MAIN Home Life Party Ideas Beach Party Ideas

A great summer party theme can be just like.... a day at the beach!

Just up ahead, check out cool beach party ideas as you plan everything from invitations games & activities, to what food & drinks to serve.

While you're in planning mode, pack extra sunblock now for an enjoyable and sunburn-free party at your favorite beach.

Beach party invitation ideas

Purchase invitations as the party store, or save a bundle by creating your own with a home computer and printer.

Start off by using using freely-available beach clip art and include a catchy headline like "Life's a Beach!" or "The sun is shining, the sky is blue ... But our beach party won't be the same without YOU!" and be sure to include the location, date, time and RSVP info.

You can also use a free online invitation service, or simply send out a casual "be there or be square" call out to your friends with when & where included on social media.

Beach party food

Food and drink can be as easy as fruit punch, beer, sandwiches and chips, or pull out all the stops with a full New England clam bake, a Hawaiian luau theme party, or a beach barbecue.

For dessert, fresh fruit kabobs are festive and store easily. Watermelon and orange slices, bunches of grapes, and summer plums, cherries and peaches also make for great snacking during the day. Pack an insulated freezer bag with ice cubes, ice cream, fruit smoothies or summer coolers, and you're all set.

Summer cocktails? Think about easily transportable ingredients, such as white wine and club soda for refreshing wine spritzers, champagne and orange juice for Mimosas, or gin and bottled mixer to make a Tom Collins.

Beach party games & activities

Twister: The ultimate beach party challenge.

If you thought a classic game of Twister was fun on a hardwood floor, see what happens when everyone tries it on beach sand! It's the the ultimate beach party challenge, so be sure to have the camera ready.

Another idea for a fun summer beach party game? .... The limbo!

Or choose-up sides for a spirited game of beach volleyball, a Frisbee toss, a sand castle building contest, or a beach seashell scavenger hunt.

Beach party music playlist

When it's time to boogie, have a favorite summer playlist ready with the latest summer hits, together with oldies by The Beach Boy and more old-timey summer classics including:

"Hot Fun in the Summertime" by Sly & The Family Stone, "Vacation" by the Go-Go's, "Summertime" by DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince, "Dancin' in the Street" by Martha & The Vandellas, "Summer Breeze” by Seals and Crofts, “Summertime Blues” by Eddie Cochran, “Cruel Summer” by Bananarama, “Wipe Out” by The Surfaris, “Summer Nights” by John Travolta & Olivia Newton-John (from "Grease"), “In the Summertime” by Mungo Jerry, "Under the Boardwalk" by The Drifters -- right up to modern summer classics like "No Shoes, No Shirt, No Problem" by Kenny Chesney, "California Gurls" by Katy Perry and "Soak Up the Sun" by Sheryl Crow.

Beach party favor ideas (and the big cleanup)

When the party's over, send your guests home happy with goodie bags filled with seashells, sunglasses, beach shovels, Goldfish crackers, or small bottles of suntan lotion or sun blocker.

Finally, before everyone departs be sure to assign a cleanup crew.

Or, just ask everyone to pitch in and to "leave only their footprints" and remind them to put refuse in trash receptacles -- to help leave the beach as pristine as you found it!

Have fun!

also see --> Beach wedding Ideas

More fun beach party ideas around the Web:

Elsewhere on the Web, take the virtual tour of top sites offering tips & suggestions for a fun beach party you'll remember long after the summer is over ....

Beach Birthday Party - Wade through dozens of visitor-submitted & rated ideas for birthday fun at the beach focused on kids and teens.

Storytime Idea - Beach Party - A wonderful guide to entertaining the toddlers, with game & activity ideas as well as a complete list of children's books to read aloud, including Curious George Goes to the Beach and other favorites.