I’ve had a bit of practice throwing private pool parties, with my first one being for a girl’s night. I wouldn’t say I have perfected how to throw an adult pool party, by any means. But I have had a lot of practice and know the elements that make it one to remember.
Pool Party Timing
Picking the perfect time for your pool party can be tricky.
And apart from the weather, the biggest hurdle is finding a time that suits everyone.
But before you can even get to that, there are a few questions you should ask yourself.
- Do you need some maintenance work performed beforehand? Are the pumps running correctly and are the filters free from debris? Are the chemicals balanced?
- Does your pool need time to heat up first? If the weather isn’t warm in the days leading up to the pool party, consider using an insulating pool blanket.
- What time of day is best based on the location of your pool? You may need to consider the sun’s location and strength.
- Which of the preferred days has the best warm weather?
- Is it for special occasions like your own birthday party, a pool day for a bit of fun, or an excuse to have a Luau party?
I know late afternoon, from around 4 pm, shade from our neighbour’s trees creeps across our pool. This means it’s a great time for the kids to hop in after a hot day before the sun sets. Even though it’s still shaded, sunscreen is still a must!
Pool Party Invitations
If you are anything like me, all your invitations are now digital.
Which means it’s a Facebook event.
So whether you go old school with printed and posted pool party invites or new school and digitally invite people, there are a few things you need to decide as a party host.
- Date, time, and location – You’ve probably determined most of this in the previous step.
- What to bring – Sometimes you need to state the obvious. But the top things on my list would be:
- bathers
- flip flops or thongs
- water bottles
- their own towels
- sunscreen
- sunglasses
- hat
- food and drinks
- change of clothes
- lounge chair
- pool accessories like goggles and pool floats
- life vests for the small children
- Theme – A fun twist for your invitations, games, dress code, and food. Kim from Thrifty Little Mom has come up with the best Pool Party themes.
- Let people know if they can bring an additional guest or their own food
- RSVP – Pick a date when you need to know numbers for catering and seating
Pool Party Preparation
About a week before the party you will need to get a few things to make the day run as smoothly as possible.
- confirm the number of guests
- order any food and supplies
- perform any pool maintenance
And don’t be afraid to delegate tasks to friends or a family member to help the day run smoothly.
Then there are a few more things you will need to organise on the day of the pool party before your guests arrive.
- Set out tables and food areas in convenient locations
- Set up a towel rail or clothesline to hang wet towels
- Purchase ice for the cooler
- Put up your pool party decorations, string lights are great for the evening
- Clear or create an area for seating
It wouldn’t be a pool party in Australia unless you had sunscreen. If you have a pool, it can be more economical to buy a big jug of water-resistant SPF50+ sunscreen and set up a sunscreen station.
And there is almost always that one person that forgets a towel. So it’s always helpful to have some clean towels on hand.
Pool Party Rules
When your guests arrive be sure to go over some pool rules to ensure a safe environment for everyone.
You might be surprised that you need to remind everyone of the basic rules that apply to every pool.
- Walk when you are near the pool to minimise the risk of slipping over
- Everyone applies sunscreen before they hop in
- No glass in the pool area. You could also opt for no food or drinks in the pool area. Have you ever had to fish out a soggy hot dog bun? No thanks!
- The pool gate must remain shut unless in use, it cannot be propped open
- Dry yourself off as much as possible before going inside to use the toilet
- Hang your towel up to dry when you are finished using it
Pool Party Food & Drinks
After all that time in the water, you’ll want some refreshments.
And if you’re anything like me, pool activities make me hungry, and the food is often the best part of any party!
- Grazing table
- Fruit platter
- Chips and dips
- Finger foods like mozzarella sticks, spring rolls, arancini balls, meatballs, gyoza, cocktail frankfurters
- Charcuterie board
- Jelly shots
- Zooper Doopers
- ice cream
- Get something delivered – when you need to feed a crowd, pizza is always a winner
- cocktails and mocktails
Party favors are a fun way to thank your party guests. Some pool
- pool ball
- flamingo floats
- water balloons
- inner tubes
Pool Party Fun and Games
Not everyone likes to just lounge in the pool, some like to play fun games.
- Collect dive sticks or rings from the bottom of the pool
- Pool noodle relay race
- Basketball or volleyball
- Pool beer pong
- Cornhole
- Inflatable pool toy races
- Jousting
- Marco Polo
- splash pad jumping
And if you’re not into pool games, other activities can provide some extra fun. Things like a treasure hunt, a fire pit, beach balls, and glow sticks are the perfect addition to your summer pool party.
Get all your pool party must-haves.
When the water fun has finished, I like to let my guests hang up their wet towels and bathers on the clothesline or a clotheshorse.
I know it’s much nicer to go home with almost dry things than it is to open a wet and stinky bag when you get home!
And the fun doesn’t have to end when you’re finished in the pool. Keep the party going with lawn games and conversations.
What will you do for your next pool party?
