water feature or pool to help keep everyone nice and cool.
Enchanting Fairy Party
Fairy-themed parties are perfect for kids and adults alike! Hang up some colorful banners, set up a craft station with fairy wings or wands, and serve plenty of sweet treats like cupcakes or macarons. To keep guests entertained throughout the party, offer up some creative fairy games like pin the butterfly on the flower.
No matter what the occasion, an August party can be a fun and memorable experience for everyone involved! With these creative themes and tips, you’ll be sure to throw the best summer bash of the season.
Once you’ve picked your favorite August party themes, make sure to stay organized with our free one-page party planner. It’s specifically designed to help you stay organized and on track with both your time and your budget.
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