Hosting a summer get together? These beat the heat party ideas will give you tons of ideas for the coolest summer soiree ever whether you wan to try out some water games or just keep guests cool with drinks! They’re the perfect way to beat the heat!
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One of the biggest problems with summer is that it’s so hot. Too hot often to be outside unless you’re going to get wet in some way. Might be why so many of my summer bucket list items include water in some way!
This post is all about ways to keep people cool during summer get togethers whether it’s a huge pool party with the entire neighborhood or just trying to keep the kids cool in the backyard!
I’ve split this guide into three different sections – food, things to do, and decorations and party favors. It’s literally everything you need for the ultimate camp themed party!
Click on each of the links in the guide below to be taken directly to that idea!
NOTE: I use the term party loosely. All of these ideas work well whether you just want to have a fun themed family night, a big blowout summer party, or a super small group gathering with just a few friends. The ideas can all be used with whatever level of get together you’re most comfortable with!
Water Games & Activities
There are so many different things you can do at a summer party, but these are just some of my personal favorites. And all of these are designed to keep people cool when it’s blazing hot outside!
Water Games These are 15 of the absolute best water games designed to get people wet! They’re fun for both kids and adults (I’ve done them with both) and are all super affordable and easy to setup!
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Swimming Pool Games If you’re having a party at the pool, these are some of the best ways to enjoy time together in the pool! These swimming pool games include everything from the traditional Marco Polo to games you’ve probably never heard of!
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Summer Bingo This summer bingo game can be played with a fun beat the heat twist – whoever gets a bingo gets to pop a water balloon over the person on their choice’s head! Or maybe they get a cool down treat like a popsicle if you don’t want to get water involved!
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Splash Down Letter Game In this fun game, kids (or adults) have to toss soaked water balls into the air and try to get them to land on letters to either spell words or earn points for their team! This game was a huge hit at this splash party a few years ago!
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Foam Water Table Fill an empty water table with foam bubbles to entertain kids (and keep them cool) for hours! Plus, the bubbles still cool you down without absolutely soaking participants!
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Wet Sponge Dodgeball Grab a bucket of wet sponges and let players go after each other in this cool down game of dodgeball!
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Slip N Slide Kickball Amp up a game of normal kickball by setting up a homemade slip and slide leading up to each of the bases! It’s a super fun way to add a little competition and cool down time!
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Ice Boat Races Let kids cool down with these fun ice boat races! They’re super easy to setup and both fun and refreshing to play!
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Summer Party Food
Another great way to cool down is with yummy food and drinks! In this case, I’m sharing cold or frozen drinks, eats, and treats!
And don’t forget to have plenty of water to drink around as well to keep people from getting overheated!
Strawberry Popsicles These frozen strawberry popsicles are the perfect way to cool down after a little time in the heat! Just keep them in the freezer inside until it’s time to enjoy! Or if you want something a little more themed, these
lemonade popsicles are fun too!
Strawberry Pineapple Sorbet This strawberry pineapple sorbet only uses a few ingredients and is the ultimate refreshing dessert! Keep it in the freezer until you’re ready to serve or better yet, scoop it into scoops and keep those in the freezer until it’s party time!
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Root Beer Floats Make homemade ice cream with this yummy recipe then put out some cans of root beer and let people pour themselves a refreshing and cool treat!
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Strawberry Soup This chilled strawberry soup is kind of like a melted popsicle but better! It has so much cool flavor, especially when topped with a little fresh fruit and cream!
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Tropical Smoothies Another great cool down “food” to serve is fresh fruit smoothies! Combine frozen fruit, juices, and other ingredients for a super refreshing drink everyone – even the babies – will love!
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Fruit Salsa and Cinnamon Chips If you want to serve actual food, this chilled fruit salsa made up of a bunch of summer fruits is the perfect way to serve chips and dip! Plus, the flavor is amazing!
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Striped Delight Keep your desserts to ones that are chilled like this layered striped delight! Chocolate, graham cracker, and a cream cheese layer are all chilled and served cold!
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Raspberry Sorbet Summer Punch You can’t forget the drinks! This delicious summer punch combines a variety of fruity flavors with a little bit of tart sorbet for a cool drink with a frozen touch!
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Homemade Fruit Punch Or if you don’t want sorbet in your punch, serve up some of this delicious homemade fruit punch! Even better if you serve it with nugget ice (we love the nugget ice maker we put in our
DIY basement dry bar).
Beat the Heat Party Decorations & Favors
If you’re looking for summer party themes and favors that incorporate beat the heat elements, then these are for you! In addition to these, you could always do a pool themed party, beach themed party (don’t forget the items on this beach packing list), or a luau!
Once Upon A Summer Party Ideas This darling fairytale themed summer party incorporates fairytale touches like the ugly duckling pond, crown straws, and delicious cool down drinks!
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Juice Bar Setup a juice bar complete with juice cups, straws, and places that people can be constantly refilling their drinks to stay hydrated!
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Water Balloon Cooler Use water balloons in a variety of ways like keeping drinks cool then use them for a cool down activity at the end! This 4th of July party has tons of quick tricks and hacks for a beat the heat shindig!
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Summer Party Ideas Put out crazy straws, bubbles, and squirt guns as decorations that double as activities for guests!
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Snow Cone Party Host a snow cone themed party complete with snow cones to cool down of course! A snow cone garland is super easy to make PLUS snow cone cups make great party hats!
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Popsicle Party Go all in on popsicles with popsicle garlands, popsicles to eat, and crafts made with popsicle sticks! The popsicle possibilities are endless!
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Splash Party Favors Set out a bucket with items that make a splash or would be great for the pool – sunglasses, squirt guns, water balls, etc. and let people take one as they leave for the day!
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Drink Cup Favors Have an under the sea water party complete with drink cup favors filled with crazy straws, rubber duckies, and squirt guns to enjoy more beat the heat fun at home!
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More Cool Ideas
- Frozen Games – any of these Frozen party games would make a great addition to a cool down party, especially the Frozen princesses idea!
- Strawberry fluff salad – a chilled salad filled with whipped cream, strawberries, and other yummy ingredients makes a great addition to any beat the heat event!
- Ice cream gift baskets – send guests home with these darling ice cream gift baskets as a way to keep cooling off at home!
- Chocolate cake shake – milkshake + chocolate cake makes this one of the most decadent and delicious ways to cool off!
- Strawberry poke cake – this chilled poke cake incorporates strawberry flavor, whipped cream, and fresh strawberries for a delicious chilly dish!
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