Photo by Ylanite Koppens from Pexels

Summer birthday parties can be a challenge unless you love to grill. However, if you’re tired of having folks over for barbecue and beer, you can book another location, rent a boat or get some Hawaiian leis and cut up a couple of pineapples.

1. Have a Luau

 

Not all guests will be keen on wearing a lei, but you can go ahead and hang them around your patio as a fun way to add a touch of Hawaii. You can also create a music loop featuring the Broadway recordings of Once on This Island and the South Pacific. Mix up some white sangria, a punch bowl of pineapple juice and peach vodka, and a sparkly NAB of

  • cranberry juice
  • lemonade
  • ginger ale

 

All of these fruity drinks can incorporate a paper umbrella while you grill up the pineapple, put out ham slices and Hawaiian King roles, and a bowl of ambrosia salad. If you don’t want to cook, you can easily put together cold cuts, veggies, and dip, and fresh fruit with vanilla coconut dip.

2. Book a Pool Party

 

If you don’t have a pool, check out your local neighborhood pool to see what effort it would take to reserve one end of the pool for your party. Do be aware that you may be limited as to alcoholic beverages, but you can enjoy the water with friends and travel back to your home for some private adult beverages.

 

Should you find a local pool with a park, you may have better luck staking out part of the pool and setting up coolers for a fun picnic with friends. Encourage everyone to bring their own chairs and parse out food and gear assignments for your culinarily challenged friends.

3. Invite Friends to a Painting Party

 

You may live in a town with a botanical garden. Pick up a few posters from your local floral society or botanical garden and put together a painting party with friends. Pack a couple of bottles of wine, some themed aprons to share with your friends, and let everyone channel their inner artist while you paint the glory of local summer flowers.

 

Send everyone home with a small potted flower or some fresh flowers from your local farmer’s market. This is a great party idea for anyone who has a July or August birthday when it’s just too hot to be outside for the day.

4. Go Fishing

 

If you have lakes or a marina in the area, consider having a fishing party with friends and family for your birthday. You can rent a pontoon and take a lake cruise or rent a boat fully fitted out with up-to-date Mercruiser parts so you can enjoy a long day fishing on the water.

 

Make sure someone in the party can help those without licenses get them lined up before you get on the water; most states offer fishing licenses online. Load up a cooler with beverages and a few snacks, make sure you have a sturdy trash bin for the pontoon and put someone in charge of sunscreen!

5. Invite Folks To A Cooking Class

 

The bounty of summer farmers’ markets can be a joy, but if you’re not sure what to do with those fresh herbs, it can be a bit confusing. Invite friends to a cooking class with a local professional chef and put together a few recipes based on fresh herbs, ripe tomatoes, and lots of fresh greens.

 

You can expand this event by hiring a sommelier and having a wine tasting. You can go ahead and marinate some meat beforehand and grill up steaks, chicken, fish, and veggies with the help of your cooking instructor. If you have a friend who’s a killer griller, ask them to help you put together some simple recipes for beginning summer cooks and send everyone home with a good quality set of tongs. Grilling isn’t easy and it can go badly wrong. Grill before the wine tasting, just to be safe.

 

Your summer birthday can be enjoyed in the sun or in air-conditioned glory. Invite friends to come together and do something completely different just for the fun of it. Make sure folks have a fun keepsake to go home with.