40+ Best Pool Party Ideas for the Whole Family

Cristy put together a bright and colorful pool party that kids big and small would love to attend! From a cart with refreshments on it and sprinkled-covered paper lanterns, to a towel station and a mini kiddie pool willed with treats accessible for littles to reach, these pool party ideas for kids are fun and practical to use.

Color pops everywhere with this summer fun outdoor pool party! Emily paired bright pinks, blues, and greens with hints of gold to bring a bit of whimsy to the table. Flamingos are a cute touch on straws in glasses filled with fruity drinks. I love how food is laid on different levels, with a cake as its centerpiece. What a fun tropical theme!

This 3D paper palm tree would be a fun addition to the decor of a tropical pool party. I love how these mini “trees” transform plastic water bottles into these mini summer delights. It is great that there are only a few materials need to bring this DIY decor piece to life.

Sprinklers are a fabulous idea to help guests keep cool at a pool party. Ashley used a gigantic inflatable elephant sprinkler to spray a cooling mist at the pool to get this job done. Since this water feature is also cute, it also acts as part of the party decor! (Photo Credit: Jamie Lucido Photography)

I love this tropical pineapple can koozie idea Kimberly created to add a touch of the tropics to a pool party setting. Only a handful of items are needed to create these cute can covers!

Using this “Sip Sip Splash” decal is a simple and sweet way to add a bit of
whimsy to your pool party. I like how it can be used on items like an ice bucket, a cooler, and other items around your entertaining space to bring your party to life. Easy to use free SVG!

Pineapples, coconuts, and pink buckets are used to make this tropical-themed pool party a success! The pineapples are used as natural centerpieces across the table. Coconut cups with straws to sit with individual buckets filled with party snacks for each place setting.

This fun and colorful popsicle garland is a cool way to decorate your pool area! What I like the most about this garland is how you can use patterned or solid colors to create your popsicle decoration to dress up your space.

I adore this faux hedge wall idea Erica created for an outdoor pool party! This playful feature is great because it can be used to cover up a space or to create a fun place to snap photos throughout your party.

This mermaid-themed pool party idea Tammy created is a sweet way to have fun while keeping cool. From the handmade backdrop and ocean-themed treat table to the floral centerpieces and individual purple buckets filled with party snacks. Each of these elements is a joy to see.

I think using these umbrella drink sticks is a cute way to continue the theme of your party to your drinks! I also like how these drink toppers can be easily customized to fit your party’s theme.

I love so many of the elements Eden used to make this pool party a hit. She
created a comfy area with blankets, towels, and comfy pillows for guests to dry off and relax. She even thought to use light-up beach balls to illuminate the pool to keep the party going once the sun goes down.

For those not craving the pool, a sandy area is a clever way to keep littles
entertained at a party. To make it fun, you could add some fun beach toys, like a sand pail, buckets, shovels, and molds, to put together some great sand creations! Placing beach chairs and a table makes it easy for others to sit back and relax while the fun is happening in the sand! Great for littles who LOVE the sand!

Poolside fun is a toss away with this DIY Cornhole board. Erica shares how you can create one at home and add a fun decal on the top so it can flow with your party’s theme. What’s great about this game is that everyone at the party can get in on the fun.

Keeping cool outside of the pool is easy with this DIY Paper Fan. Littles can sit by the pool and create this festive craft in no time! What I love about this activity is that kids can take them home to continue their pool party fun.

I love this bubble wand idea that Ashley shared as an activity to have at your next pool party. With these tubes of bubbly fun, you can have contests to see who can blow the biggest bubble or the most bubbles with one breath. Simply blowing bubbles around the pool also gives your party a whimsical feel. (Photo Credit: Jamie Lucido Photography)

I know I spoke of using bubble wands to keep the fun going by the pool. If you don’t have any on hand, making them is a fun activity for kids to do! All you need are a few items to start creating some bubble magic.

Jennifer shared this gem of an idea: Place items like goggles and floaty vests in a basket poolside during your party. This will allow for kids to swim and see while playing in the pool. They can also be used for some dress-up fun at the party. Add in some fun things to throw (rings, fish, etc.) in the pool for scavenger hunts and contents!

Whether it is in or out of the pool, water balloons are always a fun activity to have on hand for a pool party. You can either toss these balloons across the deck or lawn, or you can play Hot Potato with them. Finally, you can place them the pool for the kids to get to see who collects the most of them. Reusable water balloons are also great for this activity!

On warm, summer nights, this glow stick pool party idea Alex shared is a great way for kids big and small to keep cool! Partygoers can play games such as a color scavenger hunt or racing to be able to pick up the most glow sticks in a determined amount of time.

I like having several out of the water fun activities for guests to play with while at a pool party. This checkers and tic-tac-toe board is one to have on hand! It’s easy to construct, and it is reversible, so only one board is needed to play both games.

This roasted cherry tomatoes with burrata cheese is a warm and tasty appetizer to serve your guests. The pop of sweetness from the roasted cherry tomatoes and the milky-buttery flavor of the burrata cheese would make a fabulous combo to eat poolside, scooping them on toasted bread or crackers.

I love this mermaid cocktail for a tropical drink to serve with an Under the Sea theme for the adults. Coconut, pineapple, vanilla, and lemon flavors come together to make this layered cocktail drink. It will wow both your eyes and your tastebuds all day long! For a kid-friendly non-alcoholic mocktail version, give this mermaid mocktail a try!

These lemon popsicles are a sweet way to beat the summer heat on a warm day around the pool. Only three ingredients are needed to freeze and enjoy these tart treats. I love how these ice pops are naturally sweetened with honey! So refreshing!

I love how these summer-themed sugar cookies would make any party a hit! With three different shapes to use, you can ice them to match the color scheme of your outdoor event. They’re also small enough for you to easily enjoy more than one!

This homemade lemonade recipe is a perfect way to quench everyone’s thirst by the pool! It takes four ingredients to mix this summery drink, and it can be made ahead of time so you can have more time to enjoy your party.

I like the cool simplicity of this vanilla ice cream. With only four ingredients, it takes no time at all to whip this sweet dessert together for a pool party. The best part about this treat is that it doesn’t contain eggs, so it is great for those with dietary concerns.

I love when tart and sweet flavors come together for a yummy summer treat. Samantha’s version of lemon blueberry blondies combines these two flavors into a light and fluffy dessert everyone will love to eat while drying off from the water. What makes these soft morsels extra special is that they are dairy-free!

This tri-colored cocktail Christi shared is a patriotic way to celebrate by the pool for the 4th of July! Grenadine, club soda, and vodka are the main components of this festive drinks for adults to sip on all day. It is a feast for the eyes, as well as your tongue. This post also includes instructions for making it a kid-friendly mocktail!

I love this seven-layer dip cups idea to enjoy while outdoors at a pool party.
Refried beans, guacamole, salsa, sour cream, and sour cream are the highlights of this easy party snack. Since the dip is put into cups, it allows for everyone at your event to have their own portion to enjoy.

This Italian tortellini salad is a fabulous idea to serve during the summer months outside. Cheese tortellini, roasted red peppers, three cheeses, tomatoes, pepperoni, and fine herbs are tossed together in an Italian dressing. This cool and delightful side dish is great to serve at either an elegant or more laid-back affair.

I love this version of a pink dragonfruit refresher drink Jillian creates to quench thirsty poll party goers. Maple syrup, lemons, and green tea come together with dragon fruit to create a sweet and eye-pleasing drink teens and adults will love to sip on and enjoy.

This summer fruit salad is a great dish to have on hand by the pool! It’s simple to make and is an eye-catching delight! I think that the best part about this salad is that you will have a different bite with each spoon you eat!

Nothing cools pool party revelers better than an ice-cold glass of fruit infused water! All you need is a few berries and a hint of fresh basil into a pitcher of water to create a simple yet stunning poolside fixture everyone will love drinking all day long!

I think chocolate lovers will get excited when they see these Oreos covered in chocolate on your snack table! I love that this treat has an extra wafer and gooey layer surprise. The best part of this dessert is that no baking is involved!

Strawberry and kiwi flavors come together in this popsicle treat! What I love
about this frozen dessert is that it’s easy to make and that it’s made without any sugar.

I love how these beach-themed cookies Emily baked can help to bring a bit of the beach to your snack table. Light and sweet sugar cookies are the base for this easy to decorate cookie. It’s also fun how you can switch up the toppings to make them your own.

I think it’s a great idea to have vegetarian options waiting for pool party guests to savor on the snack table. Jessica’s version of oven-baked buffalo cauliflower bites is a perfect appetizer to have on hand. They’re crispy on the outside and tender on the inside with all the flavor of spicy chicken wings.

Chips are always a great option to serve guests while enjoying a day by the pool. These zucchini chips are a tasty snack your guests won’t be able to put down! It’s great that these crispy treats are easy to make and are also gluten-free!

I think this Mexican street corn salsa will have your pool party guests racing to your snack table! Corn, avocados, tomatoes, and black beans will bring so many fresh flavors to your tastebuds. All you need are some chips or toasted bread to begin scooping up this yummy snack.

Your tastebuds will be “hangin’ ten” once they see these cute and crunchy
surfboard cookies! Sugar cookies are the base of this delectable dessert. With the simple decorating instructions in hand, these patriotic cookies take no time to complete and will be a hit once served at your party.