5 Summer Party Theme Ideas (For Your Next Girls Night or Dinner Party!)

You truly don’t need an excuse to throw a cute party in my opinion, but there seems to be so many occasions for entertaining in the summertime! Whether you are throwing an elaborate bridal shower or a simple al fresco dinner party, it can be fun to incorporate a theme to your event to help guide you in your decisions for food, decor, beverages, and general vibe.

And now, more than ever, there are so many amazing ideas all around Pinterest, Instagram, and TikTok of some super cute and unique party themes. It seems like everything you can possibly think of has been done by somebody at this point. But that doesn’t mean that you can’t make your event stand out!

Today I’m sharing 5 unique summer party themes that I think would be so fun to host along with general decor and party supplies to give you some inspiration to create your dream party this summer! Two years ago I threw an epic summer baby shower for my best friend Kelsey, and the theme was summer camp. It turned out super cute, so if you want more details on that particular theme, be sure to check out my post Hosting a Summer Camp Themed Baby Shower and DIY Summer Camp Baby Shower Ideas & Printables.

Now let’s get into the list!

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FIVE SUMMER PARTY THEME IDEAS (FOR YOUR NEXT GIRLS NIGHT OR DINNER PARTY!)

COASTAL GRANDMOTHER PARTY THEME

Unless you have been living under a rock, you probably have seen the coastal grandmother aesthetic everywhere these days. It is a huge trend in fashion and home decor, but I think it is also a really fun decor style for entertaining. Think lots of coastal natural elements like sand, shells, and drift wood.

Obviously you need a pop of blue for a coastal theme, and I love this set of blue wine goblets.
Serve your delicious meal on these fun cream scalloped paper plates.
Add some natural coastal elements to your tablescape with these woven placemats.
Make clean up a breeze with these white & gold disposable utensils.
I love the trendy look of these scalloped edge cloth napkins.
This blue floral tablecloth is screaming coastal grandmother in the best way.
Cozy up your seating with a few of these seashell throw pillows.
For an activity at your party, try the popular trend of decoupage! Peel off a layer of these pretty floral paper napkins and glue to the inside of these scallop shells with Mod Podge to make cute little trinket dishes.
Create a cozy ambience with candlelight in these rattan votive holders.

FARMERS MARKET PARTY THEME

Warm weather in the summertime just screams a weekend trip to the farmers market! So instead of taking all your friends to the local market, setup your own farmers market inspired party with these cute local farmstand elements. Be sure to serve farmers market foods like fish, dairy, and of course fresh fruits and vegetables.

Create a build-your-own bouquet station at your party with a flower bar. Fill up these cute galvanized flower buckets (in white or in silver) with stems from Trader Joes and have your guests mix and match their own custom flower bouquet to take home!
Look for more eco-friendly options for disposable party supplies, like this wooden cutlery set.
Or these compostable paper plates.
You could serve deli sandwiches wrapped in these cool newspaper wax paper sheets for a homemade look.
Decorate your space with this natural burlap bunting.
This is seriously the most darling beige gingham tablecloth!
This tiered fruit basket is perfect for displaying fresh fruit on your buffet table that doubles as snacks for the party AND perfectly themed decor.
I think these jute tote bags would make such a cute favor for a market themed party, and you could even iron on vinyl with your guests names or a cute homemade logo on each.
And of course you need these classic berry baskets to serve snacks, fruit, or dessert for your party!

COUNTRY CLUB PARTY THEME

We all know that pickle ball is having a MOMENT this year. And whether or not you’re a fan of the sport, I think we can all agree that spending the summer at a country club is such a dream. And it would make the dreamiest party theme! Think old money aesthetic. Think racket sports. Think luxury service. Think a martini in your hand by the pool or an ice cold sparkling Perrier after a day on the golf course. This is really making me want to rewatch High School Musical 2!

Serve your friends a fancy martini upon arrival in these classic martini glasses.
These are the cutest pickle ball paddle paper plates!
Establish the perfect country club color palette with this green plaid tablecloth.
Decorate your table with a mix of light pink and classic yellow tennis balls.
I love the idea of creating a custom logo for your country club and this Etsy seller creates custom stickers that you could totally stick onto your party signage or on plastic cups, etc.
Add a special touch to your cocktail of choice with these cute pickleball stir sticks.
These pink sun visors would make a great party favor for a country club theme, and you could even personalize them with iron-on vinyl with your guests’ names. Or create a craft station where your friends can customize their sun visors with jewels or patches.
Ice cold beverages are a MUST at the country club, so create a grab-and-go drink station with this white galvanized beverage bucket. And I think a sparkling mineral water is perfect for an upscale country club vibe!

SUMMER ROAD TRIP PARTY THEME

One of my personal favorite summer pastimes is a classic summer road trip. So invite your friends to hit the road with you from the comfort of your own home with this Americana party theme of Route 66, retro motels, and car camping vibes. Bonus points for serving your favorite road trip snacks and beverages.

I love the pop of red in these melamine dinner plates.
Setup a postcard station for guests to write and send a message to a friend with this rotating postcard rack.
Decorate your space with this road map of the United States. You could even adhere this to a cork board and have guests stick a pin in their favorite US road trip destinations.
Nothing says a US road trip like a classic Route 66 sign for added decor!
These fictional hotel notepads would make such a cute party favor.
Use these blank retro motel keychains and some vinyl stickers to create placecards for seating.
I love this green gingham check tablecloth!
Chill your drinks in this Igloo cooler that I’m pretty sure everyone’s parents owned.
These vintage inspired USA travel poster postcards would be cute displayed as a table runner or hung on the wall as decor.

SUMMER CAMP PARTY THEME

Nothing says summer quite like the nostalgic memory of summer camp. Whether you attended summer camp as a kid or simply watched The Parent Trap on repeat throughout your youth, the summer camp vibes can’t be beat. Add some of the rustic charm of camping in the woods to your next party with these woodsy elements.

Serve beverages in these ceramic mugs inspired by the look of the classic enamel camping mugs.
Show people to their seats with these rustic wood place card holders.
This natural faux linen tablecloth makes the perfect backdrop to your rustic tablescape.
Bring in the woodsy vibes of summer camp with these palm leaf compostable dinner plates.
Decorate your space with this fabric bunting banner.
Create custom directional signage for your party by staining this wood arrow plank yard sign and adding vinyl stickers.
Friendship bracelets are the perfect summer camp craft, so create a station with embroidery floss to make your own friendship bracelets OR buy this premade pack to give as favors to your guests.
Use these pink paisley bandanas in place of napkins for a classic summer camp vibe.
Add more wood elements to your place setting with this wooden cutlery set.
Make your buffet table feel more like the summer camp cafeteria by serving food on these cafeteria trays.

I hope these summer party theme ideas have inspired you to throw your own bash this summer with family & friends! And I can’t wait to hear your ideas so be sure to share your favorite unique summer party themes in the comments.

Happy hosting! xo Rachael