How To Plan A Kids Garden Party in 2024

Published: 1.6.22

Updated: 25.7.24

I know the weather isn't always great in this country, but that doesn't mean we can't enjoy our gardens and have a kid's garden party!

We should be encouraging our kids to get outside more and what better way to do it than by having a garden party?

The following tips will help you plan the perfect garden party for your little ones.

Set A Date

This may seem a little strange, but most birthday parties are held at the weekend since the kids will likely be at school and the parents at work. 

But, pick a date and then stick to it.

If you need to, send out a 'save the date' email or text so that people can put it in their diaries.

Then, when you've got everyone's availability, you can go ahead and book a venue, if needed.

Related: 78 Ways To Make Your Child's Birthday Extra Special

Choose your party features

The very first you need to do is pick a theme or some kind of activity that will be the focus of the party.

Some popular themes are:

Pick a Theme

Animal Farm

Why not find out what their favourite animals are and base the party around them?

You can have farm animals fancy dress, make some barnyard noises and serve food that looks like it came from the farm.

Wizard Academy

With the huge popularity of the Harry Potter books and films, it's no wonder that kids love anything magical.

So, transform your garden into a wizard academy for the day. You can make wands out of sticks, have a potions class, and play some spell-binding games.

Invite guests to dress up as their favourite characters and serve some traditional British food like treacle tart and pumpkin juice.

Fairy Garden

Is there anything more magical than fairies?

Transform your garden into a fairyland with the help of some whimsical decorations. You can make your own fairy houses out of cardboard boxes, sticks, and stones.

And don't forget to leave out some plates of yummy treats for the fairies!

Circus Party

The great thing about Circus themed parties is the sheer number of Circus related games you can play.

Try your hand at some of these:

Tightrope walking - using a skipping rope or a garden hose, set up a tightrope for the kids to walk across.

Hula hoop contest - see who can keep a hula hoop going the longest.

Juggling - use softballs or bean bags and see how many each child can juggle.

Plate spinning - another juggling game but this time using plates!

Stilt walking - use rolled-up towels or pieces of wood for stilts.

Face painting - have some fun and paint their faces like clowns.

Mad Hatters Tea Party

How about a Mad Hatters Tea Party?

This is always a popular choice with the kids. You can decorate your garden with all things Alice in Wonderland and serve tea and cake to your guests.

And don't forget the obligatory game of croquet!

Mini Olympics

Your kids will absolutely love this one!

With a mini Olympics party, they can compete in all sorts of fun and games.

You can set up an obstacle course, have a sack race, water balloon toss, or even a three-legged race.

And don't forget the medals for the winners!

Traditional Garden Party

If you don't want any of that razzmatazz and just want a traditional garden party, that's fine too.

You can still have all the fun of games and activities, but without the added stress of planning a themed party.

Set up some tables and chairs in the garden and serve up some delicious food and drinks.

And don't forget the all-important games of rounders or cricket!

Teddy Bear’s Picnic

If this wasn't at the top of your list, shame on you ;)

This is one of the most classic kid's party themes there is.

And it's so easy to do!

All you need are some teddy bears (of course), a picnic blanket, and some yummy food.

You can even make teddy bear sandwiches by cutting the crusts off the bread and using cookie cutters to cut out bear shapes.

Magical Fairy

You might think that this is just for girls, but you'd be wrong!

Boys love fairies just as much as girls (even if they don't like to admit it).

So, why not have a magical fairy party?

You can make your own fairy houses out of cardboard boxes, sticks, and stones.

And don't forget to leave out some plates of yummy treats for the fairies!

Hawaiian Party

Hawaiian themes are awesome for summer parties.

You can set up a limbo contest, make some Hawaiian bracelets out of colourful ribbon, and serve up some delicious pineapple juice.

And don't forget the all-important Hawaiian shirts!

Budget-Friendly Kids' Garden Party Costs

Plan a Rough Schedule

After you have chosen which theme you would like, it is time to start planning the activities.

It is always a good idea to have a rough schedule of what you would like to do and when.

This will help to keep the party running smoothly and stop any arguments between the kids about what they want to do next!

You also don't know what the weather will do on the day, so it is always a good idea to have a few indoor activities planned as well.

Here is an example schedule for a kid's garden party:

2 pm - Guests arrive

2.30 pm - Games begin (e.g. water balloon toss, three-legged race)

3.15 pm - Break for refreshments

3.30 pm - More games (e.g. musical statues, pass the parcel)

4.15 pm - Cake and singing Happy Birthday!

4.30 pm - Present time

5 pm - Party ends

Buy/make Decorations

Now, you can either buy some decorations to match your theme or make your own.

If you are feeling creative, making your own decorations is always more fun!

You can make bunting out of old clothes or sheets, or paper chains out of construction paper.

Send Out Invites

Now's the time to start sending out invites!

You can either make your own or buy some ready-made ones. Just make sure to include all the important information like the date, time, and address of the party.

Don't forget to ask each child to pack a change of clothes if they are going to be playing games outside!

If you are having a garden party, you will need to prepare some food and drinks for your guests.

If you are having a Mad Hatters Tea Party, you will need to make some sandwiches, cakes, and biscuits. And don't forget the tea!

For a more traditional garden party, you could have cold meats, salads, quiche, fruit, and veg.

Arrange Entertainment

If you are thinking of hiring entertainment, now is the time to do it.

You will need to book well in advance to avoid disappointment.

Some good entertainers for kid's parties are clowns, magicians, face painters, and balloon artists.

Come up with some games

Since you now have a theme, it will be easier to come up with some games that match.

If you are having a pirate party, you could have a treasure hunt or walk the plank.

For a fairy party, you could have a Fairy Scavenger Hunt or make some magical wands out of sticks and ribbons.

And don't forget the all-important prize for the winner of each game!

Garden Party Food Idea

Now we've come to the fun part - the food!

Prepare supplies (food, drinks, plates, etc.)

If you are having a garden party, you will need to prepare some food and drinks for your guests. Don't forget to theme the food to match your party!

For a Mad Hatters Tea Party, you will need to make some sandwiches, cakes, and biscuits. And don't forget the tea!

For a more traditional garden party, you could have cold meats, salads, quiche, fruit, and veg.

And don't forget the all-important cake!

Now that you have all the supplies you need, it is time to start setting up for the party.

Assemble goody bags

Now it is time to start thinking about the goody bags.

You will need to buy some small gifts or make your own to put in them.

Some good ideas are stickers, Temporary Tattoos, sweets, and key rings.

Don't forget to include a Thank You card in each bag!

Set Up Stalls

Depending on the theme, you may want to set up some stalls for the kids to enjoy.

For a pirate party, you could have a 'Walk the Plank' or 'Treasure Hunt' stall.

For a more traditional party, you could have a sweetie stall or face painting stall.

Prepare for Rainy Weather

Even if you are having an outdoor party, it is always a good idea to be prepared for rain just in case!

Have some indoor activities planned as well as some games that can be played in the garden.

This way, if it does start to rain, the kids will still be able to have fun!

Now that you have all the preparations done, it is time to sit back and relax!

The party will be here before you know it and it will be a day to remember!