How to Throw a Pool Party

Last Updated: June 25, 2021 References Approved

A pool party is the perfect summer bash for all ages. You can play water games, eat plenty of snacks, and hang out with friends and family. Have a pool party for a birthday or holiday, or simply celebrate the season.

Part 1

Part 1 of 3:

Planning Your Pool Party

1
Choose a date. The main factor in deciding when to hold your pool party will be the weather, unless you plan on having your party at a climate-controlled indoor pool.
- Choose a day with little to no chance of rain and high temperatures. However, if possible, avoid the hottest days of summer. Extreme temperature increase your risk of heat exhaustion.^{[1]
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  Research source}
- Plan your party on a weekend. This will allow for those that work during the week to be able to attend the party, and you can host the party during the day.
- If you’d rather have an evening pool party when it’s not as hot outside, any day of the week could work.
- If you live in an area where rain is frequent, consider setting an alternate “rain date” for your party. This way, guests will know what to expect if it rains on the party day, and you can still have your party later.
- If you're hosting a big party, just pick a date that works for you—you won't be able to find a perfect date for everyone.^{[2]
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  Expert Source
  
  Christina Millikin
  Founder & CEO, Glow Events
  Expert Interview. 11 February 2020.}
2
Find a pool for your party. If you have a pool at your house, you can host your party at home. Otherwise, you’ll want to look into local neighborhood pools and exercise facilities.
- Inquire about parties well in advance of when you’d like to have your party.
- Different pools require reservations and party fees. Depending on the facility, you may be able to rent the entire pool or just host your party during normal pool hours.
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3
Send out invitations.^{[3]
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Research source} You can either send your invitations electronically or as paper invitations. Make sure to send them out at least a week in advance.
- Use cute water-themed phrases in your invitations. Say something like: “Dive in for a night of fun with us at our summer pool party!”
- If you can hand-deliver your invitations, consider giving out a “message in a bottle.”^{[4]
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  Research source} Roll up your invitations, and place them in clear plastic bottles. You can even add a bit of sand or seashells to the bottom of the bottles for extra beach flair.
- If you’re inviting a lot of kids to the party, make sure to include their parents, as well. At a pool party, you want to have as much supervision as possible for maximum safety.
- Ask your guests to RSVP a month before the party date so you have time to make adjustments.^{[5]
  X
  Expert Source
  
  Christina Millikin
  Founder & CEO, Glow Events
  Expert Interview. 11 February 2020.}
4
Create a theme for your pool party. Having a pool party theme will help you to decorate and decide on food for your party. Possible themes include:
- “Luau”: Give all of your guests flower leis, and encourage everyone to dress up Hawaiian style. Decorate with tiki torches, and play Hawaiian music.
- “Patriotic Party”: If you live in the U.S., and it’s close to July 4, you might want to make your pool party a patriotic one. Decorate with flags and red, white, and blue.
- “Surf’s Up”: Throw a classic beach bash. Decorate with surfboard images, and play music like the Beach Boys. Place seashells around your tables for an added nautical touch.
5
Stock up on party supplies. When you’re planning a pool party, make sure to have plenty of pool supplies that guests can use and enjoy.
- Practically, have extra sunblock on hand, and some extra sunglass, since it will most likely be bright outside. Also, have a few extra towels, in case someone forgets to bring one.
- Even if you plan on having other drinks, make sure to have cold water available to party guests who get overheated.
- You can also have an array of pool noodles and rafts for guests to float around on. Encourage guests to bring their own, as well.
- Try to set a budget for your party beforehand so you don't overspend.^{[6]
  X
  Expert Source
  
  Christina Millikin
  Founder & CEO, Glow Events
  Expert Interview. 11 February 2020.}

Part 2

Part 2 of 3:

Playing Games At Your Pool Party

1
Choose a classic pool game like Marco Polo, or Sharks and Minnows.^{[7]
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Research source} These are games that anyone can play in the water without any additional toys.
- To play Marco Polo, one person starts out as “it.” This person counts to 10, and everyone else scatters around the pool. The person who is “it” plays with their eyes closed. Every time they shout, “Marco!” everyone else must answer back, “Polo!” The person who is “it” tries to catch someone who says “Polo!” Whoever gets tagged then becomes the next person who is “it.”
- In the game of Sharks and Minnows, one player begins as the shark, and the rest of the players are minnows.^{[8]
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  Research source} The shark starts on the opposite side of the pool as the minnows. To begin the game, the shark says, “Sharks and minnows, one two three, fishies, fishies swim to me!” The minnows try to swim to the other side of the pool. If the shark tags them before they touch the opposite side of the pool, then they become another shark in the next round. This continues until there is only one minnow left.
2
Have a water fight. For a more freeform and fun game, have an ongoing water fight with all of your pool party guests.
- Before the party, fill up water balloons, and set them out in large buckets.
- If you have them, set out water squirters, and encourage guests to bring their own to the party.
- To make it more fun for everyone, have plastic bracelets or necklaces in varying colors. Have one color, such as red, for people to wear if they absolutely do not want to be a part of the water fight. This way, those who want to avoid being splashed can do so.
3
Play volleyball.^{[9]
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Research source} Volleyball is a great game for pool parties because you can play in the water or out of the water.
- If you don’t have a net, you can simply volley the ball back-and-forth. If you’re ambitious, you can even make your own pool volleyball net set up.^{[10]
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- Either use a volleyball meant for the water or an inflatable beach ball.

Part 3

Part 3 of 3:

Creating a Pool Party Menu

1
Serve refreshing snack foods.^{[11]
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Research source} When you’re planning a party poolside, you want to have plenty of light snacks for guests to munch on throughout the party.
- Set out a plate of fresh fruit like watermelon, pineapple, and berries.
- Have plenty of tortilla chips with fresh salsa or guacamole.^{[12]
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- Serve cut vegetables with dips.
- Have cucumber sandwiches for another bite-sized treat. You can even cut them into the shape of fish.
- If you hold the party in the late afternoon, you can serve a light spread instead of a big lunch.^{[13]
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  Expert Source
  
  Christina Millikin
  Founder & CEO, Glow Events
  Expert Interview. 11 February 2020.}
2
Have a cook out.^{[14]
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Research source} Grilling outside is a great way to include cooking in your outdoor pool party and feed all your guests a meal.
- Cook burgers, hot dogs, or vegetarian burgers.
- You can also grill seasonal vegetables like corn on the cob.
- Prepare sides like pasta salad ahead of the party.
3
Have sweet treats on hand. Since it’s hot, it’s a great idea to have cold treats at your party. If you don’t have a freezer nearby, have coolers stocked with ice to keep them cool.
- Serve individual containers of ice cream and popsicles.
- For a healthier option, you can also freeze fruit, such as grapes.
4
Mix up summery drinks. For the adults, you can serve summer cocktails like strawberry daiquiris, pina coladas, mojitos, and hurricanes.^{[15]
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- For kids and adults who don’t want alcohol, you can serve lemonade, iced tea, and fruit punch.
- Provide a permanent marker so guests can write their names on their cups.

Community Q&A
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Question

What do I do if the weather turns bad at the last minute?

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Have Plan B activities up your sleeve in case of bad weather. These could include a movie, indoor games and even some water activities, like apple bobbing or fishing for magnetic fish in a bowl, etc. If you plan some non-pool games that can be played anywhere, you'll be covered for activities should the weather turn bad. If you're having a barbecue, shift under the cover of a back porch and the guests can take the food indoors and eat as they watch a movie or chat.
Question

How many children can I invite to a pool party?

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The amount of children for a pool party depends on how many adults are available to supervise and how big the pool is. A basic rule is to have 1 adult per 5 children and the adult must be free to actively supervise children in the pool (not dealing with food, chatting, etc.). A standard backyard pool would allow for up to 20 children, which would require 4 adults actively supervising water play. Other than that, it's up to your ability to handle that many children in terms of catering, space and nerves!
Question

How long should the pool party be for young children?

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The amount of time should be the same as for any party suitable for the age group. For children ages 5 to 15, 2 hours should be sufficient. This would include about 1 hour of pool games and fun, the rest would involve resting, eating and sitting around the pool chatting, etc. If you hold the party for longer, no more 2 hours is enough in-pool time, given that adults must be continuously supervising and the children must not be exposed to too much sun and chlorine.