Right now if you’re in Austin it feels like the world is on fire. And, if you’re a mom preparing to throw an outdoor summer birthday party, don’t let the forecast make you sweat. We have a whole list of simple summer party ideas that will make your birthday bash the coolest celebration in town.

First step is to make sure your party guests stay comfortable. So, turn on the sprinklers for the kids and add some misters to the adult sitting area. Fill an ice chest with bottles of cold water, keep sunblock handy for those who forgot, and ensure there’s plenty of shade and access to AC.

Now, get ready to bring on the fun. If you have the backyard space and budget, you can’t go wrong with a giant water slide from Amanzi party rentals. It will keep the kiddos entertained for hours. If that’s not an option for you, don’t fret, we have several kids summer DIY party games for the outdoors:

• Water Balloon Pinata – Fill a large balloon and hang it from a tree. Just like a paper pinata, blindfold each child and let them take a swing with a stick. The child who smashes the balloon is declared the winner!
  
• Sponge Relay – Divide the kids into two teams. Setup two buckets filled with water at one end of a playing field and two empty buckets on the other end. Each team gets a dry sponge to start. The child needs to dip the sponge into the water bucket and then run with the sponge on their head to the other bucket and wring it out. The first team to fill the bucket wins.

• Ice Cube Treasure Hunt – Freeze several small treasures like plastic animal characters, coins, or race cars into ice cubes and hide them around the yard. Give each child a bucket to collect their treasures as they race to find them. The first to child to find 5 cubes wins.

• Sponge Dodgeball – This is a childhood favorite with a twist. Simply replace the ball with sponges and make sure you have plenty of water bins around to get keep the sponges wet. 

• Water Limbo – Swap the limbo stick for a waterspout! A simple garden hose will bring a ton of laughs as kids challenge themselves to see how low they can go.

A party isn’t complete without sweet treats! When it’s super hot outside, few things taste better than an ice cold sno cone or ice cold ice cream. Schedule a surprise visit from Austin’s Snobelly, the #1 shaved ice trailer in Austin! Pricing starts at only $150 to have the “sno” delivered just in time to cool your guests down. 

If you’d rather hear the sweet sound of the ice cream truck, Danny’s Ice Cream Truck of Austin can keep your party chill with a huge array of classic ice cream flavors. Pricing starts at only $169 to have Danny’s red bowtie service at your next party.

We hope these summer party tips coupled with our free party checklist will help you plan the most epic outdoor kids birthday party ever!