The key to throwing the best pool party ever is choosing a theme that resonates with your age group. Let’s start by discussing some of the most fun pool party themes that are age-appropriate and sure to delight all your guests. We’ll also provide ideas for pool party food, decorations, games, invitations, party favors and even what to wear to a pool party.

Backyard Beach Party

Transport yourself to the sea with a kid-friendly beach themed pool party! Summer brings beautiful weather, sunshine and happiness, making it the perfect time to create a beach in your backyard. Here are a few tips for making a kids’ beach barbecue party around the pool.

• Food – Imagine chicken salad croissants decorated to look like little crabs or blue pudding cups decorated with graham cracker “sand.” This are just a few ideas for making a memorable ocean-themed spread.
• Décor - Decorate tables with seashells and fishnets. Cover chairs with beach towels. Use plastic pails and shovels, and even Frisbees, to serve hors-d'oeuvres and drinks. Since this is an outdoor party, save your guests from sunburn and overheating by investing in a patio umbrella! We love Blue Wave’s Octagonal Cantilever Umbrella – it provides up to 100 square feet of shade and is repositionable for maximum sun coverage.
• Games & Activities – Float toy sailboats in the pool. Host a sandcastle-building competition in the children’s sandbox.
• Party Favors – When your guests arrive, gift them with a sand bucket filled with beachy treats. Think colorful mini spray bottles filled with water to keep cool during the party, tropical fish candy and travel-size bottles of sunscreen.
• What to Wear – Kick back in flip-flops and swimsuits!

  Pirate Themed Pool Party

  Ahoy, matey! Hit the open seas for the adventure of a lifetime by throwing a pirate pool party.
  • Food – Scare away scurvy with lots of citrus fruits and smoothies. Create a delicious “Pirates’ Booty” mix of your favorite nuts, chocolate candy, pretzels and coconut shavings. Carve out the inside of a watermelon then fill with fruit to use as a pirate ship fruit bowl!
  • Décor – Pirates are known for wearing mainly red and black, so use this as your party color theme. Prior to the party, find an old cream or yellow sheet and paint a vintage treasure map on it to create a pirate photo op. Decorate around your pool area with skull and crossbones flags and treasure chests. Place parrots on the backs of pool chairs. Finally, if you have a fire pit, create your own treasure chest by using gold fire glass as the interior material.
  • Games & Activities - Before the party, toss plastic gold coins, toys and jewels into the pool and let them sink to the bottom. Later on, have the kids jump in the pool to find the underwater buried treasure. See who can collect the most prizes! Please have several adults monitoring the swimmers. For another fun activity, find pool floats that look like ships, divide guests into two teams and let the two groups race each other!
  • Party Favors – Eye-patch decorating contest! Provide the kids with puffy fabric paint, rhinestones and whatever else they need to express their swashbuckling selves. You can also give guests a pair of red or black flip-flops to wear at the party and after.
  • What to Wear – Red and white patterns like stripes and polka dots are key to sticking with the pirate theme. Don’t forget to add touches of black, a captain’s hat and an eye patch!

    Teen Pool Parties

    Teens fall in the age group between kids and adults, so planning a party for teens requires finding a perfect balance between fun and socialization. Looking for awesome teen pool party ideas? Read on for our top themes for teens:

    Teen Pool Party Ideas

    

    Retro Pool Party

    Throwback to the 1950s with a pool party straight from the era of poodle skirts and Chuck Berry. This time period is all about bold checkerboard and palm tree prints, pink and blue pastels and metallic finishes. Channel this into your pool party planning, and you’ll be throwing the best retro pool party ever!
    • Food – Americana classics like hotdogs and hamburgers are essential. Don’t forget French fries and milkshakes for that retro feel.
    • Décor - Buy records with rock 'n' roll hits from the 1950s. Play the music to greet guests as they arrive. Place inflatable plastic palm trees in the pool and around the pool perimeter to help create a 1950s atmosphere. Make sure you have your BigMouth Inc. Giant Pink Flamingo pool float ready for the occasion.
    • Games & Activities – Host a throwback dance contest (who can Twist the best)? Rent a karaoke machine and have guests belt out classic tunes.
    • Party Favors – Give each guest a black and white striped towel.Provide handheld water guns for a high-intensity game of tag.
    • What to Wear – Ladies, wear high waisted swimsuits, cat eye sunglasses and long skirts. Gentleman, think plain white T-shirts, jeans and short swimsuits!