Looking for Some New Graduation Party Ideas for Your 2024 Senior open house?
Your last year is coming to a close. After your graduation ceremony, it's time to party! Here are some of the best 41 graduation party ideas to make your celebration unique.
It's going to be hard to pick a date, what with all your friends choosing a date as well, in the same three months of summer. The summer only has so many dates to choose from. But that's only the beginning of high school graduation party planning.
Should you go the open house route or rent out a venue? What decorations will be unique and fun? And even after you've chosen a location and food, there are so many other details that may seem small, but make a huge difference!
Let's make your graduation party better than you could ever imagine! Check out some of these party ideas.
1. Party in Your Backyard
This open house graduation party idea typically takes place on your family's property. It can be laid back and quite relaxing, if you have a large outdoor area.
2. Gather at the Beach
All ages can enjoy this party idea! Swim, play in the sand or take a walk on the beach. Pull some tables together and have a picnic- style party.
3. Have a Sky Lantern Send Off
As was mentioned before, picking a date and time can be hard when your other friends are also choosing dates, but opting for an evening event should make that problem less of a problem and maybe even more memorable.
4. Hire a Food Truck
Another great party idea is having a food truck at your high school graduation party will be a definite crowd-pleaser. There are many different types of food trucks in our area to choose from.
Try these food trucks:
5. Meet Up at a Park
The shaded areas and entertaining play structures make this location convenient for families and large parties. At Iron's Park in West Branch you can reserve the pavilion or just use the picnic tables around the park. Rose City has a beautiful park with a playground right next to the Pavilion. You can call the Chamber of Commerce in each town to ask about the rules on reserving park facilities.
6. Play Movies on a Projector
Another of our party ideas is to could play a loop of your own childhood videos and photos, or a slideshow of your senior pictures. We've had movie parties and really had fun, but in the summer you need to wait until dark, which can be about 9:30 or 10 p.m.
7. Rent Out Your Favorite Restaurant
Great food and no cleanup!
8. Use a Polaroid Photo Album as a Guest Book as a party idea
Have a table at your open house with an Instax camera, permanent markers, and a photo album to stick the pics and their messages in for a unique graduation party guest book option.
Another option is to order a guest book with some of your own senior pictures added and space for guests to leave a message.
9. Get Food Catered
Here are some places to look for catering. I recommend the Pale Blue! Very good barbecue!
10. Feature a Balloon Arch
You can find plenty of examples of balloon decor, like trendy balloon arches on Instagram for party inspiration ideas.
11. Throw a Pool Party
If you have a pool in your backyard, it would be great! You can also rent the pool at a hotel for your afternoon party. West Branch has a Quality Inn that has a pool.
12. Rent a Photo Booth
This is a fun party idea! Photo booths are very popular at parties. You can rent one or buy an inflatable photobooth and add your own camera.
13. Hang Up a Custom Banner
Personalize your banner to hang over your garage doors or entrance to your party. Just contact me and get one ordered!
14. Get a Slushie Machine
Nice and cool drink party idea for a hot summer day!
15. Create an Epic Charcuterie Board
Charcuterie is a French word, and according to Webster it means, "a delicatessen specializing in dressed meats and meat dishes; also: the products sold in such a shop."
So, it's kind of an umbrella term encompassing dishes or boards made up of primarily meats & cheeses.
16. Put Together a Potluck
This is a nice way to enjoy a variety of foods. It is economical and more focused on being with friends. It also takes some of the stress away from planning the menu.
17. Use a Retro Popcorn Maker
Everybody loves popcorn!
18. Cotton Candy Machine
Another fun party idea is cotton candy!
19. Set Up Yard Games
From bean bag toss to yard pong to cornhole to badminton, there are plenty of activities to choose from.
Check out some of the fun outdoor games that are popular today.
20. Card & Board Games
Save a few tables just for card and board games. Put out some cards for euchre and rummy. Also, empty out your game closet onto a table. You'll have groups getting together and having a good time.
We love playing dominoes. It's a game a whole table full of people can enjoy.
21. Rent a Bounce House
There are two different places in our area where you can rent inflatables, including water slides:
22. Feature a Custom Cake Display
Your cake should be all about you and your interests. You can order one from Walmart or Miejer, but there are small businesses you could also support. These are private small businesses you can find on Facebook.
23. Large Yard Signs
Help your guests find your party with large graduation-themed signs on your lawn.
24. Do You and Your Friends Enjoy Singing?
Fun to do as well as to watch!
25. Coffee Station
Almost everyone loves coffee of some kind! Make a variety for everyone!
26. Make a Photo Display
From your missing-teeth-years to vacation destinations display some pics that share your life story thus far. You could also create a vision board of your plans and goals.
27. Have a Video Guest Book
There's always a friend or two who loves to video tape the crowd. Assign one or two friends to go around and ask questions of the party guests, interview them for their favorite memory or advice to the graduate. It doesn't have to be elaborate, just use a cell phone.
28. Send Instructions for a TikTok Dance
Your group could go viral with a choreographed clip to your favorite song!
29. Go Hawaiian
Have a Luau with all the trimmings and decor. Don't forget the limbo stick!
30. The Cat's Meow!
Hire someone you know who is artistic and would like to do face painting. Everyone will enjoy getting a new identity.
31. Destination Theme
Moving out of state? Going to a certain college or university? Use the colors or themes for where you are going for your party theme idea.
32. Make it a Camping Weekend
If you have a big yard, invite all your friends to bring their tent or camper and spend the weekend. Have a bonfire for everyone to sit around. Make sure they bring their lawn chairs!
33. Use a Roarin' 20's Theme
Actually, any year would be a fun theme.
34. 70's Theme
The 70's theme is always a fun party idea to do. Some homework will be needed to see what the fashions were.
35. Black Tie Affair
You'll need to rent a hall for this one. Set up your fancy lights and decorate to your hearts desire.
36. Create a Playlist
Ensure you have just the right vibe by approving each song that will play during the event. Pick out all your favorite music!
37. Plan a Treasure Hunt
You've heard of Geo-caching, right? Do a variation of this and have people using their phones to find the treasure!
38. Visit a Theme Park
If you have just your close friends, this could be a fun adventure.
You may have to travel for this one though. If you book overnight at Great Wolf Lodge, you get discounts, but you can also just reserve a full day pass.
The Lakeside Resort in Houghton Lake has a large pool with slides and a lazy river. Not as much variety as Great Wolf Lodge, but more economical.
39. Hire a DJ
There are a lot of DJ's in this area. Just make sure to call and schedule early. They are pretty busy with other graduations as well as weddings in the summer.
40. Pizza Party
Just about everyone loves pizza! And it can feed a crowd!
41. Use Framed Photos as Centerpieces
Have your graduation pictures displayed on each table. If you need some 5x7 prints to put in frames, just give me a call!
42. Decorate Your Yard With Lights
If your party will last until after sunset, these lights can really add a neat ambiance!
Party On!
In conclusion, these are just a few graduation party ideas. If you have more ideas, please post them below. And I hope you have a safe and fun graduation party!
